E6600 overclocking help please!

[onedjone]

Hi everyone!

I am new to the board and new to overclocking in general. Can't wait to start filling my noggin with info. I have been reading unlimited amounts of data on the topic the past few days so I kinda know a little bit at least.

I just finished building my PC and just got everything up and running as of yesterday. I plan on doing a burn-in soon, should I do a burn in at the stock processor speed before I overclock it or should I burn in at the overclocked speed?

Mother board is: PC CHIPS P23G V3.0 - Specs: http://www.pcchips.com.tw/PCCWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?CategoryID=1&TypeID=9&DetailID=370&MenuID=16&LanID=2

The specs link above says it is V1.0 and correct me if I am wrong, but I think my V3.0 is the V1.0 just with an update BIOS setup? Or maybe it is indeed new/updated hardware?

Anyway...

Cooling I have a total of 2 80mm case fans, an HDD cooler with dual fans, and a RAM cooler with dual fans for extra air flow.

The heatsink/fan is the Spire SP601B3 VertiCool II - Specs: http://www.spirecoolers.com/fcc.asp?ProdID=275

So with all that in mind, I would like to go up to 3.2ghz (Without water).

I know it can be done with Air and I know even the crap stock heatsink and fan setup that comes with other computers (Not custom built) can handle 3.0 and some a little higher, so 3.2ghz with my air setup seems efficient to me, yes?

Anyway, if I get this going how I want it, I will upgrade to water cooling when I can and then perhaps once I get more comfortable with overclocking, go even higher.

RAM is 2.0GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM, 533MHz, (2DIMM) - From Dell (I believe Corsair manufactures their RAM in their systems? Not sure)

Video card is ATI Radeon All in Wonder 9200 (128MB)

Sound card is: Sound blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty (If it matters)

And CPU is obviously Intel Core 2 Duo E6600


So now I have a question, will my setup and mobo handle up to 3.2ghz or go even higher? How do I find this out if no one knows? What would be the optimal temp and voltage to run this at?

And if I could get away with going a little higher with air I would.

Also does anyone have a similar setup? And if so, what are your settings for optimal performance? I would like to know so it could cut some time for me.

Sorry for so many questions, my mind is just hungry to learn :)

I am still searching and reading as we speak, but I would like some live and current input from you all please.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Mike.

[batboy]

Welcome to the forum. Hope you have some overclocking success with your new system. I doubt you'll make your 3.2 gig O/C goal though. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but to put it bluntly, that motherboard sucks for overclocking. Not only is it a cheaply made motherboard with less than stellar components, but it also uses the VIA chipset which is severly FSB limited. Good luck.

[mobitsfa]

Can you return your mobo? If you can get a ga-965p-ds3 it's a good overclocking mb and pretty much the cheapest one you can get for performance. There are better mobos, but for the price it's great. You can probably get it for around 130 shipped.

Another thought: you can return your e6600 and get an e6400 or e6300. Return your motherboard. If you get an e6400 or e6300 get a p5b deluxe, then get some ddr2 800 ram. I'm getting a 3.15ghz oc with my e6300 I just need some better ram to go higher. others are getting up to a 3.5ghz oc with theirs on air. Just a suggestion.

Best would be to just get a new mobo + ram if you have the money. You can get some nice oc's from an e6600

[hUMANbEATbOX]

mobitsfa, the newer e6300's and e6400's are Allendale, and they usually top out around 3-3.2ghz. not like the old e6300's (see my sig). :)

[onedjone]

Well it would suck to have to get a new mobo, but the only reason I chose this one was because I needed at least x1 AGP slot and at least x3 PCI with at least x2 SATA and x2 IDE with x1 FDD

If there is a top end board out there with these specs or at least one AGP slot, please let me know. Money is definitely not an issue.

Thanks!

Mike.

[hUMANbEATbOX]

there are NO top end board with an AGP slot. if money is not an issue, i would suggest ditching agp, and jumping on the pci-e bandwagon. that's where all the real mobos are. ;)

[onedjone]

Ehh,

What a pain in the ass this is gonna be.

Well what board should I go with that is great quality and has very high clocking capability?

Also looks like I will need a new Video card then. Might as well upgrade to a 256mb ATI All in Wonder (Just need something that has analog (RCA/S-VIDEO)/digital ins and outs for video and audio). I use the machine for Audio editing and production so video doesn't matter that much (To a certain extent anyway).

I may as well go for a water cooling system too while I'm at it, so any mobo/h2o cooling combos you would recommend for a goal of 4.0-4.2ghz on my E6600?

I'll probably need to get new RAM also if I wanna go that high cuz I have Samsung PC2-5300 DDR2 (533MHz) 1 GB sticks x2 for a total of 2GB.

So, recommendations for: New Mobo, Water Cooling system, and new RAM for a final goal of 4.0-4.2ghz on my E6600 cpu.

Thanks in advance!

Mike.

[jimmsch]

RAM = Buffalo Firestix (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820150054)...rhese seem to be all the rave right now and the prices at Newegg are quite attractive

Video Card = ATI AIW Radeon X1900 (http://ati.amd.com/products/RadeonX1900/aiwx1900/index.html) 256MB RAM if that's what you like. It has all the ins/outs you stated and even has an HDMI out for possible future TV upgrades

Mobo = for 4.0 ghz on that E6600 you might need the DFI ICFX3200 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136032), or Asus Commando (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131149). I think 4.0 is a bit much for 24/7 stable usage for E6600 though. Personally, I really liked my P5W DH Dlx (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025) with that CPU. I had it stable at 400*8, a perfect 1:1 ratio on my RAM. I bet with water you can easily get 400*9 for 3.6ghz everyday stable usage. I hear alot of good things about Asus P5B Deluxe (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131045) or even the vanilla version, and am thinking of getting one myself. There are ALOT of good choices for top end mobos (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010200280+1070625638&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=280) right now.

Sound Card = If you are truly into audio editing I have to recomend the Creative X-Fi Platinum (http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=14065). It has ALL you will ever need for audio editing. I would say if you edit alot of audio and not so much video then go with this and get a slightly lesser video card (http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx1300/aiw2006pcie/index.html).

See the water cooling (http://www.ocforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71) section for recomendations of good water set-ups.

Good luck -Jim

[onedjone]

RAM = Buffalo Firestix (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820150054)...rhese seem to be all the rave right now and the prices at Newegg are quite attractive

Video Card = ATI AIW Radeon X1900 (http://ati.amd.com/products/RadeonX1900/aiwx1900/index.html) 256MB RAM if that's what you like. It has all the ins/outs you stated and even has an HDMI out for possible future TV upgrades

Mobo = for 4.0 ghz on that E6600 you might need the DFI ICFX3200 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136032), or Asus Commando (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131149). I think 4.0 is a bit much for 24/7 stable usage for E6600 though. Personally, I really liked my P5W DH Dlx (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025) with that CPU. I had it stable at 400*8, a perfect 1:1 ratio on my RAM. I bet with water you can easily get 400*9 for 3.6ghz everyday stable usage. I hear alot of good things about Asus P5B Deluxe (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131045) or even the vanilla version, and am thinking of getting one myself. There are ALOT of good choices for top end mobos (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010200280+1070625638&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=280) right now.

Sound Card = If you are truly into audio editing I have to recomend the Creative X-Fi Platinum (http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=14065). It has ALL you will ever need for audio editing. I would say if you edit alot of audio and not so much video then go with this and get a slightly lesser video card (http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx1300/aiw2006pcie/index.html).

See the water cooling (http://www.ocforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71) section for recomendations of good water set-ups.

Good luck -Jim

Jim,

Thanks for your reply!

So maybe I should shoot for 3.6ghz for 24/7 stability then.

What would be the best mobo for this? I will take a look at the ones you reccomended too.

And does it matter which type of the brand ram you recommended as far as 533MHz, 800MHz, etc?

Video card looks good, and for audio, I already have a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Professional Sound card (Exact same card as X-Fi Elite Pro, just no front bay or remote). So I have the highest top end sound card that Creative makes (I am very serious about audio).

However, I bought the Pro off of eBay thinking I was getting the FPS version (With Front Bay and remote) for a good price :-\

Well to my dismay, it did not come with the bay and remote, just the card, but at least that is the most important item :-D

So I was wondering if you knew where I could buy the front bay and remote set. I found it on Creative's site at http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=13&subcategory=55&product=14659
but it won't let me purchase it? Any idea where I can get that set?

Sorry I know that's kinda off topic, but I really appreciate your help!

Thanks in advance!

Mike.

[jimmsch]

Without any experience with this board, from what I have been reading the Asus P5B Deluxe is the best OCing board. I think it is the 965 chipset that sets it above most of the others.

RAM...the higher the number the better. For now I don't think you need more than DDR2800 PC26400 though.

I have that vid card and I love it. I do alot of video editing. Just hard to find a place to buy it right now. I actually think they stopped making it. http://www.bizrate.com/graphicscards/ati-radeon-all-in-wonder-x1900-256-mb-pci-e-graphics-card--pid398876985/compareprices__nwylf--.html
has a store that seems to have it in stock, but I cannot vouch for them. Certainly you can find one on Ebay.

The I/O drive upgrade kit with wireless remote for that X Fi is also hard to find. PriceGrabber (http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Creative_SOUND_BLASTER_X_FI_I_O_DRIVE,__1724712 0) lists two stores that seem to have it in stock, But, again, I cannot vouch for them. Maybe Ebay would be better.

[hUMANbEATbOX]

there are lots of boards that will get a e6600 to 3.6ghz, because you only need 400fsb. personally, i would go with an Intel Badaxe2, or a p5w-dh. you need 2 IDE channels, 975 is the way to go.

like already said, 4ghz on water is out of the question, 3.6ghz is still smokin' tho.

[jimmsch]

there are lots of boards that will get a e6600 to 3.6ghz, you need 2 IDE channels
I forgot he needed two IDE's...P5W DH Dlx would be the one for me..Oh yea I already have one

[SybrCLocK]

can i hijack this thread a bit pls?
my setup:
CPU: C2D E6600
MOBO: P5B DLX
RAM: 2x1GB OCZ DDR800

i`m testing out my new 6600, and have a few questions of course:
1. with:
Multi: 9
FSB: 333

CPUz
http://skill.ro/Q/temp/FSB333-multi9.JPG

XP:
http://skill.ro/Q/temp/FSB333-multi9-XP.jpg

so thats weird...


2. i`m using 5:4 on the DDR @ 750Mhz.. how can some achieve 1:1 with 400 fsb on 800mhz DDR...

3. What are the max safe voltages on CPU and DDR..


thanks

[jimmsch]

1: weird...cpu-z is showing your multi as being 6. Were these screenies taken on the same boot?
2: I achieved the 1:1 on the P5W using 8x multi and 400fsb, making it a perfect match for my DDR2800. 400MHz fsb = 800 on the RAM coz the 2 in DDR2.
3: I doubt you will get anybody to answer this. It has alot to do with what cooling you have and different RAM manufacturers have different vdimm specs. On CPU it is more a question of max safe temps than safe vcore. The more vcore..the higher temps.

[SybrCLocK]

the screens are done on the same boot, and tried a rr as well and still the same.. so who to believe :)

i`ll try a 1:1 on my ram, but i dont get it now i`m @ 333FSB and the ram is reported to be @ 417.4 Mhz 4:5.. so @ 400FSB and 1:1 it would be way higher than 400x2

[jimmsch]

i`m using 5:4 on the DDR

You currently are running an up divider on your ram. Are you using DDR or DDR2? I am not familiar with the BIOS for that board, but there should be somewhere to set the RAM speed...set it to auto for now, that should make it 1:1. Or set it to DDR2666 for your 333 fsb (if you are using DDR2 and not DDR) and save it in BIOS. It will stay at 1:1 with each fsb increase.

[Randyman...]

The C2D's lower the multi when not running hard to conserver power and heat. That is why you see the 6x multi and the 2GHz rating in CPUz. Run something that uses some CPU cycles, and it will jump back to 9x Multi. You can disable this in BIOS. This confused the poop out of me at first, too.

PS - If you change the CPU Multi on a 965 Chipset (I see you are on the stock 9x, so that is not affecting you), it does all kinds of crazy stuff to the Northbridge and Ram frequencies. Essentially, the NB looks at the Multi as part of the total speed calculation (stock multi divided by the specified multi multiplied by the CPU FSB). It gets confusing quick, but there are some great articles on this... This also makes Windows report the INCORRECT CPU SPEED (it reports as running faster)

:cool:

[SybrCLocK]

ohh thanks.. i didnt know that... i`ll do some reading on the subject.. but i have an idea now..

thanks

[onedjone]

Damn you, damn you all and your fancy overclocking jargon!

No, but seriously, I wish my current set up could at least overclock some, shoulda researched this more first. Oh well, now I know.

Time for some new boards and memory!

Something interesting I found though, in my bios setup, it has an overclocking engine and the highest it goes 300MHz, though I did set it to this before and changed nothing else and my computer's monitor would stay turned off until I did a CMOS reset.

Any ideas? Should I try and mess with the RAM settings in Windows before I try and clock it? At least 300MHz is something hah.

Thanks all!

Mike.

[onedjone]

The C2D's lower the multi when not running hard to conserver power and heat. That is why you see the 6x multi and the 2GHz rating in CPUz. Run something that uses some CPU cycles, and it will jump back to 9x Multi. You can disable this in BIOS. This confused the poop out of me at first, too.

PS - If you change the CPU Multi on a 965 Chipset (I see you are on the stock 9x, so that is not affecting you), it does all kinds of crazy stuff to the Northbridge and Ram frequencies. Essentially, the NB looks at the Multi as part of the total speed calculation (stock multi divided by the specified multi multiplied by the CPU FSB). It gets confusing quick, but there are some great articles on this... This also makes Windows report the INCORRECT CPU SPEED (it reports as running faster)

:cool:


Would this help me at all on a computer not currently overclocked? I would think it would make things run a bit smoother/more efficiently.

I saw a few settings in the bios that sound like it may be it. My specs are in the original post, cuz I';m not sure what info you would need to know if it would help me or not.

Thanks in advance!

Mike.

[jimmsch]

Any ideas? Should I try and mess with the RAM settings in Windows before I try and clock it? At least 300MHz is something hah.

Thanks all!

Mike.
I think the rule of thumb is to leave the RAM at factory specs and get the CPU stabalized at max desired speeds first. 300MHz on an E6600 should be do-able with LESS than stock volts. I don't know why it doesn't POST for you at that.