Poor Q6600 Overclocking

[airhendrix13]

Hi everyone,

I just recently bought a Q6600 (B3 stepping) for my PC and I seem to be having trouble getting a decent overclock.

First off, I would like to point out I am aware of the fact that G0's may get slightly better OC's, but with my budget this is not possible at the moment, and quite frankly, not worth another $300 to me. Also, I'm currently not comfortable with lapping my CPU. If anything were to go wrong with my CPU in the future and it was lapped, returning it would no longer be an option.

Here are my essentials for OCing:

Mobo: EVGA 680i
RAM: Corsair XMS2 DDR6400 (2 X 1GB)
Case: Thermaltake Armor Tower
Cooling: 1 X 240mm sidefan, 4 X 120mm fans (2 intake, 2 out), 2 80mm fans (1 blowing on RAM, other blowing HDD heat out front so it doesn't blow over the Mobo).

Although I am running on air cooling, this is no subpar cooling solution.

My temps:

Idle Load
CPU: 38C 45C
Case: 35C 40C
HDD's: 52C 55C
GPU: 48C 64C

Ok, so the highest I've been able to get my Q6600 up to is 2.8GHZ, which quite frankly, in my opinion, isn't very good. When I up the voltage, it doesn't seem to help at all. My memory is set at 5-5-5-12 2T, which is already loosening the timings from 4-4-4-12 2T.

My last OC was on a p4 prescott. The stock was 2.8ghz and I OC'd it to 3.8ghz, so I'm pretty sure that im doing something right.

My goal is to hit at LEAST 3ghz, and although not all processors OC well, I think 3ghz, even on air cooling, is within reasonable limits.

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

 

[Shimmishim]

what are your other voltages? vtt? nb? sb? etc..

 

[MarcVenice]

You haven't even told us all the other variables, like the voltage on the NB/SB, the multiplier/fsb speed you're using etc. You have to tell us everything before someone would be able to point something out, that might need a little more juice, or a different setting.

 

[drakore]

Well how much voltage are you supplying it? what multi and fsb are you using?

What is this non-sub par cooling solution u are using?

I am assuming you are using speed fan to report those results and you don't need to loosen your memory timings.

 

[drakore]

whoops as i was replying looks like 2 ppl beat me to it

 

[airhendrix13]

Woops, sorry guys. I completely forgot to include my voltage. My CPU is running at 1.3V and my memory at 2.1V.

Multiplier is at 9 I believe (or whatever the default is) and the FSB is at 1250 or 312.5 not quad pumped.

Thanks again,

Ryan

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Update BIOS. Note that 680i runs hot. P35 would be a better match if you want to push Quads.

Sync Memory speed with FSB speed and set timing to 5-5-5-15-2T/2.1Vdimm. Use highest CPU multiplier. Raise Vcore to 1.4. May need to bump NB up several notches.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm using a different 680i board.

But your CPU voltage seems like a good place to start. See if you can get it up to 1.319 or 1.325V. I started OC'ing mine at 1.325 and was able to drop it back to the 1.319 setting.

Before you go forward with that, see what monitored values you get for:

1.2VHT
CPU_VTT (CPU_FSB)
NB_Core
SB_Core

You should be able to leave the SB_Core on "Auto." It's been said that you can get to 400 Mhz (dropping the multiplier on air-cooling) with the VTT at 1.40V.

Some people have bumped up their VHT, NB and VTT voltages higher, but to get an easy and fairly cool-running over-clock at 3.001 Ghz, FSB = 1,334 and DDR2 = 667, I had these settings:

VCORE 1.31875V
1.2VHT 1.30V
NB 1.35V
VTT 1.35V

Later, after trying some different multipliers, I bumped up the VHT to 1.35, NB to 1.40, and VTT to 1.40. But I can tell you that 2.8 to 2.88 Ghz with VCORE 1.3000V is about even with the VCORE setting I had for those particular clock-speeds.

You could go higher on these, but you really should be able to get to 3 Ghz this way. As I said, I think some people have upped their NB, VHT and VTT to 1.5 or higher (depending on which one). But it's pretty easy to tell when you only need to go up 0.05V on any of these to stabilize an ORTHOS run that failed.

Per the memory -- which, I believe are Corsairs? I forgot to mention the memory voltage. If the factory warranty from Corsair says they are good up to 2.1, run it up to 2.05 and see what the BIOS monitor says. If the value is still below the maximum warranty spec, you could probably push them up to the full 2.1. If the factory warranty spec is 2.2 as with many dual-channel kits, just get them up close to that value so they run at or just below the limit.

My memory is spec'd to run at a recommended maximum of 2.2, and I only need to run them at 2.1 to get to 3 Ghz, FSB 1,334 and DDR2 667. As for the latencies -- try tweaking them later, but they should run tighter than the spec'd or SPD value(s) for DDR2-800. Eventually, I set the memory at 2.15V and left it there.

I'm not the great expert on these things, and I'm very conservative in my OC settings -- running on air-cooling. Your TCASE temperature looks "about right," and I'd say you can let the individual TJunction or core values go into the high 60's before trimming your VCORE to moderate them.

A NOTE: Again, no first-hand experience with the eVGA board, but I've noticed some strange things about these processors. I thought I observed that even voltages within the 1.35V retail box maximum spec caused problems for clock settings that only needed lower VCORE values to run rock-solid stable. That is, it's possible to over-volt the VCORE within Intel spec, and it could be excessive and unstable for a lower clock setting.

 

[airhendrix13]

Alright, I will give your suggestions a try and I will post back.

Thanks a bunch guys,

Ryan

 

[BonzaiDuck]

One more --

Does the eVGA board have a "Linked" and "Unlinked" option for the FSB and memory speeds? On my board, some people thought that "Linked" meant 1:1 with the (QDR) FSB setting equal to twice the DDR2 speed. In fact, it meant that the memory speed was equal to the FSB, so that if the FSB was 1,334, the system would try and run the memory modules at DDR2-1334 -- definitely outside the spec for the Corsair DDR2-800's you have or the Crucial DDR2-1000's that I have.

Check your FSB and memory speeds and make sure your settings are correct so that at FSB = 1,334 you are running the memory as DDR2-667.

The other thing you can do is to run a divider. If you run all "Auto" settings for the memory and bump the FSB up to 1,333, however, you may be running your Corsairs at closer to DDR2-890 or so, and they may not be capable of going so much beyond their 800 Mhz spec.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Use CPUz to check your memory speed. Set divider so FSB speed = Memory speed. If you're pushing 2.8GHz with 9x multi (E4300), then FSB and RAM should run at 311MHz.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Yo, snake-man -- that's the simplest and best way to put it -- I couldn't say it better.

 

[airhendrix13]

BonzaiDuck,

I think you might be on to something. I am indeed running it at linked which very well could be the problem.

I'll recheck my memory speed like SerpentRoyal said, reOC, and post back.

Thanks again

 

[AkumaX]

What heatsink?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Another good point, Akumax . . .

But she should still be able to get to 2.88 on the stock cooler. VCORE is most of that problem, and I'm pretty sure it'll go that fast with VCORE at 1.30.

I just hope she's keeping up with these posts. Anyway, if she got a 2.8E to run at 3.8, she'd probably know that . . . .

It's certainly a good idea for safety to make sure no rock is left unturned . . .

 

[nyker96]

I think 3ghz with a good air cooler say Tuniq 120 is very possible and even can go higher with the Q6600, haven't seen anyone on other forums with less than a 3ghz unless they are undervolting the Q6600. Even a B3 is definitely capable of 3Ghz. However if your HSF is poor I think your temperature will be extremely high at load even at your current 2.8 with quads.

 

[airhendrix13]

I have a Zalman 9500 and I run its fan at 100% at all times.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

You'd only know by starting initially with the stock cooler, from which, upon purchase, I rip off the fans for some yet-to-be-determined usage, and either store the heatsink away or run it down to mah-man at the computer-store to firm up my privilege at obtaining another free case from his cyber-junkpile waiting for transport to the county landfill.

If AirHendrix has my case, my cooler and my ducting-mod, 2.88 with 1.30VCore will show CoreTemps peaked at 54C in 75F room-ambient. I know the E6600 can be mildly OC'd on air with the stock cooler, but caution is the word with the Q6600.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Wow. We're dealin' with a sophisticated audiophile here. I've heard about that Auzentech. Schweet.

 

[airhendrix13]

Alright, I tried what everyone said to try. Now I'm up to 2.9ghz, but I'm still rather disappointed with my results.

Here is a SS of CPUZ:

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/6814/cpuz1ej7.jpg

 

[MarcVenice]

Intel speedstep and eist are still enabled I guess ? They lower your multiplier when your system is idling, saving energy. Run orthos, and look again in cpu-z, the multiplier will go up up up

 

[airhendrix13]

Lol, I dont know about "sophisticated audiophile". It's more like, "I need more audio inputs".

 

[BonzaiDuck]

May 5 comparative Anandtech review

The Anandtech May 5 review uses a bench configuration with the C2D X6800. How that scales for the C2Q 6600 is a matter of speculation. I still think it would go to 2.88 Ghz, but watch the CoreTemp temperature values. You'll have to trim the VCORE to keep them below 70C -- my recommendation, anyway.

Some people are OC'ing to 3 Ghz with a mid-70s room ambient so that the hottest core gets as high as 69C.

The other thing you can do is to drop the multiplier and then run up the FSB (and memory) so that the CPU speed is between 2.4 and 2.8 -- watching the temperatures as I said. This should give you an idea about tuning the memory, FSB and other voltages at a low enough VCORE that is safe, until you decide whether or not the CNPS 9500 is adequate.

Everyone here knows what cooler I'd recommend, and the Tuniq comes in a close second to that May 5 review. You might want to try TR's Ultima-90, but we're still waiting for some reviewer to give us numbers. I'm making an educated guess that it performs on parity with my TR Ultra-120-Extreme [ . . . there . . . . I let the cat out of the bag . . . . my recommendation.]

I'm still dreaming of Rube-Goldberg concoctions whereby I can use my graveyard of heatpipe-coolers that grows with every new high-TDP processor generation. I should probably get them up on EBAy -- maybe someone can use them.

Also -- even if it's written for the C2D's, take a look at this . . .

C2D Temperature Guide

 

[BonzaiDuck]

That sound card got some rave notices in a recent issue of CPU Power User. It was also supposed to make a respectable performance for gaming.

If you're at 2.9, it may only be cooling issues. This B3 C2Q6600 is a toaster. I don't think it scales like a Prescott, which I think had stock TDP around 105W -- and this one is very near that. But OC'ing it really puts out the thermal wattage. I went from an E6600 to this Quad out of curiosity -- other reasons, including the price-drop. I was a bit stunned that low air-cooling CoreTemp values for this at a reasonable room-ambient and stock speed load was still showing a core or two in the low 50's C.

Like I said -- 3 Ghz with the mainstream computer case, no ducting or water-cooling -- gives you CoreTemp values in the 60's and high-60's -- per honest reports from our colleagues here. You could try sticking a tubular duct around the Zalman. I call the mock-up for it "The Quaker-Oats" ducting mod, because those barrel-shaped oatmeal boxes -- about 5" diameter -- do the trick. It would be . . . . interesting to see how much difference it makes -- to force air through the Zalman and whoosh! -- out the case rear.

But the thermal resistance of the cooler is still going to limit how much luck you would have with that. I think by some estimates, the tr measure for the Zalman was in the 0.09 to 0.12 C/W range. I'm pretty sure the TR-Ultra-120-Extreme is around 0.097 C/W with a 120mm fan running at 2,500 rpm -- give or take. And I don't know how effective the Zalman fan really is -- so it might be improved.

I just don't want to be hyping my own lo-tech cooling mods too much -- folks around here got a real dose of it in recent weeks. But you can find my ducting thread somewhere on the previous pages -- fairly recent.

Also -- if you're taking your time and watching your pennies (as should have I, but my enthusiasm ran away with my wallet . . ) -- in certain ways, low-multiplier over-clocks with the Quad -- well -- they'll run away from a Prescott, even at 3.8. There's an extra dimension of performance that comes with the extra cores.

But I'd be interested to see if Quaker-Oats can boost the Zalman CNPS 9500.

 

[airhendrix13]

Well, it seems that my CPU absolutely refuses to go above 3ghz, I can only max out at 2.9ghz. I'm also thinking that my PSU might not be feeding it enough power because it is only a 420 watt PSU I believe. I don't believe it's cooling issues due to the fact that at 2.9ghz, my CPU only reaches 58C and my case temps around 45C after running Orthos for 10 minutes. I might still try your ducting mod though just to knock a few degrees off.

Thanks for your help, I'll let you know if anything changes.

Ryan