igloochan

I'm trying to push my Q9550 past 3.2Ghz and beyond, which from what I've heard should be no problem.

Windows stops being able to boot once I increase the bus to around 370. I've added bits of voltage. (maybe I need to add more? I was at around 1.33v before I got worried I was going to do some damage because I don't really know what I'm doing. Stock speed recommends a voltage of only 1.28)

My motherboard only supports a FSB of 1333, and that only through OC (so it says on the box). Does that limit how much I can increase the frequency of my processor?

The motherboard in questions is a GA-73VM-S2 bios version 4fd.

For more specs:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/...ProductID=2714

I have built a number of computers in the past but this is the first time I've tried to OC, so forgive my ignorance.

x2s3w4

Where is your memory set to. Look for DRAM Freq in your BIOS and set it to the same thing as your FSB if you can. It's possible your RAM is set higher than the speeds you are running.
If you want to know what speed your RAM is at, you can get it from CPUz under the memory tab. Remember it is DDR2 so it's double the number.

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Pictorial Guide for Installing the Tuniq Tower

MrLinky

x2s3w4 has a good point. If your mobo supports it, try just setting your ram to "linked" and "sync mode". This will underclock your ram by a fair amount, but it will let you find your max/perfered cpu oc.
Also, your max safe voltage is 1.3625v... keep it at that or less and you'll be fine.

igloochan

Ram is set to 800 at the moment. I had it linked with a 1:1 ratio but it didn't seem to effect how high I could set the bus. I still had trouble getting it over 370.

In CPU-Z my rated FSB is 1401 with a bus speed of 350 right now and it is stable. Is the FSB 1333 capability of my mobo not a limiting factor?

In the mean time I will try increasing the voltage more.

MrLinky

if cpu-z is telling you your FSB is at 1401mhz and gigabyte board only supports up to 1333mhz FSB... then yeah, your board might be the bottleneck

I noticed that everything in your sig is pretty good except your mobo... an old micro atx? If you have the money, you might consider upgrading. Even if you find an acceptable oc, the mobo will most likely bottleneck you when benchmarking or gaming.

Hope this helps

x2s3w4

I don't know much about that motherboard, it's possible it is that. You shouldn't go over 1.36v. You might also have to raise your NB (might be MCH,MCP ect) and your other voltages too. What other voltages does that board offer?

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Pictorial Guide for Installing the Tuniq Tower

igloochan

I could not get it to boot with a bus speed of 380 with any voltage up to 1.36.

My mobo is a relic from a previous machine. I had to buy it on a budget one time when my previous motherboard went out. It has served me well until now. It'd be good to upgrade too, because then I have enough spare parts to throw together a pretty decent extra computer. e6600, 8800 gt, 2GBRam

Good thing friday is pay day.
Thanks for the advice.

igloochan

vcore is the only voltage offered as far as I can tell. Ram voltage was not configurable. Also I couldn't find any PCI-E bus controls to lock it at 100.

Anybody have some recommendations for a decent overclockable socket 775 motherboard? I'll probably need to keep the budget on or around $100.

x2s3w4

If it has to be $100 or less, I'd look at this first, or this.
If you can manage $135, This is probably the best board you will find for overclocking your Q9550. It is awesome.

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Pictorial Guide for Installing the Tuniq Tower

MrLinky

well its hard to find a good overclocking board under $100 but it would be this one if anything.

EDIT: would agree with x2s3w4 on the two gigabyte boards.