overclock q6600 with DDR2 800mhz

CPU - Q6600 65nm Kentsfield
Ram - OCZ Platinum DDR2 800mhz
Mobo - ASUS P5E-VM HDMI
Video - GeForce 8800GT 512mb
Stock Air cooling

I have got my cpu to run at 3.2ghz on standard 1.38v
400mhz x 8.0
DRAM 400mhz
Ratio 1:1
Ram timings: 5-5-5-12
Standard 1.8v

I have read a few OC guides on OC forums around the net but I love the honest and consice advice I get from Major Geeks.

SO...
How can I improve these settings to get more from my cpu and/or memory?

Thanks Guys and Gals..

 

Well, what is your goal for the PC? Got a game you need higher frame rates in? Need CPU crunching power for something? Just want to crank up the whole thing for the heck of it? :-D

What are your CPU temps at load and idle, and what PSU are you using? And how willing are you to fry stuff? (not too likely, but possible...)

I see you are running stock cooling, you might want to get something better, the quads can crank out some heat!

E

 

Have you done stability testing?

Firstly you could try raising your multi back to 9 and see if it is still stable. If not then you could tighten your RAM timings to 4-4-4-12 and see if it is stable, using memtest.

I agree with Fred you may want an after market HS like OCZ Vend 2 or a Thermalright Ultra 120.

If you dont mind getting your hands dirty you could lap the CPU to help with temps (I have and have lowered by 7-10C);

http://www.thetechrepository.com/showthread.php?t=71

Removing the tin layer and reducing the IHS thickness is what lapping is really about, the thermal paste will fill the surface differences.

 

in all honesty just want to crank it up, seen ppl with 4ghz but I would be happy with 3.6ghz stable

 

Changed HSF to Artic 7 LP mainly because I cant get a Thermalright in the case its 150mm heigh and I have only 130mm to play with.

Idle temps are at 39 C
Under Prime 95 for 10min they hit and remain at 61 c
I know this is 2 high really off what I have read.

Will try lapping the IHS flat

Added a XTC memory cooler from OCZ

Tightened timmings to 5-5-5-12

Will I need to tweak core volts or DRAM volts

And what about PCIE ppl say set to 100-110

How does this affect things?

Thanks for your help so far guys

 

RivaTuner will let you overclock your video card if you want to squeeze a little more out of your computer. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download737.html

I have been getting some pretty good results with my 8800GT playing around with RivaTuner.

What are you using to measure your temperatures with? I have found CoreTemp to be good for CPU temps: http://www.majorgeeks.com/Core_Temp_d5665.html

And GPU-Z works good for the video. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download5796.html

E

 

There really isn't much out there (reviews etc) about PCI-e Frequency and I would leave it at 100MHz it shouldn't be affecting the CPU OC and you don't want to damage the Video Card.

Prime95 to 61C is very good as the stress generated by Prime will very rarely if ever be experienced during "normal usage" even when cranking games at very high settings, so those temps are fine.

Lapping the IHS gave me 5-10C improved temps as can be seen here:

Air Cooling Project: 101.

Here is arguably one of the better OC guides you can follow:

http://i4memory.com/f15/announcement-overclocking-methodology-eva2000.html

Upper limits I would consider are vDIMM to 2.1 and vFSB 1.4, you do this at your own risk.

Software you should use are:

SetFSB
memset
memtest (Windows or DOS based)
EVEREST
RivaTuner

Will find the links for this software and post back.

 

Yes core temp.

Thanks for the advice on RivaTuner

 

Im glad my temps are ok, was worried a little as only using Artic & lp HSF

Its good but just wanted a pro opinion on things, cant afford to be frying cpu's !

Read that OCZ plaitinum can be pushed quiet hard tho I just want it to run at its stated speed.

Running at 5-5-5-15 2.0v

hoping to go to 4-4-4-12

Is this stable?

Thanks for all the help so far.
Respect man

 

I can't say it is stable as all systems are individual, that is something you have to test by running:

Prime95
OCCT
memtest; or
orhtos

Memset will allow you to change mem timings within windows so you can change the timings and then test with MemTest a windows based memory testing app, allowing you to assess how "tight" you can make your timings, thus improving latency. Do it till it crashes so you know how far you can go, welcome to the world of BSOD....ah OC.....

 

Bold Eagle is right. You need to make sure it is stable.

E

 

Many thanks guys for your comtinued help.

I love this forum it rocks.

A great collection of inteligence and experience combined with genuine helpfullness.

What more can you ask for.

Respect guys

XRAY