Please check this out

[Cosworth]

Just had my first go at overclocking

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I manually set the CPU voltage to 1.3...v (default voltage according to the BIOS) because otherwise it runs at 1.4...v. I then set the RAM to 833MHz (latencies etc. set to auto) as that was the only option less than 1000MHz but above 667MHz. Strange as the board originally had it set at 800MHz on default setting. Oh! and I also set the PCIe frequency to 100MHz.

Do these figures look okay? Do I need to change or do anything?

N.B.
The G0 version of the Q6600 didn't exist in the shops when I bought my Quad
The ... v is because I can't remember the rest of the figures after the 1.3 etc.

[Webby]

Looks good for a starting point

The reason your memory is running at 833 is that it uses dividers to set the memory speed based on the FSB, they depend on the motherboard. Typically when aiming for the highest CPU overclock you will set the ratio as 1:1 (or 2 if its reporting FSB to DDR) so at 333 FSB you would have 666 memory.

You should be able to bring the memory timings back to at least 5-5-5-15 or 4-4-4-12 if they can handle that at 800MHz worth using the slacker timings (5-5-5-15) for testing the limits of the CPU.

[Cosworth]

Thanks Webby

I have now tried the 4-4-4-12 as the GeIL Ultra is CL4 memory but unfortunately the board didn't like it. Perhaps I need to do something else. I still have the memory set on auto voltage which is approx. 1.8v.
Meanwhile I've set it to 5-5-5-18 which was the original default settings on standard setup and all seems well so far.

[Pob255]

Yes I agree with Webby on the provision of what that memory is.
What motherboard and memory are you useing?

[Pob255]

Doh just looked at your My system specs.

You need to up the voltage on that memory, try 2.0v

You should be able to get that memory running at 800mhz 4.4.4.12 without problems as that's it's stock settings.

[-iceblade^]

that's what i was about to say... I have GEIL sticks, and i just feel safer passing 2V through them... Mine are the Black Dragon kind though...

anyway, you might not be getting enough juice into the chips, so...

[Cosworth]

Stock voltage is 1.8v

I'll try 2.0v for use at 4-4-4-12?

Here goes

[matty-hodgson]

I have now tried the 4-4-4-12 as the GeIL Ultra is CL4 memory but unfortunately the board didn't like it. Perhaps I need to do something else. I still have the memory set on auto voltage which is approx. 1.8v.
Meanwhile I've set it to 5-5-5-18 which was the original default settings on standard setup and all seems well so far.

you'll need to set the memory voltage at least .2 - .3v higher than that to get 444-12..

also.. i see you're running 4GB of RAM, is this is 2 sticks, or 4?
with 4 sticks you might need to put the north-bridge voltage up a bit to achieve 444-12.

i've got my memory which should run at 444-15 to run at 433-12 because i set my FSBRAM ratio at 1:1 so it lowers the memory speed.

still tinkering a lot though, only got the board before..
so i might even better than that tbh.

here's a pic of mine atm..




edit: i've just noticed you're running the B3 stepping Q6600.. have you checked your temps?
those things run noticeably hotter than a G0 stepping Q6600.

[Pob255]

No 1.8v is the old default voltage for DDR2 which is what motherboards will default to on auto settings.
However if you check the GeIL web site you'll find that the memory voltage is listed as 1.9 to 2.4v working range.

The sweet spot is normally around 2.0-2.2 but varies with each stick.

There should be a 1.2x memory multiplier setting (looked at the manual but it doesn't list the options ) that will get you to 800mhz with the fsb at 333mhz

EDIT: Or as matty said set it to 1x thentweek the timeings

[Cosworth]

Well done chaps, I'm back so obviously it worked

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[matty-hodgson]

Well done chaps, I'm back so obviously it worked

yeyyy
i see you're running it on a 1:1.25 ratio, if you set it at 1.2 then you should get 800MHz.. (799.2) but it's close enough.
you got any benchmarking programs?
and have you checked your temps?

[Pob255]

Heck if he has it on thoes timeings and it's stable under testing stick with the faster speed

[matty-hodgson]

Heck if he has it on thoes timeings and it's stable under testing stick with the faster speed

is that actually a faster speed?
i thought that anything over 1:1 was wasted?
:S
i might bump mine up a little..
if i can.

[Cosworth]

you'll need to set the memory voltage at least .2 - .3v higher than that to get 444-12..

also.. i see you're running 4GB of RAM, is this is 2 sticks, or 4?
with 4 sticks you might need to put the north-bridge voltage up a bit to achieve 444-12.

i've got my memory which should run at 444-15 to run at 433-12 because i set my FSBRAM ratio at 1:1 so it lowers the memory speed.

still tinkering a lot though, only got the board before..
so i might even better than that tbh.

edit: i've just noticed you're running the B3 stepping Q6600.. have you checked your temps?
those things run noticeably hotter than a G0 stepping Q6600.

I'm running 4 sticks and according to Everest my temperatures are roughly

Temperatures
Motherboard 24 °C (75 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1 36 °C (97 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2 28 °C (82 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #3 33 °C (91 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #4 36 °C (97 °F)

[matty-hodgson]

I'm running 4 sticks and according to Everest my temperatures are roughly

Temperatures
Motherboard 24 °C (75 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1 36 °C (97 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2 28 °C (82 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #3 33 °C (91 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #4 36 °C (97 °F)

that'll be idle i'm guessing?
you'll need to stress your CPU.. (100% load)
and then read your temperatures after around half an hour..
i dunno if you noticed or not, but at 2.4GHz it was probably somewhere very near in temperatures..
i clocked mine at 1.2GHz and it gave the same idle temps (~2'C) as it does at 3.4GHz..

so checking them at load is the best way really..

[Cosworth]

Yes idling.
What's the best program to use?

Incidentally isn't 413MHz already 800MHz..ish as ram is multiplied by 2

Please remember this is my first time if what I'm asking is daft.