Help: Q6600 Stuck at 3Ghz?

[BUFF]

there's a 16 beta BIOS on Anandtech although afaik it's mainly improved Penryn compatability.

It's an odd 1 though as it should go higher.
maybe try a touch on the MCH

[s_kinton]

It's an odd 1 though as it should go higher.
maybe try a touch on the MCH

I know, I'll be disappointed if this is all I can get out of it. I hoping for 3.4Ghz really.

I'll try a small MCH bump

[s_kinton]

Ok, I took a different approach last night. I thought I would see how high the fsb and memory would go.

I lowered the multi to 7x on the chip and bumped the fsb to 400, meaning 2.8Ghz and 800mhz on mem. I left all volts at stock. It didn't even post!!! I'm beginning to think the memory or the board are the issue.

Either the memory is buggered and can't manage its rated 800mhz or the board isn't capable of a high fsb. I'd be surprised and very unlucky if the board was the limiting factor. Something is not right here.

Any suggestions?

[s_kinton]

Anyone.....?

[kalniel]

What voltage and timings is the memory rated at 800mhz for?

[s_kinton]

What voltage and timings is the memory rated at 800mhz for?

5-5-5-18 1.8v at 800mhz.
Memory Specifications

[this_is_gav]

You're not the only one mate. I've been trying to get above 3.0GHz all day with mine. I guess we both bought ours at a similar time and from Scan? Got mine about a week ago.

Looks like we're out of luck. Mine is always failing on either cores 3 or 4, which are ironically the coolest of the 4, both by about 8 degrees under 4xPrime95.

I'm going for near-silence over speed, but things should still be higher than a round 3.0GHz.

Same RAM sticks as well (though 4x2gb here). ASUS Maximus Formula.

Looks like I've just about cracked it now.

Vcore: 1.35v (vdrooping in PC-Probe reads as 1.28)
NB: 1.33v
RAM stock speeds and volts at the moment, but might try tightening them up if this passes another hour or so.

[s_kinton]

Looks like I've just about cracked it now.

Vcore: 1.35v (vdrooping in PC-Probe reads as 1.28)
NB: 1.33v
RAM stock speeds and volts at the moment, but might try tightening them up if this passes another hour or so.

So what have you got it stable at now? Can you post your volts, multi and fsb etc pls

Did you leave the RAM at 1.8v?

[Biscuit]

5-5-5-18 1.8v at 800mhz.
Memory Specifications

My flatmate is using the same corsair ram and he was stuck at 3.2 on an E6400. I know this is a good overclock anyhow but to see if it would go a little further we bunged in OCZ platinum ram and it went further. I dont think the Cas 5 stuff is particualy impressive for overclocking

[s_kinton]

I dont think the Cas 5 stuff is particualy impressive for overclocking

The things is I'm not overclocking the RAM. Its rated to 800mhz (PC6400) and to equal that speed I'd need to be running 3.6Ghz (400x9). The system is only stable at 3Ghz on stock volts (333x9), which means the mem is only running at 666mhz nowm well below its rated speed.

Its either my PSU is struggling, faulty memory or the board won't run anything higher than 1333 fsb.

I'm gonna run memtest tonight, try running it on a divier whilst overclocking so I can test the max fsb of the board without topping out the CPU and RAM.

[this_is_gav]

So what have you got it stable at now? Can you post your volts, multi and fsb etc pls

Did you leave the RAM at 1.8v?

I've just left it at 3.0GHz. Not really missing out on that much on what I could have got I guess (was thinking 3.3GHz given how quiet I'm aiming).

All in BIOS (again, Maximus Formula)
CPU Voltage: 1.35625v
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.56v
Northbridge Voltage: 1.31v
DRAM Voltage: 1.80v
Multi: 9
FSB: 333MHz
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-800
RAM timings as in the 400MHz SPD table (5-5-5-18, etc) - it wasn't going to boot when I tried lowing to CL4, even on 2 volt.

[Thrungus]

may i ask, what is a decent overclock for the Q6600?
im going to stuck it in at 3.2 but would you guys recommend higher?

Have a feeling some of you might be thinking (3.2? what a lazy bugger! Chuck it up to 6 )

[s_kinton]

may i ask, what is a decent overclock for the Q6600?
im going to stuck it in at 3.2 but would you guys recommend higher?

Have a feeling some of you might be thinking (3.2? what a lazy bugger! Chuck it up to 6 )

Not really, they clock between roughly 3Ghz and 3.6Ghz on air and as high as 4Ghz on water.

I'm at 3Ghz now and I've got to say I'm disappointed. I was hoping for 3.4Ghz really - call me greedy

[Thrungus]

Thanks mate for that!

I'll crank it up to 3.4

[s_kinton]

Well, after more tinkering last night I got 3.1Ghz stable. I know my RAM runs well over 800mhz at 1.8v so its definitely not that holding me back. Its either the chip itself, the board or my settings!

I reckon its the chip as I've never heard of the Abit IP35 boards being limited to a 344 fsb. Probably just my bad luck on the chip itself! I almost bought an Q9450 ES from ebay earlier

I'll crank it up to 3.4

Good luck

[Thrungus]

im gonna be posting about building my new pc etc very soon! Next week in fact.

i will return with a link to all the info