Q6600 keeps throttling and stuttering

[hibby]

This is driving me insane, I currently can't listen to any music on my brand new computer because it keep stuttering! That's not the only symptom, but it's probably the most annoying.


According to CPU-Z this is happening each time the processor multiplier jumps from 6x to 9x, and this happens for seemingly very little reason (like rendering a new webpage in FireFox). I've turned EIST off on the motherboard, and told Vista not to idle the processor and yet it still insists on throttling backwards and forwards. The only way I can type this relatively smoothly without it missing letters that I type whilst it stutters is to have Prime95 running in the background keeping the multiplier up.

It usually idles at 45-47C with a load temp of ~65C - today my ambient temperature has pushed the idle temp up to ~50C but load temp hasn't changed.

Any ideas on what needs changing?

Specs are:
CPU: Intel Q6600 G0 @ 2.4GHz (Stock fan)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6
RAM: Corsair 2x2GB PC2-6400 TwinXMS2 with DHX heatsinks 4-4-4-12 2T @ 2.100V
PSU: Corsair HX620W
Case: Antec P182 with 1 extra fan added to cool the graphics card
Graphics: eVGA 9800GTX (Stock clocked)
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB, Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB

[Jay]

have you turned off speedstep?

Your load is a bit high, what are you using to read the temps?

[Blitzen]

As Jay says...its 100% Speedstep.
Its clocks down the CPU when its not needed to full capacity.

Personally i think this is one of the best things Intel have ever done.

[Jay]

Personally i think this is one of the best things Intel have ever done.

Along with Core 2 and then sticking two on one die?

[LuckyNV]

disable EIST and C1E in BIOS to remove the speed throttling

[hibby]

EIST (a.k.a SpeedStep) was already turned off... However, C1E was enabled and causing all the problems - thanks LuckyNV. Somehow I didn't think it was going to be so aggressive in its throttling. Ah well, something to remember.

As to load temps - I'm using Core Temp to measure them and Prime95 running with 4 threads for the load. I was going to replace the stock fan anyway, but I need to find something that will fit first, what with a crowded socket and some very tall RAM modules. I'm thinking the Zalman CNPS9700 if it'll clear the northbridge heatsink.

[Jay]

I am using the Thermalright 120 and its doing a very good job, between 32C and 38C idle (on a warm day like today!) and 48c load.

[hibby]

Ideally I'd be fitting a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme in there, apart from I chose poorly with the RAM and they won't fit underneath - the CPU socket is jammed right up against the memory slots and I'd like to leave room for another two sticks of RAM.

[Jay]

hibby, if it was me I would ebay the RAM... thats how good the 120 is.

[LuckyNV]

I have the TRUE on my Q6600 very good cooler.

I'm looking at your mobo layout now, I'm quite sure the TRUE will fit fine even with the DHX Corsair RAM.

[hibby]

Having been playing with as near to scale images as I could get, it's a very close thing to call:



But then I could just fill the yellow slots at a later date with different RAM modules that do fit. So... seeing as they're out of stock pretty much everywhere I've just tried to pre-order one from Scan - now waiting to see how their system reacts. Fingers crossed I can get one that isn't too curved on the underside.

Before anyone asks, I've got the positions of two fans marked up because I was trying to work out if a single fan could be positioned to pull air through the heatsink. Not that it's anywhere near ideal as a cooling solution.

[LuckyNV]

i've used pull through method, depending on fan there isn't huge difference (1-2C) compared to pushing through.