Overclocking Newb

[SeouLFooD]

Hey everyone, I just built my rig for the first time and it seems to be running pretty well. I wanted to know some guidelines for OCing my setup and how far I can take it. I'm runnin stock with 3dmark06 scores of 11,000 or so. So here it is:

CPU: Q6600 G0: at 2.4 GHz
Cooling: ULTRA ChillTEC thermoelectric cooler
RAM: 4GB Corsair TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz E.P.P.
Mobo: XFX 680i LT SLI
Vid: Single BFG Geforce 8800GTX OC2
PSU: ULTRA 600W

Anyone running a similar setup OCed that can help?

[alfhenrik]

I wanted to know some guidelines for OCing my setup and how far I can take it.

Well, to start off with, increase the FSB on the CPU in 5Mhz increments until the system no longer is stable, then you can increase the voltages if you want to and keep going...with that setup you should be able to get to 3-3.2Ghz without touching any voltages...although as with overclocking, it totally depends on the hardware...

[Miker]

No need for 5MHz at a time, go up 2-5FSB (.025 to .1GHz) at a time.

[Eternal Pledge]

Also. Watch out, when overclocking systems dont like to co-operate with 4 gigs.. So be carefull, it can be very unstable with 4 gigs. Also you will want to set your Timings of your ram to 1:1 ratio. This means its sycronized with your FSB timings..

[Miker]

4 sticks of RAM will make OCing 100x harder. I turn RAM to 4:3 or so, then OC CPU to max, then OC RAM.

[alfhenrik]

Also. Watch out, when overclocking systems dont like to co-operate with 4 gigs.. So be carefull, it can be very unstable with 4 gigs.

Yes it can, my system reboots sporadically if I run my RAM at 800Mhz...stupid 965 board, apparently the 35 boards don't have this issue...don't know about the 680's though...

[westy87]

Also. Watch out, when overclocking systems dont like to co-operate with 4 gigs.. So be carefull, it can be very unstable with 4 gigs. Also you will want to set your Timings of your ram to 1:1 ratio. This means its sycronized with your FSB timings..

If I did that I would have a 4gb cpu

[Miker]

If I did that I would have a 4gb cpu

No... 1:1 is FSB:RAM. So if you have 400FSB on the CPU, you have 400 on the RAM, runs the best.

[westy87]

No... 1:1 is FSB:RAM. So if you have 400FSB on the CPU, you have 400 on the RAM, runs the best.

Dude no kidding. 400fsb = 4.00ghz cause my cpu has 10X mult...

[Miker]

A. How do you have a 4GB CPU?
B. 4G of RAM can run at 200FSB.
C. You can set a memory divider (so it is not 1:1) and run 300 on the RAM and 400 on the CPU if the CPU wants to run faster then the RAM.

[alfhenrik]

Dude no kidding. 400fsb = 4.00ghz cause my cpu has 10X mult...

Yea...unfortunately it's not that easy...you'd have to increase the voltages a fair bit to get that...and that'll add heat and the CPU might overheat...maybe if you're using wc...

[westy87]

Lol u 2 have missed the point. Some1 recommended that the guy set his FSB and ram to run 1:1, and I was simply pointing out that this would be highly difficult in some cases, like mine. The Ram is running at 400mhz, if I were to set my FSB to 400mhz to have 1:1 then I would have 4ghz, which I cannot do on air cooling even with the ultra-120 eXtreme. Yes I know I would have to increase my voltage. And no I wouldnt have to set a memory divider, as nforce boards ill automatically select a memory divider for you if you choose to tweak the memory and cpu seperatly.

Oh and yes I suppose he could just lower his ram timings to match his current cpu speed, but I wouldnt bother unless thats a peculiarity to having 4gb of ram and it needing 1:1?

[Miker]

400FSB was just a random number, I am just saying 1:1 can run the best if you can get it.

[Sadasius]

HAHAHA, just noticed the title under your name...That was a good one!

Here is a linky for ya on the Q6600. Q6600 Overclocking Guide (http://gameandtechreviews.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/q6600-g0-stepping-overclock-guide/)

[MtDew]

Are you running 4 1gig sticks or 2 2gig sticks. This will make a differance on how high you can OC.

I don't know your MB very well, but I would suggest that once your system becomes ustable at a FSB being raised back off your fsb by 10% and let the system burn in for a while (I usually wait at least a month) and then go back and try to get higher speeds. I have found this will work about 50% of the time to get high speeds.

[SeouLFooD]

I'm runnin four 1GB sticks right now. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm gonna get on it as soon as all these exams are over for me.

[barone]

You would probably be better off with the 2 2gig sticks.

[gripper]

if your new to it then just unlink your memory in bios
get the very latest prime95(think it 25.5)
use the top option in the torture test and round off
make sure you have p07 bios
i get 3.0 easy and stable 100% with no effort
cpu voltage at 1.36(b4 vdroop)
then like someone said leave for a while
i get 16000+ 3dmark06 with 2x8800gt's
im on xp tho
i have had a stable 3.2 but then i had stock cooler and didnt like the temps
will be trying it again tomorrow now my ultra extreme is fitted
you do need a good cooler tho
and watch the resistor blocks when you put backplate on(i drilled a hole in mine)
oh and NEVER use ntune
always in the bios