Help with overclocking my PC

[chitrang]

Hello guys,

This is my first post here.
I'm a freelance graphics designer and also into music production. I got a new desktop last week and I wanna overclock it now.

Detailed Config Report: http://www.omnisine.com/hardwarereport.htm
Motherboard: EVGA nForce 750i SLI FTW
PSU: Corsair vx450
GPU: MSI NX8800GT
Chassis: Cooler Master CM 690
Cooling: Intel's stock fan and heatsink on the CPU, three 120mm fans and a small fan on the northbridge (http://www.firingsquad.com/med...cle_image.asp/2335/09)

I wish to overclock my Q6600 to 3.0ghz and maybe the ram too. What should be the FSB and timings for my RAM to keep up with the Q6600 at 3.0ghz?
I'm planning to buy the OCZ Vendetta 2 to replace Intel's HSF. Do i need it or will Intel's HSF cut it?

Please take a look at the config and all and tell me what should be the OC settings in my BIOS.

Thanks,
Chitrang

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: chitrang
I'm planning to buy the OCZ Vendetta 2 to replace Intel's HSF.

Good, because you're going to need it.

or will Intel's HSF cut it?

No, it won't.

Please take a look at the config and all and tell me what should be the OC settings in my BIOS.

They'll be whatever they need to be, after you find out what your system needs to be stable. You'll want to give this a read, before going any farther.

 

[chitrang]

Yeh I've been reading that guide since the last half hour...But i was jus wondering if there are any roughly standard settings for a q6600 with 4gb at 3.0ghz since it's not a very ambitious OC. I'm guessing it wont be too hard to get a stable system at 3.0ghz since it's not pushing things too far.

 

[JonW]

Looks like you got one of those q6600 with high vid. Go for 428x7, that should give you 3Ghz. Leave cpu volts to default as it can easily do that frequency. Set your ram ratio to 333 1:1 strap 5-5-5-15(18) TRFC=52. Don't know exactly how your mobo set the voltages in auto, if it scales it correctly or what not but leave nb/vtt to auto and manually set your ram voltage/cpu.

Heres my Q6600 while I was testing the max fsb with biostar i45. So in your case, your vtt voltage should be around 1.30v-1.35v. If the system freezes while priming, give it some more nb volts. With quad, it's mostly vtt/nb voltage.
http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=470fsbrb1.jpg

goodluck,

 

[badnewcastle]

Read this.

And this.

It's pretty simple and let us know how you do.

 

[chitrang]

cheers will try that...but shud i tighten up RAM timings? from 5-5-5-18 to 4-4-4-12 or smething?...well the first step is to get a new cpu heatsink n fan...

these are my options :
http://www.ocztechnology.com/p..._vendetta_2_cpu_cooler
http://www.thermalright.com/ne..._cpu_cooler_u120ex.htm
http://www.thermalright.com/ne...wxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

they all fit in my budget...so which one do u recommend?

 

[error8]

Go for the Ultra 120 or Ultra 120 extreme, if you afford it.

 

[chitrang]

yep i think i'll go for the ultra 120 extreme...cuz i just read on a forum that the vendetta 2 might block 2 of the dimms....will have to check the dimensions for both n see what'll fit well...

one more question...for my current setup + post OCing, will my corsair vx450 do well?....and i might get another seagate 500gb hdd...the vx450 is a really good PSU but im jus concerned if the OCing will leave room for future upgrades...i'm definitely not going SLI but would definitely get more HDDs, RAM etc...

i dont know how much power things consume so i'm just listing everything i have connected or will connect in the near future. Tell me if the vx450 can take all this:
q6600 OCd to 3.0-3.6
2gb ram x 4
500gb seagate hdds x 2
msi nx8800gt
lg dvd writer x 2
ultra 120 extreme cpu HSF
upto 7 (3 already installed) 120mm chassis fans
one northbridge fan
edirol fa-66 firewire audio interface
250gb transend usb hdd
160gb usb hdd (hitachi in transcend case)

i read in a review that the vx450 is actually capable of pulling over 500watts at 80% efficiency.
Not that I have the money to go buy a new PSU. But I need to know how much this one can take.

 

[chitrang]

alright so i got myself an OCZ Vendetta 2...wanted the TRUE 120 but it wasnt available...

I'm trying to OC at 3.2ghz (400x8) FSB:1600, DRAM:800.
I played around with a couple of vcore settings bt i barely managed to prime for more than 5-6mins..

so i'm just postin the settings i have right now...it ran for about 5 mins n then the comp froze...
i dunno wat to increase or decrease...

Vcore: 1.45
FSB: 1.35
DIMM: 1.9 (company recommended)
NB: 1.50
SB: 1.35

I also feel these values are a bit high for 3.2ghz
Temps under load frm prime: 67-69c

the temps are too high i feel...i dont want em to go over 60-65 under load...even after considering the Indian climate, i dont thing under 65 wud be too much to ask for...i've got the vendetta 2 plus 4 fans on the chassis..plus AC in the room....

pls tell me how i can get this right....

 

[Shmee]

for a load under prime, those temps seem decent. idle will be much lower, and also, what thermal paste did you use with your V2?

my q6600 is currently at 3 with 1.38 volts, and i hear even that is unnecessary. you shouldn't need 1.45 unless you are going over 3.6 or something. but what are the idle temps? also, keep in mind that stress testing like prime will make the cpu be used much more than any regular gaming or multimedia app, except for folding. so most of the time they will probably be under 50 C, which is good.

 

[faxon]

yea what shmee is saying should hold true. one thing you might want to look at is the voltage going to your ram. different companies DIMMs are different, but most DDR2 can usually take 2.1-2.2 depending on the ram you have. did you run memtest on your ram before starting to do any overclocking? and what prime test are you using?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Mmm, is it easier on the CPU to pull 8 x 400 or 9 x 355? You could try 9 x 355 if 400FSB is too much?

 

[chitrang]

thnx for the reply guys...

it seems like my ram cannot pull off a 400x8...i tried a hell lot of settings..nothing was stable..even for 10-15mins...
so i OCed it to 3ghz... 333x9 with cpu core at 1.35 and others on auto (FSB: 1.40, Mem: 1.90, NB: 1.30, SB: 1.20).... I ran the Blend test on prime for about 20-30 mins..passes the self test...n temps were arnd 60-63...so that was good...

but i still want a 3.2...so i tried 360x9...with auto voltages...CPU:1.45, FSB: 1.40, Mem:1.9, NB:1.40, SB: 1.20... prime ran ok for about 15 mins n then the comp froze...

can ya suggest better settings for the 3.24ghz at 360x9?...

@shmee : i used the thermal paste that comes with V2...I think i applied a bit too much...my friend has some space Arctic Silver 5 which he doesnt mind sharing..i'll apply that n see if it helps the temps....
@faxon : no i havent run memtest :S ...my memory's factory voltage is 1.9 and my MB shows upto 2.2 in green...

 

[chitrang]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Mmm, is it easier on the CPU to pull 8 x 400 or 9 x 355? You could try 9 x 355 if 400FSB is too much?

yeh i figured 400x8 was not happening...so i'm going for 360x9...but stability and temp still an issue...

 

[chitrang]

btw at 3.24 360x9, voltages on auto, my idle temps are 47-50....
and i tried some manual voltage setting...it passed the first test at temps around 65-67 but once the second test started it started goin over 70 so i stopped the test right away...

 

[chitrang]

update:
ran a test on the 3ghz profile...even that gave an error after 30 mins...

 

[Shmee]

sorry to hear you are having a bit of trouble. I my self may need to upgrade my cooler, though I have a similar board to urs: the 780i FTW. things to consider: 1.45 is too much, unless you want to be stable at something like over 3.6 ghz, but first you need to bring down temps way b4 that! I think I already said that about the voltage though...

and sorry if I missed this, but what stepping is your Q6600? (either B3 or G0) and what is the VID? CPUZ and core temp should tell you.
If it is a B3, you may just be reaching near the chips max. if not, you may not have applied the thermal correctly, or, perhaps it isn't good stuff. try the AS5, but keep in mind it takes a while for it to set and achieve maximum thermal performance. also, their is a good thread on evga forums, an overclocking guide for 780i's, it may have some good points close enough to your board.

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm....8&mpage=1&key=&#222688

he also has a thread about the 680i xD

 

[chitrang]

yeh it's G0 stepping...i think i'll reinstall my V2 and apply AS5 and try again...you think it cud be the SB?...i've mostly kept it at 1.20...maybe a higher value wud help....

 

[chitrang]

ok this might sound stupid at this point but just confirming since im new to all this... nForce SSP is the NB and NF200 Voltage Level is the SB right?

 

[chitrang]

bump