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Q6600 g0 unable to get 3,6GHz (experienced)

3341 Views 63 Replies 19 Participants Last post by  ZOLLINO, 
Z
Hi,

I have done some OCing before with almost all my CPUs starting from [email protected] I wasnt thinking I will need to ask on forums, but as you can see, you never know enough. that's why thereis your opportunity to help me to put my little one (q6600 g0) to a 3,6GHz or further. 1st of all my specs:

Q6600 G0
Asus P5K-E/Wifi
2x2GB G.Skill DDR2 PC2-8000 Pi Series
Powercolor Radeon 4870 1GB
OCZ StealthXStream 600W
Cooling: Scythe Mine + huge airflow by Antec Nine Hundred
Windows XP SP3.

My problem is I can't get my system working on 400x9. I've been trying some examples by users but with no luck. The very often i get system freeze during windows boot, or shortly after getting into windows. Please see my iterations below for further details. My BIOS settings are:

Config Name B1: attempt to get 9x400=3.6GHz
FSBfreq=400
Multi=9x
FSBStrap = Auto
DRAMfreq = 800
CPUv = 1.4
CPUPLL = auto
FSBterm = auto
DRAMv = 2.1
NBv = 1.55
SBv = 1.05
Charge Overclocking volts = auto
Load Line Calibration = Enable
CPUGTL = auto
NBGTL = auto
Spread spectrumS = disabled

ITERATIONS:
B1 - boot, Core~1min
B1 - no boot
B1 - boot, Core~30s
B1 - boot, Core1~2s, Core2~2s
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.4125 -freeze after ~2mins (coretemp: 68 66 61 61)
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.4250 -no boot
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.4250 -no boot
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.3875 -Core0&1~2s
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.3750 -Core0&1~2s
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.3500 -Core0&1~2s / possible Blue screen

So I decided to go experimenting on CPUv = 1,4250 level as I thought this should be enough voltage for such frequency and change some other settings.

B1 w/CPUv=1,4250

SBv = 1,2 -core2~2s & freeze
SBv = 1,2 -noboot
NBv = 1,4 -noboot
NBv = 1,55 -noboot
DRAMv = 1,9 -noboot
FSBStrap = 400 -Core1~5s & freeze

B1.1 = B1 w/ FSB Strap = 400, FSBTerm voltage=auto

FSB termv = 1.4 -noboot
CPU PLLv = 1.6 -noboot
DRAMfreq = auto -Blue screen when WinXP starts boot
DRAMfreq = 1066 -noboot, freeze immediately

LEGEND:
- noboot = means freeze during booting up WinXP
- Core1~2s = booted, but Prime95 showed Core1 getting error after 2 seconds

Apparently something is wrong. I have tried almost all possible configurations of voltages for all components on 9x400 at 1.4250 (or 1.4) voltage. I have no clue what can be the problem, as the cooling should be fine for now. Idle temps are under 50 even with CPUv1.4250. One of ideas I've got it has something to do with DRAM, but it's just feeling. Second thought can be, 400FSB is maybe some unlucky number for my mobo and should it change for 403 or so.

Another anoying thing is, my temps for separate cores are for example:
Core0: 66
Core1: 65
Core2: 60
core3: 60
Is this pretty normal? I know that its two pairs of cores thats why they temps are paired, but why is difference 5c betwen pairs? One thing that came up my mind, can be the cooling is not same on the whole are of heatsink of the CPU. But I was quite paying attention when assembling monstrous Scythe Mine on it. It has MX-200 on it as well.

Looking forward to discussion with you guys, as I'm sure there is something else wrong and not unlucky CPU. Any advises would be appreciated. many thanks for any thoughts.
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3
Quote:


Originally Posted by ZOLLINO
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Another anoying thing is, my temps for separate cores are for example:
Core0: 66
Core1: 65
Core2: 60
core3: 60
Is this pretty normal?

Sorry, can't help you overclocking since we have different mobos, but yes those different core temps are normail, my core 0 is sometimes about 10 C higher than Core 3


-FilluX
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Z
3
Quote:


Originally Posted by FilluX
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Sorry, can't help you overclocking since we have different mobos, but yes those different core temps are normail, my core 0 is sometimes about 10 C higher than Core 3


-FilluX

thanks
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B
Nothing is wrong here. Your chip just cant get stable at 3.6ghz. Maybe its just the CPU, or your mobo. You will probably be able to get it stable on much higher volts (cue water cooling). But Quads are hard to get past 3.5ghz. Most people are happy with anything over 3ghz.

One thing you could try. You may have hit a FSB hole. Try 425mhz, or 450mhz FSB.
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SacredChaos
If you had better cooling I would tell you to up the vcore more. You can safely have a vcore up to 1.5, no higher tho. Max temp is 71c, so make sure you keep an I on them.
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Mmansueto
For 3.6, i had to have 1.48125 vcore.
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eflyguy
I'm not comfortable taking the voltage on my Q6600 higher with the air I have in now, so I'm putting a WC setup in to see if I can nudge it a bit without getting too warm. The 9700 is almost as good as the TRUE and OCZ V2, fwiw, and I was easily able to get 3.6 on a dual (e6850) but of course that's a 3.0 stock chip.

To be honest, I am pretty happy with 3.3 on the quad for what I use the machine for, but this is my 'experimenting' rig so I'm doing it just for fun!

..a
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SacredChaos
3
Quote:


Originally Posted by Mmansueto
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For 3.6, i had to have 1.48125 vcore.

Yeah, I had to up my all the way up to 1.5, the maximum. My board has bad Vdroop tho. At idle it sits at 1.488, load 1.456.

Quote:


Originally Posted by eflyguy
View Post

I'm not comfortable taking the voltage on my Q6600 higher with the air I have in now, so I'm putting a WC setup in to see if I can nudge it a bit without getting too warm. The 9700 is almost as good as the TRUE and OCZ V2, fwiw, and I was easily able to get 3.6 on a dual (e6850) but of course that's a 3.0 stock chip.

To be honest, I am pretty happy with 3.3 on the quad for what I use the machine for, but this is my 'experimenting' rig so I'm doing it just for fun!

..a

BTW, the 9700 is not as good as the TRUE, its nowhere close. I owned a 9700 before switching to the TRUE. I couldn't get past 3.0GHz with the 9700 because of the temps.
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lothar
2
Quote:


Originally Posted by ZOLLINO
View Post

Hi,

I have done some OCing before with almost all my CPUs starting from [email protected] I wasnt thinking I will need to ask on forums, but as you can see, you never know enough. that's why thereis your opportunity to help me to put my little one (q6600 g0) to a 3,6GHz or further. 1st of all my specs:

Q6600 G0
Asus P5K-E/Wifi
2x2GB G.Skill DDR2 PC2-8000 Pi Series
Powercolor Radeon 4870 1GB
Cooling: Scythe Mine + huge airflow by Antec Nine Hundred
Windows XP SP3.

My problem is I can't get my system working on 400x9. I've been trying some examples by users but with no luck. The very often i get system freeze during windows boot, or shortly after getting into windows. Please see my iterations below for further details. My BIOS settings are:

Config Name B1: attempt to get 9x400=3.6GHz
FSBfreq=400
Multi=9x
FSBStrap = Auto
DRAMfreq = 800
CPUv = 1.4
CPUPLL = auto
FSBterm = auto
DRAMv = 2.1
NBv = 1.55
SBv = 1.05
Charge Overclocking volts = auto
Load Line Calibration = Enable
CPUGTL = auto
NBGTL = auto
Spread spectrumS = disabled

ITERATIONS:
B1 - boot, Core~1min
B1 - no boot
B1 - boot, Core~30s
B1 - boot, Core1~2s, Core2~2s
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.4125 -freeze after ~2mins (coretemp: 68 66 61 61)
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.4250 -no boot
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.4250 -no boot
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.3875 -Core0&1~2s
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.3750 -Core0&1~2s
B1 w/ CPUv = 1.3500 -Core0&1~2s / possible Blue screen

So I decided to go experimenting on CPUv = 1,4250 level as I thought this should be enough voltage for such frequency and change some other settings.

B1 w/CPUv=1,4250

SBv = 1,2 -core2~2s & freeze
SBv = 1,2 -noboot
NBv = 1,4 -noboot
NBv = 1,55 -noboot
DRAMv = 1,9 -noboot
FSBStrap = 400 -Core1~5s & freeze

B1.1 = B1 w/ FSB Strap = 400, FSBTerm voltage=auto

FSB termv = 1.4 -noboot
CPU PLLv = 1.6 -noboot
DRAMfreq = auto -Blue screen when WinXP starts boot
DRAMfreq = 1066 -noboot, freeze immediately

LEGEND:
- noboot = means freeze during booting up WinXP
- Core1~2s = booted, but Prime95 showed Core1 getting error after 2 seconds

Apparently something is wrong. I have tried almost all possible configurations of voltages for all components on 9x400 at 1.4250 (or 1.4) voltage. I have no clue what can be the problem, as the cooling should be fine for now. Idle temps are under 50 even with CPUv1.4250. One of ideas I've got it has something to do with DRAM, but it's just feeling. Second thought can be, 400FSB is maybe some unlucky number for my mobo and should it change for 403 or so.

Another anoying thing is, my temps for separate cores are for example:
Core0: 66
Core1: 65
Core2: 60
core3: 60
Is this pretty normal? I know that its two pairs of cores thats why they temps are paired, but why is difference 5c betwen pairs? One thing that came up my mind, can be the cooling is not same on the whole are of heatsink of the CPU. But I was quite paying attention when assembling monstrous Scythe Mine on it. It has MX-200 on it as well.

Looking forward to discussion with you guys, as I'm sure there is something else wrong and not unlucky CPU. Any advises would be appreciated. many thanks for any thoughts.

My suggestions (I don't know if it will correct the problem...)

First: What power supply you have?
Try connecting Radeon to separate 12V line...

Second: 1.4V may be too low to get 3.6GHz on Q6600... try turning off load line calibration and upping Voltage to 1.45V and more

Third: Try booting from memtest86+ instead to windows and verify that your memory is stable...

Anyway, Good Luck
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SacredChaos
2
Quote:


Originally Posted by lothar
View Post

My suggestions (I don't know if it will correct the problem...)

First: What power supply you have?
Try connecting Radeon to separate 12V line...

Second: 1.4V may be too low to get 3.6GHz on Q6600... try turning off load line calibration and upping Voltage to 1.45V and more

Third: Try booting from memtest86+ instead to windows and verify that your memory is stable...

Anyway, Good Luck


Doesn't Loadline Calibration need to be on?
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We Gone
Take some of these off auto .. Not sure what your options are I have had better luck with manuel settings

Config Name B1: attempt to get 9x400=3.6GHz
FSBfreq=400
Multi=9x
FSBStrap = Auto try 400
DRAMfreq = 800
CPUv = 1.4
CPUPLL = auto ???
FSBterm = auto
DRAMv = 2.1
NBv = 1.55
SBv = 1.05
Charge Overclocking volts = auto
Load Line Calibration = Enable try disable
CPUGTL = auto try 0.65
NBGTL = auto ??
Spread spectrumS = disabled
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S
I stopped at 3.2 on my Q6600, but I'll let you know what helps me when I get stumped... Go back to basics. Instead of shooting for 400x9 and trying to pin down the right voltage, try setting the max voltage you're comfortable with and slowly edging up the FSB until you hit a wall. You may find 3.6 isn't possible, especially on newer G0's and air. It depends on your VID and your mobo, and I don't know enough about your mobo to tell you.

As for your question at the end about temps, that seems normal. A few lucky people around have perfectly even temps, but usually one pair of cores is about 4-6 C higher than the other... sometimes more.
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lothar
Quote:

Originally Posted by SacredChaos View Post
Doesn't Loadline Calibration need to be on?
Several sites I respect (anandtech, xbitlabs, toms hardware) recommend disabling Load Line Calibration during overclocking

Some articles worth reading below:
ASUS ROG Rampage Formula: Why we were wrong about the Intel X48
Overclocking Intel's New 45nm QX9650: The Rules Have Changed
ASUS P5Q Pro Mainboard Review
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Z
2
Quote:

Originally Posted by lothar View Post
My suggestions (I don't know if it will correct the problem...)

First: What power supply you have?
Try connecting Radeon to separate 12V line...

Second: 1.4V may be too low to get 3.6GHz on Q6600... try turning off load line calibration and upping Voltage to 1.45V and more

Third: Try booting from memtest86+ instead to windows and verify that your memory is stable...

Anyway, Good Luck

Its OCZ StealthXtreme 600W (or 650W not sure atm) PSU brand new. should be really enough. i will try your suggestions when i got home from work. but i'm afraid the temp will be too high.

vcore can sustaining vdroop therefore 1.4 can drop on 1.3750 which is quite little for 3.6GHz. will try to experiment. but personally dont see lot of space for topping up the vcore any further due to air cooling.
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R
Did you try to lower the multiplier to 8 and raise the fsb to 450? Mmy q6600 wouldn't go passed 2.8ghz with multi of 9, once I changed it to 8 I was able to hit solid 3.4ghz
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Z
Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicJoe View Post
I stopped at 3.2 on my Q6600, but I'll let you know what helps me when I get stumped... Go back to basics. Instead of shooting for 400x9 and trying to pin down the right voltage, try setting the max voltage you're comfortable with and slowly edging up the FSB until you hit a wall. You may find 3.6 isn't possible, especially on newer G0's and air. It depends on your VID and your mobo, and I don't know enough about your mobo to tell you.

As for your question at the end about temps, that seems normal. A few lucky people around have perfectly even temps, but usually one pair of cores is about 4-6 C higher than the other... sometimes more.
hi you are very right, while I'm at work i'm doing stress test on Prime95 with 9x366=3.3Ghz which seems to be STABLE for me so far. slowly getting there...

CPUVID is 1.2500, mobo should be fine as used by many others... thanks about core temps comment
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S
Nice VID. Should do 3.6GHz easily or even higher.
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SacredChaos
Quote:

Originally Posted by lothar View Post
Several sites I respect (anandtech, xbitlabs, toms hardware) recommend disabling Load Line Calibration during overclocking

Some articles worth reading below:
ASUS ROG Rampage Formula: Why we were wrong about the Intel X48
Overclocking Intel's New 45nm QX9650: The Rules Have Changed
ASUS P5Q Pro Mainboard Review
I just can't see why tho. Loadline Calibration helps eliminate vdroop which is bad for overclocking.
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Z
2
Quote:

Originally Posted by We Gone View Post
..
all of these I have tried in my iterations if you look carefully u can see it. if its not there, I'm telling you now
only LoadLine calibration=disabled wasn't tried, but not really sure if its going to help
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Z
Quote:

Originally Posted by Russkiy View Post
Did you try to lower the multiplier to 8 and raise the fsb to 450? Mmy q6600 wouldn't go passed 2.8ghz with multi of 9, once I changed it to 8 I was able to hit solid 3.4ghz
this is one thing along with raising vcore that came up from discussion here and on extremeoverclockers, that i can be just hitting FSB hole and due to this, i should try 8x400 and 9x425, or 8x425. I will update as soon as I try it.
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