Overclocking my computer

[dannyencasa]

Hey guys, I wonder out there can help me.
I am having problems in overclocking my pc.
I tried the bios settings below and its keeps rebooting. The bios post loads up as normal showing the cpu speed of 3.33ghz but once it loads windows it reboots. And it keeps doing that until I reset the bios settings to default.
Am I doing something wrong. Could you guys help me here. Thanks


Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.6Ghz
Asus P5N32E-SLI PLUS Bios 1502
Corsair 6GB (2x1gb CM2X1024-8500C5D) (2x2gb CM2X2048-8500C5C)
1TB + 500GB Seagate SATA2
Asus Nvidia GeForce GTX 470
OCZ 700W GameXstream
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

AI Tuning: Manual
Nvidia GPU Ex: Disabled

FSB - Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
x FSB - Memory Raio: N/A
FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1333 (means 333FSB)
Actual FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1333
MEM (DDR), Mhz: 800 (means 400mhz speeds)
Actual MEM (DDR), Mhz: 800

Vcore Voltage: 1.35v
Memory Voltage: 2.2v
1.2v HT Voltage: 1.3v
NB Core Voltage: 1.4v
SB Core Voltage: 1.55v
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.4v
DDRII Controller Ref Voltage: AUTO
DDRII Channel A Ref Voltage: AUTO
DDRII Channel B Ref Voltage: AUTO

tCL (CAS Latency): 4
tRCD: 4
tRP: 4
tRAS: 12
Command Per Clock (CMD): 1T

tRRD: AUTO
tRC: AUTO
tWR: AUTO
tWTR: AUTO
tREF: AUTO
Async Latency: AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
MCP PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled
LDT Spread Spectrum: Disabled

CPU Internal Thermal Control: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
Enhanced C1 (C1E): Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Tech: Disabled
LDT Frequency: 5x

PCIEX16_1 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_2 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_3 Frequency (Mhz): 100
SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, Mhz: 200

[Robscure]

Try setting everything to default and then only change the following:

FSB ratio 8
FSB 400
VCore 1.375

400x8 = 3.2Ghz

If it boots like that, then you can try FSB 9x400 for 3.6ghz, and then you can start trying to lower the VCore (core [CPU] voltage) by .25 or so until you figure out the lowest possible voltage for stability.

Run Prime95 for 24 hours, if it has zero errors then you're good to go.

After you figure this out, then you can tweak other settings if you like, but read more into it first and first establish what your processor can handle.

[dannyencasa]

After setting the bios back to default. My pc is running but at the original 2.66ghz
I've tried later your suggestion. However the FSB ratio is unavailable unless you select linked, but 8 is not available at all.

[Robscure]

After setting the bios back to default. My pc is running but at the original 2.66ghz
I've tried later your suggestion. However the FSB ratio is unavailable unless you select linked, but 8 is not available at all.

That's odd, maybe your motherboard isn't very good for overclocking, then. I don't know, it's from Asus, it should be okay, I'm not familiar with it personally...

What ratio's are available?

[dannyencasa]

That's odd, maybe your motherboard isn't very good for overclocking, then. I don't know, it's from Asus, it should be okay, I'm not familiar with it personally...

What ratio's are available?

1:1
5:4
3:4

these are off the top of my head

[Robscure]

1:1
5:4
3:4

these are off the top of my head

Ah we're talking about two different things.

The ratio you want is 1:1 ideally

Which is why 9x400 is a good overclock with setting DRam to 400 (ddr2 effectively is 800 then)

You set the Modifier to 9 and the FSB Mhz to 400, that is how you calculate 3.6ghz overclock CPU...

[dannyencasa]

What I have done now is put all the bios setting back to default. Then I only changed the settings in the FSB and memory configuration section as:

FSB - Memory Clock mode: linked
FSB - Memory Ration: auto
FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1199
Actual FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1199
MEM (DDR), Mhz: 899
Actual MEM (DDR), Mhz: 899

The above setting gives me 2.99ghz or 3ghz

If I tried to change the FSB (QDR) Mhz to 1200, the bios doesn't boot properly.

Im sure I must be able to achieve more than 3ghz

[scaryjim]

It could be that having all 4 memory slots populated is limiting your overclock - I've heard that before. Also a forum regular on here - CAT-THE-FIFTH - recently mentioned on another thread that nvidia 680i motherboards like yours apparently have issues overclocking Core 2 Quads. I've also read some reports that the 680i gets very hot, so the northbridge temperature might also be negatively affecting your overclock. How do I know all this? Because I'm currently putting an ASUS P5N32E-SLI under water in an attempt to clock my Q6600 up to ~ 3.6GHz

If I was you I'd remove the 2GB memory kit so you're running a nice stable 2 module dual channel system with 4GB RAM, and I'd see if I could get some cooling fans fixed in and pointed at the motherboard heatsink.

And one clarifying question: are you using the stock cooler that came with the processor, or do you have a decent after-market air cooler?

[dannyencasa]

It could be that having all 4 memory slots populated is limiting your overclock - I've heard that before. Also a forum regular on here - CAT-THE-FIFTH - recently mentioned on another thread that nvidia 680i motherboards like yours apparently have issues overclocking Core 2 Quads. I've also read some reports that the 680i gets very hot, so the northbridge temperature might also be negatively affecting your overclock. How do I know all this? Because I'm currently putting an ASUS P5N32E-SLI under water in an attempt to clock my Q6600 up to ~ 3.6GHz

If I was you I'd remove the 2GB memory kit so you're running a nice stable 2 module dual channel system with 4GB RAM, and I'd see if I could get some cooling fans fixed in and pointed at the motherboard heatsink.

And one clarifying question: are you using the stock cooler that came with the processor, or do you have a decent after-market air cooler?

I am using a decent after-market air cooler. Also I have about 7 fans dotted around the case giving a good circulation of air inside the case.

I have heard that also regarding 680i chipsets not being good for overclocking quads.

I thought about removing the 2gb memory too and that would give me dual channel with just 4gb. But that leaves me with 2gb memory short.

[scaryjim]

What, exactly, are you doing that requires 6GB of memory? I'm pretty sure that for most computing tasks 4GB of memory + a higher overclock will be better than 6GB. And you can always take it out, see how high the overclock goes, then decide whether you want to stick with the higher overclock or reduce the overclock and put the extra RAM back in.

The other thing to consider is that you might genuinely just have a poor example of a Q6700 that won't overclock past 3GHz. If you look in the advance settings for the CPU there should be a setting for CPU multiplier: if you reduce that to 9x and up the FSB to 333MHz you'll get 3GHz but the faster FSB will improve overall performance a little. If I have time tonight I'll fire up Kali and check where the setting is in BIOS.

[dannyencasa]

What, exactly, are you doing that requires 6GB of memory? I'm pretty sure that for most computing tasks 4GB of memory + a higher overclock will be better than 6GB. And you can always take it out, see how high the overclock goes, then decide whether you want to stick with the higher overclock or reduce the overclock and put the extra RAM back in.

The other thing to consider is that you might genuinely just have a poor example of a Q6700 that won't overclock past 3GHz. If you look in the advance settings for the CPU there should be a setting for CPU multiplier: if you reduce that to 9x and up the FSB to 333MHz you'll get 3GHz but the faster FSB will improve overall performance a little. If I have time tonight I'll fire up Kali and check where the setting is in BIOS.

I will remove tonight the extra 2gb and try reducing the multiplier (currently I have it at 10) and put the FSB at 333mhz, should I have it linked or unlinked and if unlinked what should I put the memory at?

[tieran1]

I am using a decent after-market air cooler. Also I have about 7 fans dotted around the case giving a good circulation of air inside the case.

I have heard that also regarding 680i chipsets not being good for overclocking quads.

I thought about removing the 2gb memory too and that would give me dual channel with just 4gb. But that leaves me with 2gb memory short.

I'd say its the 680i chipset aswell,had one before an to be honest anything over 2.8GHZ it does'nt appreciate,it would work sometimes for limited time then refuse to boot.NVidia chipsets are not really overclock friendly as a rule.If you serious about overclocking i would sell you board on ebay or somewhere and buy a more suitable one.Or go all out for SB or BD set-up in new year.