Intel Q6600 Voltage/Multiplier problem

[sonicart]

I wanna know if anyone has the same problem as me.

My setup:

Q6600 @ stock everything
P5B-E (latest BIOS)
8GB Transcend Jetram 800
CPU temps idle=45 load=56

Here's the weird thing that I noticed. I have CPU-Z, CoreTemp 0.99, and Prime95 running. Before I started the stress test, the Core Voltage was hovering at around 1.232V with the multiplier at 6.0 (normal right?). As soon as I start the test, the Core Voltage drops all the way down to around 1.032V and the multiplier up to 9.0. But THEN, as soon as the voltage goes back up, the Multiplier drops down to 6.0 again. Prime95 continues to run without any errors, but the core voltage would stay BELOW 1.2V and the multiplier would stay at 6.0. After I stopped Prime95, the Core Voltage went back up to 1.232V after half a minute.

So my question now is, is something wrong with my CPU? Or is it time for me to get a new motherboard?

[vbironchef]

Your Q6600 has a locked multiplier. If your chip is a QX6600 then it would be unlocked.

[bubba]

Vdroop. From what I understand its that way on purpose.

[DMB2000uk]

Your Q6600 has a locked multiplier. If your chip is a QX6600 then it would be unlocked.

He's talking about speedstep, so it's normal behaviour.

Here's the weird thing that I noticed. I have CPU-Z, CoreTemp 0.99, and Prime95 running. Before I started the stress test, the Core Voltage was hovering at around 1.232V with the multiplier at 6.0 (normal right?). As soon as I start the test, the Core Voltage drops all the way down to around 1.032V and the multiplier up to 9.0. But THEN, as soon as the voltage goes back up, the Multiplier drops down to 6.0 again. Prime95 continues to run without any errors, but the core voltage would stay BELOW 1.2V and the multiplier would stay at 6.0. After I stopped Prime95, the Core Voltage went back up to 1.232V after half a minute.

Are you noticing reduced performance at full load? If everything is working as it should (minus the wierd voltage reporting, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Can you also say what powersupply (make and model) and what graphics card you have please.

Dan

[sonicart]

I'm using a Thermaltake Toughpower 600W and I have an 7600GT for my video card.

Thing is, if Prime95 is running, shouldn't the CPU stay at x9.0?
Another thing I noticed is that when I tried bumping up the FSB a little higher, Prime95 would fail within seconds.
I didn't have any problems of that sort with my E6420 and I had that running at 400FSB (3.2Ghz)

[DMB2000uk]

Ah, yeah, I missed that first time round.

Do you have another board to test the CPU with? And are you at the latest BIOS for your motherboard?

Dan

[sonicart]

Yes I'm using the latest BIOS (1803). Just to see if it was maybe my motherboard, I put in my old E6420 and everything is working the way it should. CPU voltage increases and multiplier up at x 8.0 (E6420) when under load and stays that way when I stress tested it for an hour. I'm wondering if I need a replacement from Intel.

[XstollieX]

Do you have speedstep disabled? If not try disabling that and see what happens. Any chance that your cooling isn't mounted properly and its throttling down? Is your rig overclocked at all or is it doing this at factory speeds?

[vbironchef]

8GB Transcend Jetram 800, what O.S. are you using? I was reading on newegg.com the reviews of your memory. Some people say they had to manually adjust timeing in bios. Some people say they had to underclock memory for it to work. 8 GB of ram is a lot. I know the price is right, but with no heat shield that could be a problem with 8GB. Have you tried just 2GB.