OC starting point w/ e6600, P5W DH, XMS2 6400C4

[CowboyFarmer]

I will be getting all my parts next week. Any suggestion on a good starting point to OC this rig? Starting FSB GHz, RAM timing, and ratio? I am a OC newbie so I welcome any advice. Thanks!

 

[Kwint Sommer]

Raise the CPU voltage to 1.45 and set the FSB to 350mhz and go up by 10mhz at a time (set it and restart) and assuming it reaches 400mhz log into windows and do some stability testing. 400mhz FSB is what your RAM is rated for but it should go higher. I would leave it at 1:1. You may need to adjust voltages and such as you go or possibly to get to 400mhz. The RAM should be fine at stock voltage up to 400mhz. After 400 you may need to loosen the timings on the RAM.

 

[CowboyFarmer]

Thanks for the advice, Kwint. I think the E6600's multiplier is 9x (266 MHz x 9 = 2.4GHz). By setting the FSB to 350MHz, the E6600 will be running at 3.15GHz. Is this correct? It would be awesome if I can get it over 3.0GHz.

One more question. I will need to keep the ratio to 1:1? Thanks.

 

[FallenHero]

Originally posted by: CowboyFarmer
Thanks for the advice, Kwint. I think the E6600's multiplier is 9x (266 MHz x 9 = 2.4GHz). By setting the FSB to 350MHz, the E6600 will be running at 3.15GHz. Is this correct? It would be awesome if I can get it over 3.0GHz.

One more question. I will need to keep the ratio to 1:1? Thanks.

you dont need to, but its ideal for best performance.

 

[gobucks]

i don't know if I'd START at 3.15GHz and 1.45V VCore. I'd start at 310MHz FSB, which is 2.79GHz, and see if it's stable on stock vcore. My e6400 was stable up to 3GHz on stock vcore. I like to know how well the chip responds to overvolting - sometimes adding a little extra juice can allow for several hundred extra MHz, but other chips seem to max out rather quickly, and overvolting like 10% or so doesn't buy you more than like 50MHz. Anyways, I'd start at 310MHz and bump it up 10MHz at a time until it's unstable, then up the vcore by .025V at a time until it is stable. repeat this until you've reached the highest vcore you feel safe with. I think 1.45V should be okay if you have aftermarket cooling, but with the stock intel cooler i wouldn't really recommend anything higher than like 1.4V.

Also, what motherboard are you using? a lot of 975X and P965 boards seem to max out at like 360-370FSB, so that might be a limiting factor for you. The Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 seems to be the exception - people are hitting 500MHz+ clocks with it (mine is at 400MHz FSB, but my memory is currently the limiting factor). unfortunately, this only seems to work with allendales, not conroes - conroes seem to max out at like 365MHz like in other mobos. Make sure you try lowering the multiplier in order to isolate the max FSB speed before you go pumping extra juice into your CPU to try and get higher clocks. pushing 1.45V to the CPU isn't gonna help if your mobo isn't stable at those speeds.

 

[CowboyFarmer]

Thanks for the advice, gobucks. I have the Asus P5W DH on order. I think it should be OK. I also have a Zalman 9500 LED HSF. I hope it will help me go over 3.0GHz.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Originally posted by: CowboyFarmer
Thanks for the advice, gobucks. I have the Asus P5W DH on order. I think it should be OK. I also have a Zalman 9500 LED HSF. I hope it will help me go over 3.0GHz.

I'm getting rather poor load temps with the zalman + STG1 paste, and 1.4825v. 62C-64C dual priming @ 3.4ghz. I'm hoping a scythe mine will help control the load temps a bit.

 

[CowboyFarmer]

Originally posted by: TheInternet1980
I'm getting rather poor load temps with the zalman + STG1 paste, and 1.4825v. 62C-64C dual priming @ 3.4ghz. I'm hoping a scythe mine will help control the load temps a bit.

I order Artic Silver 5 separately. Is it better than STG1 paste or not?

 

[maddawg007]

I personally think AS5 is better, but there isn't much real world proof of any of the paste being much better than anything other than generic brands. With my Zalman 9500 led I am running 400mhz on a e6400 at 1.45vcore and getting 40C temps during prime.

But, I also have 2 case fans pushing air through my Zalman heatsink

 

[gobucks]

i think the zalman 9500 should do just fine as far as cooling. i have the 7700, which isn't as good, and i'm getting like 35C load at 3.0GHz.