Yet another Q6600 Overclock

[muzicman82]

Hello all,

On a first attempt to overclock my Q6600, I shot 3.6 Ghz, but can't get there. My system build is in my signature. I ended up with my CPU FSB @ 375 MHz (x9 = 3375 MHz). My memory remains at 800Mhz.

I am on water cooling, and I don't think temperature is a problem yet.

Other info is below. Any recommendations?

EVEREST Ultimate Report Below

Field	Value
CPU Properties	
CPU Type	QuadCore Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
CPU Alias	Kentsfield
CPU Stepping	G0
Engineering Sample	No
CPUID CPU Name	Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
CPUID Revision	000006FBh
CPU VID	1.3125 V
	
CPU Speed	
CPU Clock	3374.9 MHz  (original: 2400 MHz, overclock: 41%)
CPU Multiplier	9x
CPU FSB	375.0 MHz  (original: 266 MHz, overclock: 41%)
Memory Bus	400.0 MHz
DRAM:FSB Ratio	16:15
	
CPU Cache	
L1 Code Cache	32 KB per core
L1 Data Cache	32 KB per core
L2 Cache	2x 4 MB  (On-Die, ECC, ASC, Full-Speed)
	
Motherboard Properties	
Motherboard ID	09/04/2008-NFORCE-6A61IR01C-00
Motherboard Name	EVGA NF67  (2 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 2 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
	
Chipset Properties	
Motherboard Chipset	nVIDIA nForce 680i LT SLI
Memory Timings	5-5-5-12  (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Command Rate (CR)	2T
DIMM1: Patriot Memory 6400EL Series	2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM  (5-5-5-12 @ 400 MHz)  (4-4-4-8 @ 266 MHz)  (3-3-3-6 @ 200 MHz)
DIMM2: Patriot Memory 6400EL Series	2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM  (5-5-5-12 @ 400 MHz)  (4-4-4-8 @ 266 MHz)  (3-3-3-6 @ 200 MHz)
DIMM3: Patriot Memory 6400EL Series	2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM  (5-5-5-12 @ 400 MHz)  (4-4-4-8 @ 266 MHz)  (3-3-3-6 @ 200 MHz)
DIMM4: Patriot Memory 6400EL Series	2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM  (5-5-5-12 @ 400 MHz)  (4-4-4-8 @ 266 MHz)  (3-3-3-6 @ 200 MHz)
	
BIOS Properties	
System BIOS Date	09/04/08
Video BIOS Date	01/12/08
Award BIOS Type	Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message	(721N0P08) EVALUATION ROM - NOT FOR SALE
DMI BIOS Version	6.00 PG
	
Graphics Processor Properties	
Video Adapter	EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GT 512MB
GPU Code Name	G92GT  (PCI Express 1.0 x16 10DE / 0611, Rev A2)
GPU Clock (Geometric Domain)	648 MHz  (original: 650 MHz)
GPU Clock (Shader Domain)	1620 MHz  (original: 1620 MHz)
Memory Clock	950 MHz  (original: 950 MHz)

Field	Value
Sensor Properties	
Sensor Type	Winbond W83627DHG  (ISA 290h)
GPU Sensor Type	Analog Devices ADT7473  (NV-I2C 2Eh)
Motherboard Name	nForce 680i / 780i Reference Board
Chassis Intrusion Detected	Yes
	
Temperatures	
Motherboard	45 °C  (113 °F)
CPU	47 °C  (117 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1	38 °C  (100 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2	39 °C  (102 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #3	36 °C  (97 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #4	36 °C  (97 °F)
SPP	48 °C  (118 °F)
MCP	57 °C  (135 °F)
GPU	76 °C  (169 °F)
GPU Memory	68 °C  (154 °F)
GPU Ambient	64 °C  (147 °F)
	
Cooling Fans	
CPU	1372 RPM
Aux	4383 RPM
Chassis	3835 RPM
GPU	2554 RPM  (45%)
	
Voltage Values	
CPU Core	1.44 V
+3.3 V	3.25 V
+5 V	5.07 V
+12 V	12.09 V
+5 V Standby	4.92 V
VBAT Battery	3.15 V
3.3V Dual	3.25 V
FSB VTT	1.49 V
DIMM	2.20 V
GPU Vcc	3.23 V

I have the CPU voltage set to 1.475, but it is not getting that full amount. Is that a PSU issue?

Thanks!

 

[AMDXP]

Try 8*400 = 3.2

The 680i wasn't known for overclocking well.

 

[muzicman82]

I'll give it a shot. I've been seeing other users with 680i's with 3.6 GHz or more, but I guess everyone's mileage is different.

So tweaking memory or voltages wouldn't help much at this point?

 

[awesomo]

I ran an asus p5n32e sli 680i chipset. IF the Northbridge was being super cooled, with my corsair XMS memory, on my q6600, I was able to hold a stable 3ghz and nothing more. Now i'm running a p45 chipset and I can crank 3.4ghz. Any higher and it dies. I'm staying far away from most Nvidia chipsets for a while.

 

[sean1197]

680is arnt really the gretest with quads honestly

 

[muzicman82]

Thanks for the input all.

Honestly, this will be my last nVidia chipset board. I'm not much of an overclocker. Basically if I want faster, I'll buy a faster chip. Most of what I do requires stability more than speed. However, I've had previous problems with onboard RAID crapping out with matched brand new hard drives, the stupid "Option ROM not invoke" message when using an additional RAID controller, and various driver issues. It was considerably cheaper than a comparable Intel board. Asus makes good products but I haven't been a fan of their USA support.

Anyways, I just built someone else a sweet Core i7 rig. It's ridiculous fast out of the box(es). I'd love to build myself one with a few adjustments (better video card, water cooled), but honestly, my Q6600 rig is perfectly fine now, especially with the SSD. BTW, that Cooler Master case is really nice. My next PC will be a Dell Precision M6500 laptop... or at least I wish. I may wait until the next gen, hopefully that will have USB3.0.

 

[muzicman82]

Well I ran with my 3375 MHz for a day or so. No problems. Then started up Prim95 and it didn't last 5 minutes. Oh well.

I know it's insanely expensive (considering Core i7 is out), but what are your thoughts on the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650?

 

[cory1234]

I would look at the Q9550 instead since it is cheaper. The one huge problem is the fact that the 680i series doesn't support 45nm quads..and surprise the 780i does. Nvidia is a greedy company.

I would just stick with your Q6600 for now unless you have money to upgrade to i7.

 

[rennyf77]

The one huge problem is the fact that the 680i series doesn't support 45nm quads..and surprise the 780i does. Nvidia is a greedy company.

not only greedy, but incompetent. the 680i chipset was woefully unequipped to handle the voltage requirements of quad core cpus. the 780i was only mildly better, with the 750i seemingly the more stable of the two when it came to overclocking quads. nvidia really didn't nail down quad core performance on their premium chipset until the 790 ultra. i paid the $350 premium, but at least the bugger is stll running my last q6600 at 3.2ghz with the crappy zalman 9700 cooler slapped on it. op, pm me in a couple of weeks and you can have my 790 board with 4gb of 1333. it ran the cpu at 3.6ghz under water with a 240 radiator and minor voltage increases.

i meant you can have the board and ram for nothing.

 

[awesomo]

I was so pissed off at most of my nvidia based boards. The only good one I had was back in the Nforce 2 days. I had one made by Chaintech (remember them?) with an athlon 2800xp and 4gb ram. That was my first and last GOOD nforce based bored. I'll be sticking to the Intel chip sets for a while since they can handle both sli and crossfire now. Most all high end Intel stuff is a damn masterpiece. I feel safe in their hands, for now...