FSB, MEM, PCI voltages

[Nvidiaguy07]

ok guys im trying to overclock my CPU(Q6600) and most recently have gotten to 3.6 Ghz stable. I was having a real tough time before getting it stable, the highest i could reach was 3375Mhz without touching the DDR2, PCI-E, FSB, and the (G) MCH(this is the southbridge right?) voltage.

Then i decided to give these voltages all +0.1 volts because i read that it is ok to do this. My result was being able to get to 3.6.

Every overclocking guide that i have read doesnt say much about what to do with these voltages, risks, and how to read their temps.

So my question i guess is very general, but things im wondering about are:
1. do i need to increase my FSB voltage in relation to how fast the FSB is running. (1600Mhz in this case.)
2. If im running my DDR2's at DDR800(I am) and thats what they are rated for do i need to overvolt these? If no then do i need to overvolt for changing the timings.
3. Do i need to give the PCI-E more juice even if i havent OCed my video card?
4. The MCH is the southbridge right? does this need more voltage when i OC?
5. what are safe voltages for my hardware? my ram is rated for 1.8-1.9 so i did +.1 but i also heard that gigabytes stock voltage is 2.0v. Im using a DS3L motherboard with stock northbridge cooling so what is safe for that?


Basically im looking for a guide on what to do with these voltages and i havent been able to find one. If you can help me in any way or direct me to a different thread it would be much appreciated.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

someones gotta have at least a link to a guide or something.............

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

Sticky? What sticky!?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

i see that but theres really nothing about the other voltages.... he really only talks about v-core.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: Nvidiaguy07
1. do i need to increase my FSB voltage in relation to how fast the FSB is running. (1600Mhz in this case.)
2. If im running my DDR2's at DDR800(I am) and thats what they are rated for do i need to overvolt these? If no then do i need to overvolt for changing the timings.
3. Do i need to give the PCI-E more juice even if i havent OCed my video card?
4. The MCH is the southbridge right? does this need more voltage when i OC?
5. what are safe voltages for my hardware? my ram is rated for 1.8-1.9 so i did +.1 but i also heard that gigabytes stock voltage is 2.0v. Im using a DS3L motherboard with stock northbridge cooling so what is safe for that?

1.) No. When you reach the maximum FSB, then overvolting can help you go further.
2.) No, overvolting shouldn't be necessary at stock speed/timings. Yes, overvolting can help attain lower timings.
3.) No.
4.) MCH? don't know. Generally, overvolting the SB isn't productive.
5.) Depends on how much cooling you have. More volts = more heat. Volts are not the problem, heat is. You can read about electron migration, but working with conventional cooling (air or water) and being reasonable with overvolting, you're not going to get to where that would be a issue.

 

[imported_Scoop]

MCH is the memory controller hub also known as northbridge, not southbridge.

 

[Burrich]

Originally posted by: Nvidiaguy07
5. what are safe voltages for my hardware? my ram is rated for 1.8-1.9 so i did +.1 but i also heard that gigabytes stock voltage is 2.0v. Im using a DS3L motherboard with stock northbridge cooling so what is safe for that?

It depends on how big the marbles are that day, I guess. The 65nm chips can handle 1.45V well. I wouldn't probably go above 1.5V. Check the voltage in your BIOS after upping the RAM voltage. You will most likely need to restart your computer for them to save and update. Gigabyte's default voltage is 1.8V - which is JDEC spec. You most likely could put your RAM at +0.2V due to the droop on the board. If it's too high, back it down to +0.1V.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

My motherboard says that the FSB is rated for 1066, so how much extra voltage might i need for 1600?

i tried getting rid of my overvolt for my memory and wasnt even able to boot into windows and everything is at stock speeds and timings so it must be a factor.

i know that heat is what would hurt my hardware if it came to that, but how do i monitor things like the northbridge, memory and stuff like that. I know i can touch them but that doesnt seem very reliable. Im not really sure what "being reasonable" with the volts means because im sort of an amateur at this. im tentative to even go further then i have my voltages set to now.

i think i really just need a guide on these voltages that says more then just "play around with them" or "be careful" i need to know what that is.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

if anyone else is interested i found this little bit at the bottom of this page.
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...howdoc.aspx?i=3184&p=7
its a little bit of what i was looking for.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: Nvidiaguy07
My motherboard says that the FSB is rated for 1066, so how much extra voltage might i need for 1600?

Im not really sure what "being reasonable" with the volts means.

Wack volts to the max + FSB to 1600 = Not Reasonable (Blue Smoke, maybe!)


It would be "unreasonable" to expect an answer to your what voltage for 1600 FSB question. Being reasonable would be raising the FSB slowly at stock voltage. Check temps. Then, when you hit a limit, raise the voltages the least possible. Then test for a limit again. Check temps. If you keep doing this and keep notes you will see what voltage and heat you would expect at 1600. Then (since I don't know) you'll have to find out somewhere what the max safe temp is. Then you'll know if you can even get to 1600. Trying to get there in one or two jumps is, well, not only unreasonable, it's foolhearty.