stable oc settings for q6600

[kewl1]

Thanks Lordbob. That is helpful. I changed a lot of other things too. It may not have been a bright thing to do since I didn't know what they were. Example: There was a series of 4 (I think) numbers like 100, 200 and I changed them to 101 and 201, just copying what this other guy had done. I can't increase my multiplier but I can decrease it so I went from 9 to 8 but upped the FSB to 1800. I'll post everything else when I get back home to my desktop on the weekend.

Thanks again

 

[Lordbob75]

Thanks Lordbob. That is helpful. I changed a lot of other things too. It may not have been a bright thing to do since I didn't know what they were. Example: There was a series of 4 (I think) numbers like 100, 200 and I changed them to 101 and 201, just copying what this other guy had done. I can't increase my multiplier but I can decrease it so I went from 9 to 8 but upped the FSB to 1800. I'll post everything else when I get back home to my desktop on the weekend.

Thanks again

Glad it helped you out. Remember, you can always google things you don't know.
Google is your friend.

~Lordbob

 

[kewl1]

Thanks Lordbob. That is helpful. I changed a lot of other things too. It may not have been a bright thing to do since I didn't know what they were. Example: There was a series of 4 (I think) numbers like 100, 200 and I changed them to 101 and 201, just copying what this other guy had done. I can't increase my multiplier but I can decrease it so I went from 9 to 8 but upped the FSB to 1800. I'll post everything else when I get back home to my desktop on the weekend.

Thanks again

Glad it helped you out. Remember, you can always google things you don't know.
Google is your friend.

~Lordbob

You're absolutely right. I use Google for everything

 

[calccrypto]

What does it mean if my processor refuses to become stable unless i add .125 v or so per 5 MHz in the fsb? im got a new cpu fan (thermaltake spinq Newegg.com - Thermaltake CLP0554 80mm Sleeve CPU Cooler), and it seems to be doing baloney. i probably need to redo the thermal paste, but i noticed this with the stock cooler as well

 

[Lordbob75]

What does it mean if my processor refuses to become stable unless i add .125 v or so per 5 MHz in the fsb? im got a new cpu fan (thermaltake spinq Newegg.com - Thermaltake CLP0554 80mm Sleeve CPU Cooler), and it seems to be doing baloney. i probably need to redo the thermal paste, but i noticed this with the stock cooler as well

It means that something is NOT right.

Definitely reapply thermal paste (a better quality one), and set the new fan correctly.

When you change the FSB/Clock, you shouldn't need to add (much) voltage at first. Something like an additional 5 Mhz should be unaffected by that.

How are you OCing it?

~Lordbob

 

[calccrypto]

Im only upping the fsb by 5 mhz at a time, until the computer becomes unstable. Then I add .0625 V (the only stepping allowed). with my original fan, I got the voltage down to 1.275. now its at 1.33 even though i only increased the fsb by 10MHz.

Apparently the thermal paste I got with the fan is high quality, but I did something really silly when applying it, so I definitely have to check on that

 

[kewl1]

Thanks Lordbob. That is helpful. I changed a lot of other things too. It may not have been a bright thing to do since I didn't know what they were. Example: There was a series of 4 (I think) numbers like 100, 200 and I changed them to 101 and 201, just copying what this other guy had done. I can't increase my multiplier but I can decrease it so I went from 9 to 8 but upped the FSB to 1800. I'll post everything else when I get back home to my desktop on the weekend.

Thanks again

Glad it helped you out. Remember, you can always google things you don't know.
Google is your friend.

~Lordbob

Hi Lordbob,

I promised to post my settings when I returned from last weeks business trip but then spent the week trying to find my way back to this forum…..duh I guess I didn’t bookmark it.

Here is all that I have done to finally have some success. I think I am finally learning a bit as well. I’ve done a lot of Goggling to see what other people have for OC settings but usually I got confused or lost because they always had different BIOS. My Blackbird came with an HP 5.5 BIOS which I upgraded to 5.6. Using the AI Overclock I could get 15% or after upgrading to 8 gigs of RAM 20%. It didn’t like 8 gigs and I noticed the Dominator RAM said 2.1 V on it while the Striker called for 1.8 V RAM. I then read that I could up the NB voltage to 1.4. This solved the RAM problem.

I then tried the latest ASUS BIOS 1901 but it was actually worse for Overclocking i.e. only 15% using the AI Overclock. I still felt like a total amateur for using the AI OC with its 5, 10 15 and 20% settings.

I then read about DOWNgrading the ASUS Bios to the 1300 series one but my computer would not accept that. I then tried the next one up i.e. 1504 and now this I think was a huge breakthrough. Now I was finding other peoples settings that actually read like the ones in my 1504 so I could start plugging in numbers. I found one in particular where the guy lowered the multiplier to 8 and raised the FSB to 1700. I went to 1700 but then quickly upped it to 1800. I have not tried to go higher (yet) .Here is what I have now. I’ve played around with the voltages a bit. It seems quite stable.


FSB - Memory Clock Mode [Unlinked]
FSB (QDR), MHz [1800]
MEM (DDR), MHz [850] (increased this from 800.) It actually reads 843.8 now.

CPU Multiplier [8.0]

Over Voltage
VCore Voltage [1.51250]
Memory Voltage set to 2.1V to match my Dominator RAM
1.2v HT Voltage [1.50]
NB Core Voltage [1.45]
SB Core Voltage [1.50]
CPU VTT Voltage [Auto]
DDR II Controller Ref Voltage [Auto]
DDR II Channel A Ref Voltage [Auto]
DDR II Channel B Ref Voltage [Auto]

My Rig

• HP Blackbird 002
• Quad Core Q6600 GO version OC’d to 3600 (from 2400)
• Windows 7 64 bit
• 2 x 150 gig Raptors in RAID 0
• Many other drives both internal and USB
• Blu Ray Burner
• DVD Burner
• 4 x 2 gig DIMMS of Corsair Dominator RAM PC2-8500 1066 MHz - OK on my RAM it says latency 5-5-5-15. In the BIOS it says 4-4-4-12. Should I change this in the BIOS to the 5-5-5-15 or even something else? And what is meant by “loosen up your RAM”? I keep reading this in Overclocking forums and instructions.

In the System Clocks Page I added 1 to each setting so now they read 101, 101, 101 and 201. Maybe you can tell me why I did this. I copied it from someone else’s settings but don’t even know what they mean LOL. Should I even put them back to where they were?
Temps hit 70C after up to 2.5 hours of Prime 95 – no problems. When idling they are in the 40’s, maybe even hit 50 when doing usual work or surfing.

However I get the odd minor problem such as just now I woke it from sleeping since yesterday and got a BSOD “memory_management”. This has happened several times under same circumstances. What does it mean??? When this happens if I push the reset button that restarts it then it can not detect the RAID array. However if I shut it OFF and re-start, then no problemo at all. This seems minor to me but on the other hand I don’t like BSOD’s due to some very bad past experiences.

Also in Windows Control Panel the 3 power option choices are still there in Control panel but you can not change each one’s settings or timings anymore.

Anything you can suggest or teach me about RAM timings would be greatly appreciated and if I have left anything out just let me know.

UPDATE

This week I did change the RAM settings in the BIOS from 4-4-4-12 (like the RAM it came with 3 years ago) to 5-5-5-15 which is on the RAM I have since installed. Everything still seems fine but I noticed that in the Windows “Performance and Information” in Control panel all of the sub scores except for the last one regarding disk transfer rate have improved. I’m now getting 7.4. 7.4. 6.8. 6.8 and 5.9. The two 6.8’s jumped from 5.9 which seems very significant and the 7.4’s from 7.3 just from changing the RAM settings.

As a further update I turned on Prime 95 and went out for a few hours. When I got home the screen was black so I guess it crapped out. But nothing bad seems to happen during any “normal” use except that I can no longer change the timings in the 3 Power Setting choices.

UPDATE 2
"Change Power Settings" in Control Panel/ Power Options now works today after not working since I overclocked 2 weeks ago. Go figure. Could it be related to changing RAM settings?

 

[Lordbob75]

Im only upping the fsb by 5 mhz at a time, until the computer becomes unstable. Then I add .0625 V (the only stepping allowed). with my original fan, I got the voltage down to 1.275. now its at 1.33 even though i only increased the fsb by 10MHz.

Apparently the thermal paste I got with the fan is high quality, but I did something really silly when applying it, so I definitely have to check on that

Oh I see what you are saying. Then you are doing it correctly, but it is becoming unstable.

Take it to the point where it becomes unstable, then increase voltage by the lowest increment until it becomes stable, then repeat.

~Lordbob

 

[calccrypto]

but the voltage is getting really high for such a low increase in frequency. im already at 1.38V and its prime95 is still getting errors

and i checked the thermal paste and it was fine

 

[Lordbob75]

but the voltage is getting really high for such a low increase in frequency. im already at 1.38V and its prime95 is still getting errors

and i checked the thermal paste and it was fine

Then back it off.

~Lordbob

 

[calccrypto]

but if prime95 is erroring, isnt that bad?

 

[Lordbob75]

but if prime95 is erroring, isnt that bad?

Yes. That means that the CPU is unstable. So turn the OC back until it is.

~Lordbob

 

[kewl1]

For what it's worth I just stumbled upon a test called "Intel Burn Test". I downloaded and used it and passd the "standard" test. What I loved about it was that it seemed to stress my processor way more than Prime 95 and the test only took a few minutes. I have to belive that thereis more risk involved with this one. The temps go very high very quickly but I did read that it is the test used by Intel. This thing looked brutal but very fast and time saving. Any comments?

 

[Lordbob75]

For what it's worth I just stumbled upon a test called "Intel Burn Test". I downloaded and used it and passd the "standard" test. What I loved about it was that it seemed to stress my processor way more than Prime 95 and the test only took a few minutes. I have to belive that thereis more risk involved with this one. The temps go very high very quickly but I did read that it is the test used by Intel. This thing looked brutal but very fast and time saving. Any comments?

Intel Burn Test is generally regarded as flawed and is not used.

When you run Prime 95, make sure you run the Blend Test to truly test the CPU.

~Lordbob

 

[kewl1]

For what it's worth I just stumbled upon a test called "Intel Burn Test". I downloaded and used it and passd the "standard" test. What I loved about it was that it seemed to stress my processor way more than Prime 95 and the test only took a few minutes. I have to belive that thereis more risk involved with this one. The temps go very high very quickly but I did read that it is the test used by Intel. This thing looked brutal but very fast and time saving. Any comments?

Intel Burn Test is generally regarded as flawed and is not used.

When you run Prime 95, make sure you run the Blend Test to truly test the CPU.

~Lordbob

Thanks Lordbob
I guess that explains why I never even heard of it until now. I guess also there are no shortcuts.

 

[Lordbob75]

For what it's worth I just stumbled upon a test called "Intel Burn Test". I downloaded and used it and passd the "standard" test. What I loved about it was that it seemed to stress my processor way more than Prime 95 and the test only took a few minutes. I have to belive that thereis more risk involved with this one. The temps go very high very quickly but I did read that it is the test used by Intel. This thing looked brutal but very fast and time saving. Any comments?

Intel Burn Test is generally regarded as flawed and is not used.

When you run Prime 95, make sure you run the Blend Test to truly test the CPU.

~Lordbob

Thanks Lordbob
I guess that explains why I never even heard of it until now. I guess also there are no shortcuts.

Nope. Only real test is Prime95 for 10+ hours.

~Lordbob

 

[calccrypto]

Then is it good if a computer can actually finish the test, but maintains a temp of 90+ C during the time?

 

[spinifex]

Then is it good if a computer can actually finish the test, but maintains a temp of 90+ C during the time?

Finishing the test is good, but NOT @ 90+C. Way too hot!!!!!

Jon

 

[sygnus21]

Then is it good if a computer can actually finish the test, but maintains a temp of 90+ C during the time?

If you're saying you ran prime 95 for 10+ hours and it didn't error out, that's amazing, considering the 90+ temps on a Q6600! Especially with a stock CPU cooler!

 

[Lordbob75]

Then is it good if a computer can actually finish the test, but maintains a temp of 90+ C during the time?

That is rather.... unnerving...

Spend $50 and go get a nice copper heatsink and fan to drop that to around 80.

~Lordbob