Windows 7 - OC'ing

OK,
I read some stuff about the modern i7 boards and whew! Have to read it 10 more times. So, right now I know my limitation is my ram, 1333MHz.
If I bios, 21x multiplier, 8:6 dram ratio, bclk 166, QPI 44x, with i7 920.
I get a incrediably stable cpu@3.5MHz, QPI@7.4MHz, 1333MHz ram, auto volts and auto load line calibration selected. CPU at 41C
If I bios, 18x multiplier, 6:4 dram ratio, bclk 222, QPI 36x, with the i7 920.
I get a cpu@3.99MHz, QPI@7.99MHz, 1333MHz ram, auto volts and auto load line calibration selected, that will not boot. Message said volts to high blah, blah, blah.
The goal was to keep the ram at 1333MHz and of course bump the cpu.
So in laymans terms please, and I realize I'll probably have to upgrade ram,
How come she won't fly, goosed this way?

TY

ps: educate me please

Can you turn the FSB up that will automatically set the volts and freq for the cpu and memory to somewhere in between if its anything like mine, but thats all i do with mine a 6850 3.0 core duo @ 3.8 maxed - still boot at 3.9 but errors. Mine defaults to 333 and I have it at 410 FSB which gives me a cpu @3.7 for extra stability and less heat and thats with ddr2. Wait for the xperts they will be along soon to help you .

Whest,
i7 mobos, no longer have a front side bus, its QPI now. Everything is somekind of interconnected ratios. Changing the BCLK settings affects not only the cpu MHz, but the ram MHz is also affected due to the dram ratio. I should have looked at what auto volting was choosing. Probably selected a way to high value and bios prevented boot. My guess is that I need to try taking the voltage settings out of auto mode. Using predifined voltages instead. I know what certain maxes are so....................
Figured I pump the smater guys first.

So,
I fiddled some more today and pretty much lost.
I did manage to get BCLK to 171x. Cpu 3.586MHz, ram 1368MHZ, QPI 7.5MHz. Its more of a goose to ram by 33MHz. But its stable, cool, and numbers smidge higher. Mobo did not like static volt input of any kind. Wants auto Load Line calib. and auto volt select. Temp same as before (sab). I was not going crazy with volts either. Just some recommended caps, system no likey with "a Know stable", bios config.
So in short, I need faster ram. grrrrrrrr not happening right now.

I've been messing around with OCing my i7 as well, it can get pretty hairy in there. You want to mess around with your RAM multiplier, this will allow you to change the RAM frequency semi-separately from the CPU, at least you'll be able to lower the RAM frequency without sacrificing CPU power. If you want more comprehensive OCing guides, I suggest Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

Ah Yes,
But I bought cheap ram, no frills, 1333MHz. Question is how far will it let me push 1399MHz ????????? That would get me above cpu 3.6MHz, solid. Let this setting sit for a month, no issues, I'll goose the BCLK again. I'm not buying any ram this season! LOL
So,
3DMark06, now 24424
WEI, mem subscore now 7.8, cpu still 7.6 bah!

The secret is, 1600MHz RAM is 1333MHz RAM that has been certified to be good enough to run at higher speeds without issues. You could probably OC your ram to 1600MHz with no problems.

AHH So!

So,
I played it safe. BCLK 183, x21, x36. Is stable and I get cpu 3.8MHz, ram 1466MHz, QPI 6.5MHz.
WEI score, no change
ATTO score, no change
3DMark06 score, 24791
Temp, 43^C

I lowered QPI multiplier, cuz QPI not stable over 7.99MHz I read, going with the flow. All else auto.
No real heat difference.
Surprised that WEI cpu subscore did not go up.
Did not expect ATTO score to change.

Hmmm,
No real info flowing, not a popular subject?