The Q6600 Overclocking Thread

[Blacklash]

I suppose I'll start one. If one is already up I missed, delete this.

Many people are springing for Q6600s so now would be a good time to start sharing results. If you get a Xeon X3220 post those results too.

Note things like; stepping, clock, system voltages, cooling, and motherboard. I have a Xeon X3220 incoming and will be posting my results when possible.

[dicecca112]

If this gets big enough, and you keep it up with pertinent info, like stepping, clock, temp, cooling, etc I'll sticky it

[kenc51]

Good Idea! I'm ordering one tomorrow btw

[dicecca112]

Jesus Christ Ken, make it stop, my little notebook can't handle it. What 2k ppd isn't enough?

[kenc51]

Jesus Christ Ken, make it stop, my little notebook can't handle it. What 2k ppd isn't enough?

LOL I told you a while ago it was just the begining ;)
I'm now undecied on a Q6600 or a E6850. I also don't know if I should get a sckt775 bracket for my cpu block or just buy a swiftech block and forget the alphcool one.(currently I have my H2O setup only cooling my gfx card, which is just wrong IMO)
I could just get the E6850 and clock it to <4GHz and wait for 45nm before going quad, or get the quad now and suffer the heat.........
I don't know what to do? (I'ts a nice dilemma to have, but one none the less)

[graysky]

Okay, I'll bite:

Lapped Q6600 (B3 stepping) L644G101 running 9x333 @ 1.2625V (vcore in BIOS, CPU-Z reports 1.232V). P5B-Del board (vdroop modified) cooled w/ a lapped Ultra-120 Extreme. System voltages (FSB,NB,SB,ICH): 1.200V, 1.25V, 1.50V, and 1.057V respectively.

[Bio-Hazard]

Jesus Christ Ken, make it stop, my little notebook can't handle it. What 2k ppd isn't enough?

LOL I told you a while ago it was just the begining ;)
I'm now undecied on a Q6600 or a E6850. I also don't know if I should get a sckt775 bracket for my cpu block or just buy a swiftech block and forget the alphcool one.(currently I have my H2O setup only cooling my gfx card, which is just wrong IMO)
I could just get the E6850 and clock it to <4GHz and wait for 45nm before going quad, or get the quad now and suffer the heat.........
I don't know what to do? (I'ts a nice dilemma to have, but one none the less)

Be ready for a ton of heat off the Quads, even the G0 steppings when you start cranking up the volts. ............. Look for around 3.2 on air (maybe) and it's possible for 3.5 on extreme water from some of what I've been seeing around the web.

There is a review up today on OC'ing the Q6600 and compared it to a ton of other non-OC'ed CPU. The results were pretty much what I expected to see, in the games and setting that I and most people play at, the OC'ed Q6600 was only slightly faster than the NON-OC CPU's that most of us non-Quad users are running. Even Supreme Commander with the version 3223 patch applied, at 1600x1200, the OC'ed Quad was only 4 FPS faster than the NON-OC'ed E6750.......... OC the E6750 to a easy 3.8 GHz and it should easily beat the Quad Q6600 that was already OC'ed to 3.348 GHz.

In all the rendering tests the Quads exceled as expected, but I could care less about that, I don't mess with anything of the sort.

I really don't think all that heat is worth 4 FPS against non-OC'ed CPU's................

[graysky]

You'll get more out of a quad if you use it for video related apps such as x264. Have a look at this thread and the benchmarks of a quad vs. dual. This is only relevant if you use x264 though... the average gamer in 2007 won't see that much of a boost from 4 vs 2 cores.

[kenc51]

I've decided to wait till 45nm for Quad, I can't get the E6750 as it's not in-stock here yet and I'm not paying the coversion rates from € to pounds when I buy from the UK, So I've just ordered a E6850

Sorry to hijack this thread!

[Blacklash]

I'll have some formal results next week. I have a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme incoming.

I am stuck with a B3 CPU so I won't be going that high. So far I've been up to 3.5 on 1.5v and the heat dump is wicked. I am definitely going to get a decent Penryn Quad with they hit.

With a lot of work I might make 3.6GHz with this X3220.

[graysky]

I'll have some formal results next week. I have a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme incoming.

I am stuck with a B3 CPU so I won't be going that high. So far I've been up to 3.5 on 1.5v and the heat dump is wicked. I am definitely going to get a decent Penryn Quad with they hit.

With a lot of work I might make 3.6GHz with this X3220.

Did you lap this chip? If not, I recommend doing it to both the chip and base of my HS.

[Blacklash]

When the TR U-120 Extreme gets here I'll be lapping it and the Quad core. I was just saying the same thing over @ [H]ard-

http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p ... ostcount=8

[CoolZone]

i heard that the last revision Q0 of the q6600 overclocks very well and is much cooler

[graysky]

..think you meant G0

[Blacklash]

Just waiting on my TR U-120 Extreme. Results soon.

[aticotech]

I read that there are limits with overclocking Q6600 for 680i chipsets. There is a 400FSB wall for this chipset (I'm not sure about the Intel chipsets). Only if you an 'unlocked' quad multi can you get past 3.2GHz. Has anyone heard differently?

[Blacklash]

Bad news here. When I installed my TR U-120 Extreme I had no post with the Xeon X3220. It was running fine in the BX2. I tried an E6320 and my old E6600 in the same motherboard and they work fine.

I tried resetting the CMOS and removing the battery etc. Something happened to my X3220. RMA I 'spose.

As far as limits go I haven't had the X3220 stable above 390 or 3.5GHz. Your best bet is P35, although the below article from bit-tech.net doesn't make them look very good either:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/0 ... ad_q6600/1

If you haven't bought one yet I'd say make sure you get a G-0, or wait on Penryn.

[aticotech]

Bad news here. When I installed my TR U-120 Extreme I had no post with the Xeon X3220. It was running fine in the BX2. I tried an E6320 and my old E6600 in the same motherboard and they work fine.

I tried resetting the CMOS and removing the battery etc. Something happened to my X3220. RMA I 'spose.

As far as limits go I haven't had the X3220 stable above 390 or 3.5GHz. Your best bet is P35, although the below article from bit-tech.net doesn't make them look very good either:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/0 ... ad_q6600/1

If you haven't bought one yet I'd say make sure you get a G-0, or wait on Penryn.

Do you have any information on whether the X3220 a better OC than the Q6600?

[Blacklash]

I believe it's luck of the draw. You aren't guaranteed a good OC regardless of the chip.

I would buy the newer stepping (G-0) as it uses less voltage and thus produces less heat. Buy what is available and at the best price.

When going for a Q6600 you want the Prod Code on the box to end in SLACR-

http://processorfinder.intel.com/Detail ... R&OrdCode=

The Xeon should end in SLACT:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/detail ... Spec=SLACT

[Blacklash]

Well Newegg refunded my money on the X3220 because they were OOS when they received my RMA.

I went a head and ordered a Q6600 in G-0 that should be in later this week. If you guys are looking for a guaranteed G-O stepping ClubIT and Allstarshop have them.

ClubIT has G-0s for 299usd.

http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cf ... =A1938452#

If you don't mind paying 318usd for one Allstarshop has them in as well.

http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product ... GUWUP60ETA

I've dealt with both the above e-tailers with zero issues and have had positive experiences.