Beginner needs help Q6600/P5KP OC!

Ok I've finally got my PC together the way I want it. Parts:
CPU: Q6600 G0
Mboard: P5K Premium
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Dual Channel PC8500 DDR2 1066 memory (4 gig)
Cooling: Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
GPU: 8800 GTS

Non-Oc'd Temps: 23°C idle, 40° load (per coretemp)

Ok so, where to begin? I read the sticky up top regarding overclocking Quads but I'm not sure where to start!

Set the FSB to 333? Or start higher?

I'm a complete newbie so any advice is much appreciated as always.

Ok I started. Opened up by setting the FSB to 333 and CPU core to 1.3 V. Prime passed test and load temps in coretemp were 47/47/44/44.

Full BIOS settings:
AI Overclocking: Manual
CPU Ratio Contro: Auto
FSB Strap to Northbridge: Auto
FSB Frequency: 333
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: Auto
DRAM Comand Rate: Auto
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
Cas# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# Active Time: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: Auto
Raw Refresh Cycle Time: Auto
Write Recovery Time: Auto
Write to Read Delay: Auto
Read to Precharge Time: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Auto
Transaction Booster: Auto
Clock Over-Charging Mode: Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Voltage: 1.30
CPU Voltage Reference: Auto
CPU Voltage Damper: Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage: Auto
DRAM Voltage: Auto
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
North Bridge Voltage: Auto
North Bridge Voltage Reference: Auto
South Bridge Voltage: Auto

C1E Support: Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Vanderpool Technology: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Enabled
Execute Disable Bit: Enabled
PECI: Enabled

Kylt said:

Ok I started. Opened up by setting the FSB to 333 and CPU core to 1.3 V. Prime passed test and load temps in coretemp were 47/47/44/44.

Full BIOS settings:
AI Overclocking: Manual
CPU Ratio Contro: Auto
FSB Strap to Northbridge: Auto
FSB Frequency: 333
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: Auto
DRAM Comand Rate: Auto
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
Cas# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# Active Time: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: Auto
Raw Refresh Cycle Time: Auto
Write Recovery Time: Auto
Write to Read Delay: Auto
Read to Precharge Time: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Auto
Transaction Booster: Auto
Clock Over-Charging Mode: Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Voltage: 1.30
CPU Voltage Reference: Auto
CPU Voltage Damper: Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage: Auto
DRAM Voltage: Auto
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
North Bridge Voltage: Auto
North Bridge Voltage Reference: Auto
South Bridge Voltage: Auto

C1E Support: Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Vanderpool Technology: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Enabled
Execute Disable Bit: Enabled
PECI: Enabled

Click to expand...

Set the multiplier manually to get the same CPU speed so you know what your multiplier is.

Is this a P 35 chipset?
I have that same board running @ 400Mhz very cool. Its a good quality product.

Ok will set the multiplier to 9 manually.

Been playing with it some more....
Test #1: Upped FSB to 380, left vcore at 1.3V.
Result: Failed post.

Test#2: Put FSB to 350, left vcore at 1.3V.
Result: Posted, the BSOD'd.

Test#3: FSB @ 350, upped vcore to 1.3125.
Result: Posted, passed boot, prime ran for 10 minutes then BSOD.

Test#4: FSB @ 350, upped vcore to 1.3250...
Result: not sure yet!


Running on air should I be pushing for a 400 FSB?

edit: believe it's a p35, CPUZ says "Intel P35/G33/G31 Rev. A2"

Test#4 seemed to work @ 350 with vcore 1.3250.


Sooo I pushed for 400 FSB, worked vcore all the way up to 1.5 V and prime crapped out almost immediately. Not sure if I should be going higher than 1.5V?

I eased off the FSB to 380 and seemed good at 1.45V. Dropped it to 1.4 and Prime BSOD'd in about 5 seconds. Upped it to 1.425 where I have it now, seems to be okay 5 mins in. Temps are 57/57/52/52.

Should I be playing with the other voltages? Or no?

Kylt

The P5K is a P35 chipset. $00FSB should be no problem. In CPUZ look to see what stepping the Q6600 is,, it will be either a B3 or a G0.

Set NB voltage to 1.7 and NB Term voltage to 1.4. Then see if you can reduce vcore..

I've adjusted the NB voltage to 1.7 and NB Term to 1.4. I'm not sure I want to reduce vcore just yet though, still want to push the FSB up to 400 mhz.

What's the max I should be setting vcore to? Read another post where someone "got worried" going over 1.5 V, and now I'm worried too! Is there a cut off point?

Thanks again
Kylt

i wouldnt go over 1.5 on air but that's me that as far as i would go
Rich

I've been running 1.56V for quite some time now, though I am watercooling the Q6600 G0.
I've hit a wall at 3.7GHz, I think I need to adjust some secondary voltages because no amount of extra vcore will get it completely stable above 3.7.

Here are some settings that should get you stright to 3.6Ghz with your TRUE 120 and Q6600 G0:

Full BIOS settings:
AI Overclocking: Manual
CPU Ratio Contro: 8
FSB Strap to Northbridge: 266
FSB Frequency: 450
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: (set to your appropriate mem speed)
DRAM Comand Rate: 1T/2T choose based on what your mem can do
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
Cas# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# Active Time: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: Auto
Raw Refresh Cycle Time: Auto
Write Recovery Time: Auto
Write to Read Delay: Auto
Read to Precharge Time: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Disable
Transaction Booster: VERY important setting, directly affects memory performance.
Clock Over-Charging Mode: Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Voltage: 1.35 (may need to go up to 1.45v)
CPU Voltage Reference: Auto
CPU Voltage Damper: Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.6v
DRAM Voltage: set appropriate voltage
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.5v
North Bridge Voltage: 1.4v-1.55v
North Bridge Voltage Reference: Auto
South Bridge Voltage: Auto

C1E Support: Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Vanderpool Technology: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Enabled
Execute Disable Bit: Enabled
PECI: Enabled[/QUOTE]

Kylt said:

I've adjusted the NB voltage to 1.7 and NB Term to 1.4. I'm not sure I want to reduce vcore just yet though, still want to push the FSB up to 400 mhz.

What's the max I should be setting vcore to? Read another post where someone "got worried" going over 1.5 V, and now I'm worried too! Is there a cut off point?

Thanks again
Kylt

Click to expand...

You need to drop your northbridge..waay to high. No more than 1.5 v, anything over that is not going to give you higher OC. 1.5 is needed if FSB is over 400FSB.

Do not take vcore over 1.5v on air....yes of course there is a cut off point...geez

BLHealthy4life - Thanks for all the settings I'm definitely going to give this a whirl. Still need help though!

Transaction Booster: VERY important setting, directly affects memory performance.

Click to expand...

This means... turn it on? It asks me for a boost level of 0,1,2,3 - any recommendations?

DRAM Frequency: (set to your appropriate mem speed)
DRAM Comand Rate: 1T/2T choose based on what your mem can do
DRAM Voltage: set appropriate voltage

Click to expand...

This is where I get confused and blink alot. My memory is this:
Corsair CM2x1024-8500C5 1066 Mhz 2.10 V ver 2.1
4 gigs total, 4 sticks.
ver2.1 = Quimonda? (thanks google for making me look smart).

For the above 3 bios settings I don't even know where to begin. According to the guide on the site I should set the DRAM Frequency to 2x the FSB Frequency which would make it 900... but the ram is 1066 so I'm confused here. Should I be setting the DRAM Frequency higher? Edit: with your proposed settings it only lets me select 1128, 1353, or 1803. Not sure what to do here.

For DRAM Command Rate - no idea what the memory can do. 1T is better than 2T?

DRAM Voltage - I'm thinking start at 2.10 V, get the system stable, and then gradually start reducing the voltage while memtesting to make sure it's still stable? Think I read a post somewhere that indicated this RAM should run at 1.9V...

Ram timings... when all is said and done should I try setting this ram to 4-4-4-15? That would be a benefit if I could get it working?

Need a bit of a helping hand on understanding this RAM stuff!

Thanks again,
Kylt

edit:
Tried adjusting some settings while leaving the above ones on auto.
Did this:
Cpu Ratio Control: 8
FSB Strap to Northbridge: 266
FSB Frequency: 450
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: Auto
DRAM Command Rate: Auto
DRAM Timing Control - 5/5/5/15/auto/auto/auto/auto
DRAM Static Read Control - Disable
Transaction Booster - Auto
Clock Over-Charging Mode - Auto
Spreads - Disabled
CPu Voltage - 1.45V
CPU Voltage Reference - Auto
CPU Voltage Damper - Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage - 1.6V
DRAM Voltage - 2.1 V
FSB Termination Voltage - 1.5V
North Bridge Voltage - 1.55 V
South Bridge Voltage - Auto

The above settings didn't even get me to post. Rebooted and it posted with an "overclocking failed" message, and booted me back to BIOS. Not sure why it's doing that?

Disable the transasction booster (booster level should read 0) it can hamper your overclocking.

I'd change the FSB strap to 333, that will give you some lower DRAM frequencies to work with.

Command Rate should be set to 2T (can significantly impact DRAM freq negatively if set to 1T)

I think 2.1V is good starting voltage for you ram.

I'd also enable DRAM static read control... it can enhance mem performance and won't hamper your OC.

Your final memory clock is not real crucial to be honest. You could end up with your ram runnning 850MHz 4-4-4-12 or 1066MHz 5-5-5-15 and see practically no difference in performance (barely even obvious in benchmarks).