OCing Q6600 on 780i FTW edition *HELP*

endergotgame

Junior Member
Dec 1, 2008
3
0
0
Im a complete Noob when OCing so bare with me..

I've been trying to OC my Q6600 with my brand new 780i FTW mobo. I cant seem to get it to OC... I have a VID of 1.3000 and I'm aiming to hit at least 3.2 or 3.4.

I have gotten stable once at 3.4 and it ran great for a while and that was on my 680i. Now I've upgraded the Mobo so I'm trying to hit that clock with the 780i...

My comp stats are:

Q6600 G0: VID 1.3000
EVGA 780i FTW Mobo
850W Antec PS
2x1gig Dominator DDR2 1066
2x1gig PNY XLR8 DDR2 800
3x EVGA Nvidia GTX280

Right now I have 2 differant types of ram in. I have them both clocked at 1066 with a ram voltage of 2.100v. They work fine together it seems. I plan on getting 8 gigs of 1066 patriot Viper. Is this the best ram for OCing? If not what ram should i get?

What do i need to set my voltages/bios settings at to get to 3.4 or higher stable??

I'm so lost so any help is appreciated.
 

krnmastersgt

Platinum Member
Jan 10, 2008
2,873
0
0
You might want to check the EVGA forums for your answer. I used a sticky there for some of the board voltages when I first OCed my 780i, quite a helpful and thorough list there. And just...wow at your 3x 280s, I'm a bit jealous :p
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,052
1,681
126
Originally posted by: endergotgame
Im a complete Noob when OCing so bare with me..

I've been trying to OC my Q6600 with my brand new 780i FTW mobo. I cant seem to get it to OC... I have a VID of 1.3000 and I'm aiming to hit at least 3.2 or 3.4.

I have gotten stable once at 3.4 and it ran great for a while and that was on my 680i. Now I've upgraded the Mobo so I'm trying to hit that clock with the 780i...

My comp stats are:

Q6600 G0: VID 1.3000
EVGA 780i FTW Mobo
850W Antec PS
2x1gig Dominator DDR2 1066
2x1gig PNY XLR8 DDR2 800
3x EVGA Nvidia GTX280

Right now I have 2 differant types of ram in. I have them both clocked at 1066 with a ram voltage of 2.100v. They work fine together it seems. I plan on getting 8 gigs of 1066 patriot Viper. Is this the best ram for OCing? If not what ram should i get?

What do i need to set my voltages/bios settings at to get to 3.4 or higher stable??

I'm so lost so any help is appreciated.

It shouldn't matter so much as to board manufacture: chipset would seem more important.

Others can disagree, but since I've still kept my B3 stepping of that CPU, I've watched what others have done with the G0. In the meantime, I acquired an eVGA 780i board, but for use with an E8600 @ 4.1 Ghz. But I'm rather sure that there is a "voltage intersection" in comparing the B3 and G0, and it is defined for a speed of 3.0 Ghz.

I'd start with a VCORE/CPU-voltage of 1.32V, and see if you can't get it stable at 3.0 Ghz.

Also, I'm skeptical about mixing memory modules. Very skeptical. I won't go into it -- others can offer more insight -- but this . . . . is just not the way to go if you want to over-clock that puppy. Personally, I wouldn't do it. Too much rides on being able to separate CPU limitations from memory limitations, and this complicates . . . . everything. Not only because your a Noob, but also because you should be able to squeeze blood out of 'em -- you could stick with DDR2-800's:

Corsair DHX 2x2GB $40 after rebate -- DDR2-800 and 4-4-4-12

The "recommended" voltage on these is 2.1V, but I have it directly from Corsair that their warranty will cover voltages up to 2.2V or +5%. I don't think you'll get to CPU-FSB of 400 Mhz with the Q6600. If you get to 3.4 Ghz and 377, you can tighten the latencies on these to 4-4-4-10 -- maybe better. And you won't need to volt 'em over 2.1V.

That's if you want a CPU-to-RAM ratio of 1:1. Frankly, I think a different ratio with DDR2-1000's (like G.SKILL) may cost the same, but isn't worth the trouble. If you could actually get the processor to clock higher, those DHX 800's are good past 900.

You can try 2 kits of 2x2GB RAM. I just don't think you'll need it. I DO know that the 680i boards gave some trouble for filling in all slots, so do some research on the forums to see what people say about fully-socketed 780i boards.

Finally, while your PSU is rated at 850W, see if you can't monitor the voltage draw under load conditions with those three 280GTX cards. OC'ing will push the voltage draw higher; using four memory sticks instead of 2x2GB will push the voltage draw higher. You need a "margin" there. Even the Extreme-Outervision PSU calculator -- especially that calculator -- should tell you if you're "good to go."

MAKE -- ah -- DARN sure that you use the clip-on Northbridge fan with the motherboard. Mine wasn't the FTW, but I'm guessing that you get the same fan in the retail box.

Now . . . I apologize for dissing your memory configuration, but I've explained that. You need to make some clear and deliberate selections for over-clocking, and especially . . . K.I.S.S.
 

endergotgame

Junior Member
Dec 1, 2008
3
0
0
Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
You might want to check the EVGA forums for your answer. I used a sticky there for some of the board voltages when I first OCed my 780i, quite a helpful and thorough list there. And just...wow at your 3x 280s, I'm a bit jealous :p

LOL thanks! I just bought them with some of my bonus money from joining the Air National Guard after i got out of the Air Force Active Duty. I will check out the EVGA site. Any tips on the ram idea?

Bonzai... you quoted me but didn't provide a message...?

 

endergotgame

Junior Member
Dec 1, 2008
3
0
0
Thanks Bonzai! i was thinking should i just Take out the PNY and run the 2 gigs of dominator? Would this help the OC? and would it effect my gaming?
 

BlueAcolyte

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2007
2,793
2
0
Probably not going to help a lot unless you think you can clock over 3.6GHz on that Q6600 (not likely) so just leave it in. 2GB of RAM is ALWAYS worse than 4GB. Running DDR2-800 means you can run up to 400FSB. (3.6GHz)
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
36
91
You really should list all the voltages you use. Having 4 sticks + OCd quad is hard on the Northbridge.....
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,052
1,681
126
Originally posted by: endergotgame
Thanks Bonzai! i was thinking should i just Take out the PNY and run the 2 gigs of dominator? Would this help the OC? and would it effect my gaming?

Check the "Memory and Storage" forum for the performance of PNY. I'm familiar with the manufacturer, but not with the quality of the product for more than running machines at stock settings.

The Dominators are Corsair. Wait a minute . . . .

[Checked Newegg on these]. Yeah -- I'd go with Corsair just on general performance reputation.

First, let's talk about the size of the modules. I think these Dominators were a more expensive model, and for good reason. The DDR2-800's were spec'd to run at latencies of 3-4-3-9. Corsair had been a vanguard for low-latency DDR2 RAM, and these fit the spec of those that first appeared and then disappeared as people gobbled them up.

If you are running Windows XP 32-bit, I'd stick with 2GB or 2x1GB kits. If you are running VISTA 64, then I'd recommend 2x2GB or 4GB of RAM. As I said, you could look into the 780i forums to see if there are limitations to running two of these kits, but I've found 4GB to be more than adequate, and a good trade-off against power-consumption and OC'ability.

You can, at the moment, get a 4GB-kit of those dominators for an after-rebate price of $70:

Dominator DDR2-1066 2x2GB $109 - $40_rebate = $69

You could even match a 2GB kit with a 4GB kit to fill all four sockets -- this at least would give you memory running at the same spec by the same manufacturer.

The thing I've discovered about these memory specs: some kits can overclock well above the DDR2-800 spec; some DDR2-1000/1066 can underclock well at the same tight latencies of their DDR2-800 counterparts; and some people report that certain makes of the DDR2-1000 don't allow for tighter latencies at the lower speeds.

The CPU : RAM ratios favored by this last generation of CPUs and mobos (with DDR2) are, in descending order of preference: 1:1, 4:5, (and 1;2 with DDR3).

With the Kentsfield quads like your Q6600 G0, you're just not going to make it to a full FSB = 1600 (and DDR=800), even if you come close. So the only way you can squeeze full performance out of the DDR2-1066 is choosing a 4:5 ratio. Per the December, 2007 article here at Anandtech on OC'ing the QX9650 and 45nm Penryn/Yorkfield cores, the 4:5 ratio will pretty much give you a break-even on bandwidth, or even less. It wouldn't be any different from Conroe-Kentsfield.

This means that you can either get DDR2-800's or DDR2-1066's and clock them at 1:1 as close as you can get to DDR=800 Mhz. Then tighten the latencies to the DDR2-800 spec or better.

Now . . . I ain't the extreme over-clocker here, but I've been through about two or three cycles of this since 2003. It was useful in the '90s getting assigned a computer architecture course to teach Asian grad-students, but others may offer equal or better advice. (imHo).

Other advice on the 780i: You may need to bump up the CPU-VTT (CPU-FSB) voltage, but keep it at 1.45V or lower. That's likely if you move into the 375 to 400 CPU-FSB speed range. You may also want to start edging up the 1.2V_HT or MCP voltage (I think that's what the eVGA BIOS calls it, anyway). You should attempt to drop the NB voltage a tad from the "auto" value (which will likely be around 1.45 or 1.5V). Read Graysky's OverClocking sticky.

Use multi-core PRIME95 for initial stability testing -- at least 8 to 10 hours. Then run IntelBurnTest for an hour to two hours. If the core temperatures start moving above 80C, you either need better cooling or a lower clock. That's my cautious judgment. You can then drop the clock back a notch, keeping the same voltage settings. Like I said, read Graysky.
 

lavaheadache

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2005
6,893
14
81
Just as a vote of confidence, I'm running my Q6600 at 3.2 400x8 with 4x1 gig sticks of ddr 800 ocz platinum on a 680 i lt flashed to 680i. My quad has a vid of 1.225, not sure if that is why I have no problems with my oc. I'm sure with the 780i you just gotta work the kinks out and you'll be fine
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,052
1,681
126
Originally posted by: lavaheadache
Just as a vote of confidence, I'm running my Q6600 at 3.2 400x8 with 4x1 gig sticks of ddr 800 ocz platinum on a 680 i lt flashed to 680i. My quad has a vid of 1.225, not sure if that is why I have no problems with my oc. I'm sure with the 780i you just gotta work the kinks out and you'll be fine

What was your BIOS "set" voltage for the CPU?

The good thing about the 780i chipset: you can run either Wolfdale C2D or Yorkfield C2Q. How well it works with Kentsfield C2Q's, I can't be absolutely sure. But the limitations at the full, stock-multiplier seem to be around 3.4-ish with air-cooling. So far, I've only used the 780i with an E8400 Wolfdale, and there seems to be a lot of extra headroom above 4 Ghz to push it farther.

On the 680i, I had -- in addition to the B3 Q6600 -- variously deployed an E6600 @ 3.4Ghz and an E8400 (which I couldn't push further than about 3.8).

I forgot to tell the OP that he could drop his multiplier, as you did. And that's a viable option for pushing the memory to its spec limit. My only problem with a different multiplier: you absolutely have to disable Speedstep.

Otherwise, if the chipset and motherboard can "take it," it's a more comfortable way to push the FSB higher.