CPU clock speed

[Eddd]

Hi,
I've noticed that my Q6600 is appearing as 6x266 = 1.6GHz in the bios. When it should be 9x266=2.4GHz. If I change the 6 to a 9, when it reboots it still says 6.
I just downloaded CPU-Z and I noticed that the CPU changes from 6 to 9 sometimes.
Also, in the bios it says that the memory is 800MHz, whereas on CPU-Z it says it's only 400MHz.
Any solutions? Also, should I run some tests on my computer? If so, which ones (links?)?

Thanks,
Ed

[chuckskull]

The CPU clockspeed is lowered when not in use on Core 2 Duo. When under load it will change to full speed, this is called SpeedStep.

DDR = Double Data Rate. Double 400 is 800.

[Eddd]

Thankyou, but my system also seems to be unstable because it crashes and the blue screen appears - saying that a memory dump is in progress or something.

[Dreaming]

Thankyou, but my system also seems to be unstable because it crashes and the blue screen appears - saying that a memory dump is in progress or something.

You probably need more volts on the RAM

[Eddd]

My RAM is 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800). What volts should I set it to?

[TAKTAK]

My RAM is 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800). What volts should I set it to?

if you look on the RAM it normally has it stamped on it, i think that uses 2.1v BUT it's best that you check what it says on the RAM first

[Eddd]

1.8v per stick it says

[Noxvayl]

Standard normally is 1.8v. First try 1.9v see if it works and from then on go up in 0.05v increments(if possible otherwise 0.1v should be fine). Do not exceed 2.2v otherwise your warranty will be voided.

If that for some reason doesn't work once you have reached 2.2v you will need to increase the motherboards voltage. On my Gigabyte X38-DS5 its listed as MCH overvoltage control might be something different on yours so just check to make sure.

[TAKTAK]

you might have to give the NB voltage a little nudge...

but try what ExHail says first, bumping the RAM voltage up everso slightly and seeing if it helps.

also have you tried running memtest86+ to rule out any problems with the RAM?

the RAM voltages need upping more frequently nowadays because of the performance increase that has happened as of late, with some RAM now needing 2.1v to run properly.

[Eddd]

also have you tried running memtest86+ to rule out any problems with the RAM?

Nope, I've just downloaded it and I think I need to burn it onto a CD and run at start up but I do not have any CDs to burn it onto. Is there a way to start it from the desktop? Which version should I download?

[TAKTAK]

Nope, I've just downloaded it and I think I need to burn it onto a CD and run at start up but I do not have any CDs to burn it onto. Is there a way to start it from the desktop? Which version should I download?

you do need to burn it to a CD as you boot from it when you restart your computer

use this one HERE

and use this HERE to burn the ISO file to a disc

and when memtest is running, allow it to run overnight (let it continue after it says it has finished) so that it double checks the memory is okay

[MadduckUK]

How to install Ubuntu Linux from USB Stick -- Ubuntu Geek

this may be a way around needing cd's there should be an option to run memtest when you boot from the stick

edit: no hang on, thats from linux, agh was only looking at it the other day one sec

Install Ubuntu 8.04 LTS from USB [HOWTO] « Short Nerd Chief there!

[Eddd]

I've got hold of a 4.7GB DVD so it's ok. Do I just put the whole file I downloaded onto the DVD or a section of it (I can open it using PowerAchiver 2007)

[Noxvayl]

I have a much easier version to use. All you need to do is double click the memtest.exe and it will test your RAM for you while you are in windows so no need for a bootable disk.

Download it from here: MemTest: RAM reliability tester for Windows

[Eddd]

I have a much easier version to use. All you need to do is double click the memtest.exe and it will test your RAM for you while you are in windows so no need for a bootable disk.

Download it from here: MemTest: RAM reliability tester for Windows

I ran that test and after about a second this error appeared:

2) MemTest tells me "Memory error detected...", what does this mean?

This is not normal. Your RAM is bad, or your system is incorrectly configured. Even just 1 error means that you have a problem. If you have overclocked your machine, or selected aggressive RAM timings in your BIOS you should try more conservative settings before judging the ram fully bad. If you can't get MemTest to run without errors even with conservative BIOS settings, your RAM is bad. Replace it, or you will experience stability and corruption problems. Correctly functioning RAM has no errors, even if you run MemTest overnight.

Suggestions on what to do? Change bios setting? RMA?

[TAKTAK]

I ran that test and after about a second this error appeared:

Suggestions on what to do? Change bios setting? RMA?

how old is the RAM.......................

and having seen that from the windows based one, i highly reccomend burning the other one, just extract the files from the zip file and burn the one that has the file extension .iso (burn it using imgburn) (it's only a very small file tho, so i would be tempted to hunt for a CD as opposed to a DVD cos it's just a wasted disk TBH)