My G0 Q6600 cannot get above 3 ghz

[jimminormann]

Dear Anandtech users

I am having a hard time overclocking my processor. A little information:

G0 stepping, VID 1.325

Currently running fsb 333x9 = 3 ghz

Motherboard: Asus Maximus formula X38 chipset

Ram: Corsair DHX2 5-5-5-18 (800 mhz)
Currently running 4-4-4-12 (800 mhz stable)

When I try pushing the fsb on the cpu, I cannot get the system to run stable. Even a small overclock as 350 simply won't do.

Tried fixing the volt, both on cpu and dram, no dice.

Am I the lucky owner of a bad cpu?

Regards,

Jimmi Normann

 

[Painman]

Stop Ocing more than one thing at a time, as step #1. You/we have no idea what is unstable when you up the FSB beyond stock, with anything/everything else on Auto, because it could be... ANYTHING.

Step #2, Welcome to the forums.

Step #3, read teh sticky @ the top of the forum, the one by graysky. Even old farts like me found it educational, because this damn OC stuff changes all the time, and we don't always have time to keep up with every single change in tech.

Step #1 is really paramount though. OC one thing, and only 1 thing, at a time.

 

[Scotteq]

When you raise the FSB, you are overclocking both the CPU *and* your memory. Best thing to do is UNDERclock your RAM while you tinker with processor speeds. That is how - as already suggested - you overclock only one thing at a time.

 

[jimminormann]

Thank you for your answers. So far I tried underclocking my ram, to 667 mhz with higher timings. Any suggestions in volt modding, or should I leave the things on auto for now?

 

[jimminormann]

Hi. Tried underclocking the RAM siqnificantly, and upping the cpu to 350x9 = hardware failure in prime95. Everything seems to run stable at 333x9 - and the ram has no problems in running 4-4-4-12 at 800 mhz.
Seems to me the problem lies in the cpu then? Or could it be mobo issues?

 

[soccerballtux]

This is when you increase the CPU voltage

 

[jimminormann]

Tried opping the vcore, still would not boot the system Auto at 3 ghz seems to work, anything above that, I am unable to make work properly.

 

[Acanthus]

350x9 is 3.15ghz which is decent for air cooling.

What are your temps and what cooling are you using?

Make sure you aren't taking the ram over 800mhz. I would use the 1:1 memory ratio until you achieve 100% stability on the cpu overclock. Your CPU has a high VID so it may just be a poor overclocker as well.

Edit: im sorry i didnt see your sig before posting. Your temps seem safe. I would go as high as 1.45v in small increments to shoot for that 3.15ghz. If you get stability and still have room (as in you dont go beyond ~68C in prime or 1.45v), try for more.

Also, are you monitoring your voltage under load? Asus boards tend to have a lot of VDroop, but they also have a setting to compensate for that called "voltage dampening" in the BIOS. I suggest enabling it.

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: jimminormann
Tried opping the vcore, still would not boot the system Auto at 3 ghz seems to work, anything above that, I am unable to make work properly.

What cpu voltage did you use?
Set it to 1.4v and see how far you go.

 

[aigomorla]

Cou *VTT* GH.

If you dont know what VTT is, then go read and learn about it.

Im sure your not giving enough VTT and your PLL is probably too low also.

 

[jimminormann]

Have set the vtt to auto, tried giving the vcore 1.45, still no dice. Can try opping the vtt as well.

 

[Gillbot]

read the sticky

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
Cou *VTT* GH.

If you dont know what VTT is, then go read and learn about it.

Im sure your not giving enough VTT and your PLL is probably too low also.

I didnt have to edit either setting for the rig in sig.

 

[Modular]

Generally, setting things to auto + overclocking = no good. As others have said, read the sticky and practice it.

 

[roid450]

I was in the same boat as you. Read more and just start throwing some more V at the chip on the FSB and the NB and SB chips. I'm now at 3.4 no problems.

 

[jimminormann]

Thank you all for your help. Will try to add more V - anyone who can tell me how to detect my current voltage settings on auto?
Can see the cpu volt in cpu-z, but what about nb, sb, vtt and memory ??