Q6600 OC voltages and stability question

[three4seven]

I have a Q6600 G0 w/ VID of 1.25v.

Last week (using a Sunbeamtech NUUO 550w PSU), I had the q6600 clocked to 3.6 (400x9) @ 1.46 v, prime stable w/ Small FFT's for 8+ hours. After a few days, I tried turning it down to 1.45 v, but that yielded an error in a few hours. When I put it back to 1.46, I found it sometimes even had trouble w/ a cold boot, and I would need to shutdown and reboot the system and it would work fine. I ran a 5 hour test, prime stable.. everything seemed fine.

This week, I tried my setup with a new PSU. A Silverstone Zeus 650w (older model - enhance build) - which i believed was an upgrade (albeit a small one). I couldn't get it prime stable w/ 1.46v. An error arose after about an hour and a half. Currently running 1.47v, no errors yet (2 hours).

Now, for my questions.

First off, I have no idea how to turn off the speedstep and other power savings option on my mobo (abit AB9 QuadGT).

Second, I can't figure out what program to use to validate voltages through my CPU. My uGuru shows voltages fluctuations from 1.28 to 1.43. I can assume the the 1.28v is from the speedstep/powersaving function. On Prime95 small FFT's, it stays pretty consistent at 1.40v, occasionally fluctuating to 1.41 or 1.39. CPU-z 1.41 shows voltage of 1.488v under load.

So which voltage is correct. And how can I assure myself of a stable voltage.

Does changing the multiplier help w/ stability? (ie. 401x9 vs 400x9)...

any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

They should show up in C1E and EIST. It's best to keep these options ON with the default 9x multi to lower Vcore when PC is idling. These options do not affect your voltage under load. When idling, you will see 1.28. When priming, you will see 1.40 even when the BIOS is set to 1.46 (Vdrop and Vdroop). As is, the CPU needs about 1.40-1.42 to achieve stability at that speed. CPUz is wrong. I would trust the Guru readings.

 

[three4seven]

thanks for the response serpent

i guess what im confused about is containing the voltage so my computer is more stable. I can't understand how my computer is failing Prime even after one day it would run 8 hours prime no problem.

I just ran prime for 9.5 hours straight, no errors @ 1.47v in bios, but when I wokeup and just messed around a bit (ie just checked my email), one core fails within 15 minutes (@ 9 hours, 45 minutes).

I was just wondering if there was any way to achieve better stability besides continually cranking up the vcore.

 

[rash219]

Well according to many reputed members here, they always suggest running Prime95 for a full day 24hrs or more before concluding that your PC is stable. Because many of times you might end up with an error after 13-20hrs of running prime 95.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: three4seven
thanks for the response serpent

i guess what im confused about is containing the voltage so my computer is more stable. I can't understand how my computer is failing Prime even after one day it would run 8 hours prime no problem.

I just ran prime for 9.5 hours straight, no errors @ 1.47v in bios, but when I wokeup and just messed around a bit (ie just checked my email), one core fails within 15 minutes (@ 9 hours, 45 minutes).

I was just wondering if there was any way to achieve better stability besides continually cranking up the vcore.

Orthos is just one test. If you stress test something long enough, it will fail. You can pass 24 h Orthos and have stability issue with your proggies. The true test of stability is how various programs get along with your configuration.

I only run Orthos for one hour, and I only had to back-off FSB about two times...3MHz.

 

[firewolfsm]

I run it for 4 hours. I've done many overclocks and if it lasts 4 hours in prime, it never failes any other program.

 

[three4seven]

thanks for the replies. The input helps to ease my mind a bit.

 

[SilentAssassin]

There was a C2D system I built that refused to run stable untill I set the ram to run 1:1 with the FSB. It even ran a full day stable and then after shutting down the pc instantly unstable. Couldn't figure out why but running a 1:1 ratio fixed it.