First time overclocking

[PCJake]

GA-EP35-DS3L
Q6600 w/ Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
G.Skill 4GB DDR2 800

I can't seem to get my fsb past 320 without losing stability. I've tried the vcore at auto and at manual with ~1.3V. Do I need to go higher?

My RAM timings are 5-5-5-15, could this be a problem? Also, I'm not sure how to adjust voltage to the RAM. What setting should I look for?

I have no problems temperature-wise and I would like to get up to 3.2GHz.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: PCJake
GA-EP35-DS3L
Q6600 w/ Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
G.Skill 4GB DDR2 800

I can't seem to get my fsb past 320 without losing stability. I've tried the vcore at auto and at manual with ~1.3V. Do I need to go higher?

My RAM timings are 5-5-5-15, could this be a problem? Also, I'm not sure how to adjust voltage to the RAM. What setting should I look for?

I have no problems temperature-wise and I would like to get up to 3.2GHz.

try raising your fsb termination voltage to 1.4

 

[PCJake]

I raised it to 333mhz at 1.40v and it automatically reset itself to 266 at post. I tried 340mhz, and then it wouldn't even post and it did an auto-recovery of the bios.

 

[bryanW1995]

my vid (default vcore) on my q6600 is 1.30. try reading this, then check back with us:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2057083&enterthread=y

 

[RussianSensation]

Flash bios to the latest version.

BIOS

-Load Optimized defaults (but Do not enable any speed enhancements you see)
-Disable CIA2
-Set PCI Expres (PCIe) frequency @ 100mhz
-Set PCI frequency @ 33mhz
-Disable any 'spread spectrum'
-Disable 'Limit CPUID Max to 3'
-Disable 'C1E'
-Disable 'EIST'
-Disable Virtualizatoin Technology
-Disable No-Execute Memory Protect
-Disable anything else you don't use

Memory and CPU

Expand options for Gigabyte BIOS by pressing Control+F1 anywhere in the BIOS
Go to Intelligent settings I believe
Set 'Memory multiplier' to 2.0 (FSB:RAM = 1:1) -- As you increase the FSB, the ram will follow in the pattern of 1:1 shown.
Set DRAM timing to manual or disable SPD
in BIOS you will see 4 separate timings, change them to the onces specified for your RAM
i.e.
5
5
5
15
Auto
Auto
Auto
Refresh to ACT (0)
Auto
Normal

Other settings set as follows:

Robust Graphics - Auto
CPU Clock (8x)
CPU Host - Enabled
CPU Host Frequency - 266 (base)
System Voltage Control - Manual
DDR2 Voltage - +0.2V
PCI-E overvoltage - Normal
FSB - +0.1V
MCH - +0.1V
CPU Volt - 1.35625v

Now just increase the CPU Host Frequency from 266 to 333 and then to 370, etc. You should be good to go to reach 3.4ghz. You can lower the DDR2 ram voltage from +0.2V later (or tighten the timings to 4-4-4-15 and keep it the same).

You should use a stress-testing program like Orthos, Prime95 or OCCT -- at least 12 hours of stress testing (preferably 24).

In addition download CoreTemp 0.95 or a newer version to monitor your temperatures.

-----

Additional links:

A Beginner's Guide to Overclocking

 

[PCJake]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to try your suggestions RussianSensation, but I was wondering why you recommended a CPU Clock of 8x. With it I can only reach 3.2Ghz, assuming I don't overclock the RAM.

 

[PCJake]

I've followed RussianSensation's advice and I've gotten to 3.04GHz (380x8), but when I try to go to 400 I get a BSOD. I tried raising the vcore to 1.40 and I still get one. What the problem is?

P.S. - Nevermind my last post, my RAM should be fine with my cpu at 3.4.

 

[gramboh]

Try 401Mhz FSB

 

[PCJake]

Originally posted by: gramboh
Try 401Mhz FSB

Nope, this didn't work either. I also have problems if I try to change the RAM timings to 4-4-4-15.

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: PCJake
GA-EP35-DS3L
Q6600 w/ Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
G.Skill 4GB DDR2 800

I can't seem to get my fsb past 320 without losing stability. I've tried the vcore at auto and at manual with ~1.3V. Do I need to go higher?

My RAM timings are 5-5-5-15, could this be a problem? Also, I'm not sure how to adjust voltage to the RAM. What setting should I look for?

I have no problems temperature-wise and I would like to get up to 3.2GHz.

Your RAM, 4 x 1g or 2 x 2g?

 

[PCJake]

2x2gb

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: PCJake

Originally posted by: gramboh
Try 401Mhz FSB

Nope, this didn't work either. I also have problems if I try to change the RAM timings to 4-4-4-15.

Lowering the RAM timings isn't going to help you, it will make things harder.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: PCJake

Originally posted by: gramboh
Try 401Mhz FSB

Nope, this didn't work either. I also have problems if I try to change the RAM timings to 4-4-4-15.

Lowering the RAM timings isn't going to help you, it will make things harder.

5-5-5-15 FTW until you figure out if your ram or CPU limited.

Also the lowest divider possible.

 

[PCJake]

I'm using a 1:1 divider, shouldn't that be low enough?

P.S. - I can get to 3.04 by using a 435 fsb and 7x multiplier, but anything higher and I get a black screen before Vista boots.