Overclocking problem - will not let me overclock by even 1MHz

[DyslexicHobo]

Hi all,

First off, let me tell you what hardware I'm using:

Intel Core2Duo E6400
P35-DS3R motherboard
2x2GB G.Skill RAM (cheap)
700W OCZ Stealth X-Stream PSU
GTX 280


I recently encountered an odd problem while trying to re-overclock my CPU.


A couple of months ago I was able to run my CPU at about 2.9GHz OCCT stable (24hrs). I was having some trouble with my computer, and to minimize possible causes I set my CPU back to default settings. The problem ended up being my hard drive, but I didn't remember to re-overclock my CPU.


Since this happened, I've made several changes to my computer:

Upgraded my 8800GS to current card, GTX 280
Upgraded my Antec TruPower 500 to current PSU, 700W OCZ
Upgraded Windows XP to Windows 7
Installed additional hard drives


I realized that I wasn't overclocked anymore, so I decided to go back into the BIOS and change my frequency back to what it used to be. It starts up for about 3-5 seconds with the new clock speed after I save the settings, then restarts and changes the CPU clock to default. Even if I try to increase the CPU clock by 1MHz it does this.

What is the most likely cause? Am I stupid and just forgetting some small detail about overclocking? I'm going crazy here. I used to have such a nice overclock!

Thanks for any help,
jz

 

[mbevolution]

try resetting cmos, then do your overclock again and see if it works
you may also try updating to the newest bios see if it helps.

 

[faxon]

did you forget to set any settings, like voltage maybe? are you OCing your ram? gskill ram is usually great, but by cheap how cheap is cheap? when i got most of my gskill ram "cheap" i paid about $45 a kit, but this was for DDR2 1066 5 5 5 15 2.1v, not some cheapo value ram. got 3 kits of it, very happy. if yours is similar i would say its fine, but if its not even the heat spreader stuff i would check it first just to be sure. it's an easy thing to eliminate, and we all know ram goes bad. also, check your motherboard for bad capacitors. rig like that is definitely old enough to get caught on the tail end of the capacitor plague

 

[DyslexicHobo]

Sorry, forgot to specify.

The G.Skill RAM I bought is just value RAM. It overclocked pretty well for value RAM before, though. I used to have my RAM overclocked to 1000MHz (it's rated at 800) using default timings. I've got a great motherboard that has a ton of different voltage dividers, so I've even tried setting it just under 800MHz.

I normally overclocked with stock vcore, but I've tried increasing it but no change.

 

[DyslexicHobo]

So to be so persistent, but I'm gonna bump this once to hopefully get some input.

If anyone has even an idea of what might be going on, it'd be appreciated. I've already tried resetting the CMOS and the BIOS is at its latest firmware.

Thanks for any help.

 

[manimal]

Lots of those OCZ 700s die a early death. Try putting your old Antec in and see what happens.

My IP35E died a slow painful death. It stopped booting at anything over default FSB. Then one day went BOOM.



Try to isolate the issue.

 

[DyslexicHobo]

Thanks I'll give that a shot. The PSU is brand new (about 3 weeks old now) so hopefully if it's that, I'll be able to get an easy RMA on it.