Howto Guide: Overclocking C2D/C2Q Processors v1.6.1

[graysky]

Updated the guide today. Have a read and lemme know if I have errors, bad links, etc.

[JohntechUPi]

Awesome Guide, do you mind if I post this or a link to this on another forum?

[graysky]

Link away

[Dharkelf]

Hello, great guide!

I´ve got another problem with the q6600. I don´t want to overclock. However I´ve got 1066 ram hyperX/Kingston and it just works as 800. Do I have to set (which?) voltages up or (as I heard somewhere else) disable static read control?
tia!

[DMB2000uk]

I´ve got another problem with the q6600. I don´t want to overclock. However I´ve got 1066 ram hyperX/Kingston and it just works as 800. Do I have to set (which?) voltages up or (as I heard somewhere else) disable static read control?
tia!

If you have the latest BIOS (and it doesn't support a 1066Mhz RAM setting) then the only way to use your RAM at 1066 is to overclock the FSB. You could choose to overclock your FSB to 355Mhz and drop your processor multiplier down to 7, so that your RAM and CPU are at the right setting, but the FSB is overclocked.

You'd have to follow a similar overclocking procedure to what is listed above to make sure the FSB is stable when it is overclocked. And if it becomes unstable, then you would need to add more northbridge/MCH voltage. A better test for FSB/Northbridge stability is memtest86+, run test 5 looped for a couple of hours, if it fails or hangs, your northbrige/MCH needs more voltage as it is not quite stable.

Dan

[Dharkelf]

Thanks for the fast answer.

My BIOS supports the 1067 - I hope.

I tried with setting the exact timing 5-5-5-15, disabling static read control and going to 2,3 V for DRAM, and 1,4 V for northbridge (as advised in another board) but as soon as windows xp started loading I got a blue screen (always at the same time).

Without any modification I can set up the Frequency for DRAM to 889 and cpuz shows 445.5 MHz as Frequency (400 b4) and 3:5 FSB 2 DRAM (2:3 b4).

I bought 1066 ram because I hoped it would fit perfectly with the q6600 and the board. So it doesnt.

Any setting suggestions?

My BIOS JumperFree settings now are:

AI OC Manual (M)
CPU Ratio C Auto (A)
FSB f 266
PCIE f A
DRAM f 889 (1067 didnt work)
DRAM Timing M
CAS 5
RAS 2 CAS 5
RAS precharge 5
RAS act 2 prec 15
TWR, TRFC, TWTR, TRRD, TRTP all A
DRAM static/dyn A
Transactr B A
COC A
CPU speed A
PCIE speed A
CPU Voltage (V) A
CPU V Ref A
CPU V Damper A
CPU PLL A
DRAM 2,2 V
FDB Termination A
Northbridge A
Northbridge Reference A

Thnx again for any suggestions!

[DMB2000uk]

Does your board support unlinked RAM overclocking? (I should have checked before I told you all that other stuff!)

The 1.4v for NB, is that above normal for your board?

What make and model is your RAM and board?

Dan

[kenc51]

I presume you're using an Asus P5K motherboard?

Try manually setting TWR = 11 / TRFC = 42 / TWTR & TRRD & TRTP to 10
Static read to disabled
Transaction booster to disabled (should be able to run "enabled = 1", but just in case)
Command rate = 2T
Main Timings = 5-5-5-18
CPU PLL Voltage = 1.6v
FSB Termination Voltage = 1.3v
NB Volt = ~1.35v


Also, CPU Voltage Damper should always be "Enabled"

[Dharkelf]

mainboard: asus p5kc http://de.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l ... odelmenu=2

ram (2 x, slot 1 and 3[quote][/quote]) http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configu ... 500D2K2/2G

I can´t answer what it supports without getting fried. I´m not a specialist for this voltage area, I´m engineering systems up of 110kV ...

[Dharkelf]

I tried the suggested settings WITH 2,3V for DRAM and without the 2T command rate - where can I set it?, additionally no 1,6V 4 CPU PLL only 1,5 and 1,7 available (tested both) and 4 NB only 1,26 and 1,4 available (set)

again, blue screen on start loading xp pro.

Any finetuning?

[DMB2000uk]

I presume you're using an Asus P5K motherboard?

Psychic Ken to the rescue!

Dan

[Dharkelf]

WORKING !

DRAM manually to 1067, timings 5-5-5-15, voltage to 2,2V, CPU ratio muliplyer manually fixed at 9, fsb fixed at 266

AND

DRAM into slots 2 and 4 (the black ones) - other than the manual says.

seems there are a lot out there with 1066 - problems...

THANKS for Your help!

[kappage]

nice review!

[graysky]

glad you found it useful!

[graysky]

Just updated the guide to version 1.3 which contains new info, fixes, clean-ups, etc. Enjoy!

[bobletman]

Very nice guide. Cant wait to OC my Q6600 even more. Thank you.

[graysky]

Glad you found it useful. Please post your results.

[dkarko]

Great guide!
oneup

[Indignity]

Very nice guide!

When you mention the heat was an issue to you when you had your CPU @ 3.3GHz, what temps were they running? The other question I have is can you actually detect a performance increase from say an e6600 to the q6600 if you were to run both side by side @ stock settings?

I'd consider "upgrading" my e6600 it if there is a noticeable difference. The highest I've pushed mine is 3.2GHz before it started flaking on me, but I went back to stock & hadn't messed with it again in a while.. Now, I need to win this month's drawing & I can have the beast back up & running!

[graysky]

When you mention the heat was an issue to you when you had your CPU @ 3.3GHz, what temps were they running? The other question I have is can you actually detect a performance increase from say an e6600 to the q6600 if you were to run both side by side @ stock settings?

I can't remember exactly... they were over 65 °C for sure. As to your second question, if you're using an app that can use all 4 cores, then the answer is "yes!" If you're just browsing the web, emailing, etc. then no. The jury is still out the the game issue. I haven't done any testing or read about dual vs. quad that I can remember and post a url to here for ya. If memory serves me, the quads give better FPS scores on newer games like crysis, ut3, etc. but I don't think they were double that of the dual.