Questions on Q6600 quad-core and Speedstepping...

[fretman]

Hi Folks,

I have a few questions regarding my Q6600 quad-core rated at 2.4GHZ and Speedstepping.

Question 1:
With speedstep enabled and running CPU-ID I see my multiplier at 6x when idle and jumps to 9x when I have my virus and ad-aware programs running. The speed jumps back and forth from 1.6 to 2.4GHZ. Based on the research I've done I believe this is normal behaviour.

However, with speedstep disabled I notice exactly the same thing. I was under the impression that with speedstep disabled my CPU speed would constantly stay at 2.4GHZ whether idling or under load.

I'm running Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition.

Can someone explain why I don't see a difference with speedstep enabled or disabled?


Question 2:
I thought with my quad-core processor that I could have 4 tasks running at the same time without a slow down in performance. However, when I run my anti-virus scan, ad-aware scan, browsing the net, and copy a large amount of data from one folder to another, certain processes really slow down.

For example, my anti-virus scan slows down considerably until I shut down one of the other processes.

Can someone explain if I'm understanding quad-core technology correctly? My understanding is that I can run 4 tasks with the same speed for all 4 tasks as if I'm just running one of them at a time.

Ex: Just running Anti-virus might take 15 minutes alone. And running Anti-virus with 3 other tasks going would still take 15 minutes to complete.

Sorry for the long post. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[benjamic]

I was a Q6600 user before, it can be OC to 3.6Ghz to 4.0Ghz easily

Question 1:
Don't worry, multiplier of 6x at idle is normal. It is the Intel's multi-core technology,
it safe power during 6x timing, full load will jump to 9x. For AMD, it will always stay
constantly at their multiplier.

Question 2:
I don't think the Quad core processor works that way (Run 4 tasks at the same time), it is based on the application software whether or not to support dual-core or quad-core. Most video editing software
will utilizes all 4-cores now. Which mean they will encode and render the video file faster because of
the 4-cores it utilized.

 

[imported_apocalypse]

Originally posted by: fretman
Question 1:
With speedstep enabled and running CPU-ID I see my multiplier at 6x when idle and jumps to 9x when I have my virus and ad-aware programs running. The speed jumps back and forth from 1.6 to 2.4GHZ. Based on the research I've done I believe this is normal behaviour.

However, with speedstep disabled I notice exactly the same thing. I was under the impression that with speedstep disabled my CPU speed would constantly stay at 2.4GHZ whether idling or under load.

I'm running Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition.

Can someone explain why I don't see a difference with speedstep enabled or disabled?

Are you running any power saving software, such as the Asus EPU or similar by other motherboard companies? Those can reduce your multi/enable speedstep.

Originally posted by: fretman
Question 2:
I thought with my quad-core processor that I could have 4 tasks running at the same time without a slow down in performance. However, when I run my anti-virus scan, ad-aware scan, browsing the net, and copy a large amount of data from one folder to another, certain processes really slow down.

For example, my anti-virus scan slows down considerably until I shut down one of the other processes.

Can someone explain if I'm understanding quad-core technology correctly? My understanding is that I can run 4 tasks with the same speed for all 4 tasks as if I'm just running one of them at a time.

Ex: Just running Anti-virus might take 15 minutes alone. And running Anti-virus with 3 other tasks going would still take 15 minutes to complete.

In your case it looks like the bottleneck is your hard drive, not your CPU. Virus scan needs disk access, so if you are copying large files it will definitely slow down. Same with ad-ware scan.

Quad core will allow 4 threads to run at the same time, so most apps (that are not multi-threaded and highly CPU intensive) will multi-task well, if they do not require alot of hard drive access.

Originally posted by: benjamic
I was a Q6600 user before, it can be OC to 3.6Ghz to 4.0Ghz easily

4.0Ghz easy?? That doesn't sound right, what kind of high end cooling are you using to get that out of a Q6600?

 

[dbcooper1]

Can't answer your first question; should work like you're expecting but double check the BIOS setting to make sure. Did you disable both settings- EIST and C1E?

As for the second question, it's not your CPU holding you back, you're being limited by your disk if they're all trying to access the same physical drive.

Never mind-looks like you got a more thorough answer while I was reading/typing.

 

[benjamic]

Originally posted by: benjamic
I was a Q6600 user before, it can be OC to 3.6Ghz to 4.0Ghz easily

4.0Ghz easy?? That doesn't sound right, what kind of high end cooling are you using to get that out of a Q6600?[/quote]

Yupe, Q6600 with G0 stepping can OC to 3.6Ghz or 4.0Ghz

here is my setup : Q6600 G0 stepping
Mainboard : Gigabyte EP35-DS3 Rev.2.0
RAM : 4GB DDR2-800 Corsair6400 C4DHX(4-4-4-12)

I used stock cooling to achieve 3.6Ghz
Bus speed 400mhz x9 multiplier = 3600mhz
Rated FSB = 1600Mhz (my board allowed this limit)
RAM speed = force it to run at 2.0x (400x2=800)
FSBRAM = 1:1
CPU voltage : 1.32V

After I achieved 3.6Ghz result, I bought new cooler,
"Zalman 9700NT", then I push the limit further,
Bus speed 450mhz x9 multiplier = 4050mhz
Rated FSB = 1800Mhz (over my board allowed limit)
RAM speed = force it to run at 2.0x (450x2=900)
FSBRAM = 8:9
CPU voltage : 1.45V

Well, I gave my Q6600 to my brother because he use
it to do video rendering more often. I bought C2D E8500,
somehow it also OC very well, especially with the 9.5x multiplier,
and recently I noticed E8600 has 10.0x multiplier.

 

[fretman]

Originally posted by: dbcooper1
Can't answer your first question; should work like you're expecting but double check the BIOS setting to make sure. Did you disable both settings- EIST and C1E?

As for the second question, it's not your CPU holding you back, you're being limited by your disk if they're all trying to access the same physical drive.

Never mind-looks like you got a more thorough answer while I was reading/typing.

You are correct. I disabled Speedstep but NOT C1E. I disabled C1E and my CPU ran at 2.4ghz constantly...with or without load. I reset everything back to enable speedstep again. I just wanted to play around a bit.

Thanks.

 

[fretman]

Thanks to everyone for all their comments and recommendations.

 

[imported_apocalypse]

OP: No problem


benjamic: you must have had a very good chip. I had to bump my voltages near 1.3 to get 3.2Ghz, though I haven't tried to push past that yet with my G0.

what kind of temps were you getting at 1.45v and 450mhz fsb?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: benjamic
Yupe, Q6600 with G0 stepping can OC to 3.6Ghz or 4.0Ghz



I used stock cooling to achieve 3.6Ghz

-snip-

After I achieved 3.6Ghz result, I bought new cooler,
"Zalman 9700NT", then I push the limit further,
Bus speed 450mhz x9 multiplier = 4050mhz
Rated FSB = 1800Mhz (over my board allowed limit)
RAM speed = force it to run at 2.0x (450x2=900)
FSBRAM = 8:9
CPU voltage : 1.45V

Well, I gave my Q6600 to my brother because he use
it to do video rendering more often. I bought C2D E8500,
somehow it also OC very well, especially with the 9.5x multiplier,
and recently I noticed E8600 has 10.0x multiplier.

Umm, not a chance. Never happened, and never will.

 

[Shmee]

ya, I dont think you can get anything to 3.6 on stock cooling...

 

[toslat]

Q6600 @ 4GHz, must be one of the new 32nm chips!!!

<-- wakes up from lousy dream

 

[spinejam]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: benjamic
Yupe, Q6600 with G0 stepping can OC to 3.6Ghz or 4.0Ghz



I used stock cooling to achieve 3.6Ghz

-snip-

After I achieved 3.6Ghz result, I bought new cooler,
"Zalman 9700NT", then I push the limit further,
Bus speed 450mhz x9 multiplier = 4050mhz
Rated FSB = 1800Mhz (over my board allowed limit)
RAM speed = force it to run at 2.0x (450x2=900)
FSBRAM = 8:9
CPU voltage : 1.45V

Well, I gave my Q6600 to my brother because he use
it to do video rendering more often. I bought C2D E8500,
somehow it also OC very well, especially with the 9.5x multiplier,
and recently I noticed E8600 has 10.0x multiplier.

Umm, not a chance. Never happened, and never will.

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: Shmee
ya, I dont think you can get anything to 3.6 on stock cooling...

Oh I am sure you can get some to 3.6 on stock, but it WILL be hot. Not a really good Idea.

As for a Q6600 @ 4.0, ummm ya. Good luck :roll:

 

[benjamic]

Originally posted by: ap0calypse
4.0Ghz easy?? That doesn't sound right, what kind of high end cooling are you using to get that out of a Q6600?

More importantly is the model of the Q6600 you have, if you run the CPU-Z, you will
know which "stepping" model you got. B3 stepping run hotter than G0 stepping. The
G0 can overclock with its original intel stock cooler

"SL9UM" 2.40 GHz Q6600 1066 MHz 65 nm => B3 stepping (old)
"SLACR" 2.40 GHz Q6600 1066 MHz 65 nm => G0 stepping (new)

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: benjamic

Originally posted by: ap0calypse
4.0Ghz easy?? That doesn't sound right, what kind of high end cooling are you using to get that out of a Q6600?

More importantly is the model of the Q6600 you have, if you run the CPU-Z, you will
know which "stepping" model you got. B3 stepping run hotter than G0 stepping. The
G0 can overclock with its original intel stock cooler

"SL9UM" 2.40 GHz Q6600 1066 MHz 65 nm => B3 stepping (old)
"SLACR" 2.40 GHz Q6600 1066 MHz 65 nm => G0 stepping (new)

Have you no concept of the audience you are addressing? LOLZ.

I think 99% of the folks here are aware of this, and the limitations of reaching 4GHz stable (as in Prime95, OCCT, etc) on air with a 65nm quad-core.

We are not so much asking for proof from you as to how you convinced yourself you got 4GHz stable out of a G0 (we know that is impossible for all practical purposes and experiences) as we are more intrigued at the fact that you indeed somehow convinced yourself you got 4GHz stable out of a G0.

 

[benjamic]

Originally posted by: Drsignguy

Originally posted by: Shmee
ya, I dont think you can get anything to 3.6 on stock cooling...

Oh I am sure you can get some to 3.6 on stock, but it WILL be hot. Not a really good Idea.

As for a Q6600 @ 4.0, ummm ya. Good luck :roll:

I agreed, stock cooling at 3.6 is HOT, if 3.1 is okay.

Maybe I'm lucky on the motherboard chips I have.
The mainboard I used is Gigabyte EP35-DS3 with rev 2.0,
it support FSB1600 OC. With the stock cooler, at first I tried 350x9 (3.1), 380x9(3.4) and then finally 400x9 (3.6)

It was EASY to achieve, but not recommended with the stock cooler because of the hi temperature, around 70C. That's why I get a Zalman cooler.

After I installed the cooler, Core temp reduced to 50/60C at 3.6Ghz. As for me, 50C/60C is acceptable, then I push my Q6600 to 450x9(4.0), temp is 56C idle 68C load. I can't go any further from 4.0, will lose the stability beyond that limit, FSB1800.

Bottom line, Q6600 is better stay at 3.6ghz (400x9) and maintain your DDR2 800mhz RAM to 2.0x (400x2) so that
FSBRAM ratio is 1:1