Getting stable high overclocks

Mech0z

Senior member
Oct 11, 2007
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I am running 3.4 Gz now with 9x375 and a 1.43 Vcore, however I tried just for fun to get a stable 3.6 but that did not seem possible, I keept trying to raise the Vcore, but not even on 1.5 I avoided the BSOD, so I am wondering if I should raise something other than my Vcore as well?

This is my settings
http://images.uploadimago.net/28363Untitled.jpg

Ps: I ran my ram highly underclocked while trying to rule them out as the problem!
 

imported_wired247

Golden Member
Jan 18, 2008
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I'm not an expert with your cpu or mobo, but sometimes NB needs a voltage bump. and sometimes RAM needs timing relaxed
 

Mech0z

Senior member
Oct 11, 2007
270
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Well rams where at auto when I tried, but havent tried the NB.

Btw whats the nb called in my Uguru?
 

imported_wired247

Golden Member
Jan 18, 2008
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no idea what your northbridge voltage would be called in uguru, but try setting memory timings manually to 5-5-5-15 before you touch the NB
 

sutahz

Golden Member
Dec 14, 2007
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I thought wired247 would know on an intel board the NB is called the MCH (Media Controller Host/Hub, something like that). However, your FSB is only 374MHz... uGuru shows your CPU Volt @ 1.37V but under voltage settings is has it at 1.43V, got SpeedStep C1E (or w/e) enabled?
Maybe your Q66 just can't go any faster. Maybe you're already a little past the point of diminishing returns.
 

PolymerTim

Senior member
Apr 29, 2002
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I'm also a novice at overclocking, but the northbridge is more officially known as MCH (Memory Controller Hub) and I have also seen that this sometimes needs a boost.
(Edit: just read sutahz's post and agree as well. Below are just some general tips I have read.)

If you're trying to get an optimal overclock I've read you really need to change things in a methodical manner. There are procedures you can follow that will take a lot of the guesswork out of the game. For instance, if you just start increasing you Vcore and FSB, then when you hit a wall, you don't know if this is caused by: 1)FSB wall of MB, 2)FSB wall of CPU, 3)Max freq of CPU, 4)Max DDR freq, etc... A methodical approach will separate each of these primary limiting factors and allow you to determine which is holding you back in the final overclock and thus, what should be changed next to overcome the block.

There is an excellent walkthrough stickied at the top of this page. Make sure you've read that before continuing. It doesn't seem to have a lot of the stuff I've read about testing your RAM and FSB first, so that must be floating around here somewhere (maybe someone can find it and post a link).

IIRC, the idea was to test the MB/CPU FSB limit by using a low multiplier (6x) on your chip along with loose memory timings and a low memory speed (controlled by the strap); set CPU Vcore, MCH, and Vram to max comfortable settings and then start cranking up the FSB to find its max. Then you probably want to back off a bit and test for stability. Once you know that, you can test for memory speed by increasing the strap. Once you have an idea of the frequencylimit of the memory (with loose timings), set the strap back to 1:1 (synchronous) and start increasing the CPU multiplier to see how high you can go. You already know you're at a stable FSB and memory so any limit you hit should be due to max CPU freq. Multipliers jump the frequency in big steps, so once you hit a wall, you may want to try reducing the FSB to the equivalent of one multiplier lower and slowly raising it to find the limit. Once you get the CPU where you want it, then you tighten down the memory settings and finally, you start reducing voltages a little bit at a time to find the lowest stable voltages.

It should be noted that I have never done this, only read about it and regurgitating from my memory so I will graciously defer to any experienced users opinions. But I think as long as you stick with safe voltages and temps, you should be OK. Good luck.