Windows 7: over clocking my Q9550

ok so im board i i want something to do so this is what im doing i have a Q9550 and what i did is i loaded my fail safe bios setting then i turned off all power saving stuff and set all things that im planing on playing with to manual fallowing is a list of hardwear that im working with

CPU Intel Core2Quad Q9550 12 MB L2 Cache SLB8V
sSpec Number: SLB8 VPackage Type: LGA775
CPU Speed: 2.83 GHz Manufacturing Technology: 45 nm
PCG: 05A Core Stepping: E0
Bus Speed: 1333 MHz CPUID String: 1067Ah
Bus/Core Ratio: 8.5 Thermal Design Power: 95W
L2 Cache Size: 12 MB Thermal Specification: 71.4°C
L2 Cache Speed: 2.83 GHz VID Voltage Range: 0.85V – 1.3625V
Motherboard Gigabyte EP45-UD3P Rev 1.6 Bios Version FE up to 1600 Front side bus
Ram Patriot Viper II 2X2GB Memory PV224G8500ELKB 1066
Power Supply Ultra LSP750 750 Watt
Fans CoolMaster V-8 CPU Cooler 69.69 CFM

CPU data from Intel Website


i will be posting my settings and if its stable or not and please if you know anything about what im doing please help cuz its my first time also please check back from time to time i will post question if im stuck which im sure wont be to long

Load fail safe defaults -- set up bios for stock system 333x8.5=2.83 with 800 Ram
MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster Turbo
CPU Clock Ratio 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio +0.5
Under Clock Chip Control
CPU Host Clock Control Enabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) 333
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) 100
DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance Extreme
(G)MCH Frequency Latch 333
System Memory Multiplier 2.40B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) 800
DRAM Timing Selectable Manual
CAS Latency Time 5
tRCD 5
tRP 5
tRAS 15
Mother Board Voltage Control
Load Line Calibration Enabled
CPU VCore 1.27500V
DRAM Voltage 1.800V
Advanced Bios Features
CPU Thermal Monitor 2 (TM2) Disabled
CPU EIST Function Disabled
Init Display First PEG
Integrated Peripherals
SATA RAID/AHCI Mode Enabled
USB Keyboard Function Enabled
USB Mouse Function Enabled
USB Storage Function Enabled
Power Management
HPET Mode 64-bit Mode
PC Health
CPU Warning Temperature 70 C/158 F
CPU FAN Fail Warning Enabled
Fan Fail Warning Enabled if you see RPM Speed
CPU Smart FAN Control Disabled

Status: STABLE Prime 95 for 24 hours

340x8.5=2.89 with 816 Ram
MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster Turbo
CPU Clock Ratio 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio +0.5
Under Clock Chip Control
CPU Host Clock Control Enabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) 340
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) 100
DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance Extreme
(G)MCH Frequency Latch 333
System Memory Multiplier 2.40B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) 816
DRAM Timing Selectable Manual
CAS Latency Time 5
tRCD 5
tRP 5
tRAS 15
Mother Board Voltage Control
Load Line Calibration Enabled
CPU VCore 1.27500V
DRAM Voltage 1.800V
Advanced Bios Features
CPU Thermal Monitor 2 (TM2) Disabled
CPU EIST Function Disabled
Init Display First PEG
Integrated Peripherals
SATA RAID/AHCI Mode Enabled
USB Keyboard Function Enabled
USB Mouse Function Enabled
USB Storage Function Enabled
Power Management
HPET Mode 64-bit Mode
PC Health
CPU Warning Temperature 70 C/158 F
CPU FAN Fail Warning Enabled
Fan Fail Warning Enabled if you see RPM Speed
CPU Smart FAN Control Disabled

Status: STABLE Prime 95 for 24 hours

can you feel that 0.06 Ghz speed increase?

no but im going it small steps so i learn
what im doing right now im testing 2.975 next step is 3.017 i think

id like to get it to about 3.5ish cuz i dont think il get to 4.0

350x8.5=2.97 with 840 Ram
MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster Turbo
CPU Clock Ratio 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio +0.5
Under Clock Chip Control
CPU Host Clock Control Enabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz)
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) 100
DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance Extreme
(G)MCH Frequency Latch 350
System Memory Multiplier 2.40B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) 840
DRAM Timing Selectable Manual
CAS Latency Time 5
tRCD 5
tRP 5
tRAS 15
Mother Board Voltage Control
Load Line Calibration Enabled
CPU VCore 1.27500V
DRAM Voltage 1.800V
Advanced Bios Features
CPU Thermal Monitor 2 (TM2) Disabled
CPU EIST Function Disabled
Init Display First PEG
Integrated Peripherals
SATA RAID/AHCI Mode Enabled
USB Keyboard Function Enabled
USB Mouse Function Enabled
USB Storage Function Enabled
Power Management
HPET Mode 64-bit Mode
PC Health
CPU Warning Temperature 70 C/158 F
CPU FAN Fail Warning Enabled
Fan Fail Warning Enabled if you see RPM Speed
CPU Smart FAN Control Disabled

Status: STABLE Prime 95 for 8 hours

so i tried upping FSB to 350 to get a 3.017 no go raised voltage still nothing raised Voltage more and more to 1.30000 nothing so tomorrow im gana go back to the 2.97 and try to get the ram from 840 closer to 1066 and stay with the 2.975 i know this is gana sound nuts but i see a deference so much that i stop watched it 2.83 with ram at 1066 boot is a total of just under 21 seconds 2.975 with the ram at 840 total of just over 16 seconds

I'm running the Q9550 and I set my FSB speed to 400 and turned off the 0.5x multiplier value so that it is 8.0 instead of 8.5. That means, 400 x 8.0 = 3,200mhz, with no voltage increases on the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Rev 1.1 and I'm doing it on stock cooling with almost no increase in temps from stock. This keeps my DDR2-800 RAM running at 1:1 with the CPU and everything is just fine. I didn't even try to go any higher....so not sure on potential.

I run at about 34 celcius at idle and get around 60 at full load.

didnt think of that il have to try that i was down clocking my 1066 Ram to 800 so i wouldn't blow it up LOL

You might want to give this a read: HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - A Guide v1.1 - Overclockers Forums

All the PX5 series boards are really good overclockers... very stable too. Pretty much all you have to do these days is set your RAM timings and let her rip. Don't worry about your RAM blowing up at 1066MHz, just make sure you have the correct voltage and all will be good.