Overclocked Q9450. Looking to see if it is okay

[Cizar]

(Mother Board)
- Evga 780i SLi

(Memory)
- OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 / 1066 MHz / Reaper HPC Edition / Dual Channel 4 GB
- Stable on Prime95 24+ hours @ 5-5-5-15 800mhz

(Processor)
- Intel Quad Core Q9450 2.66 GHZ (overclocked to 3.4 Ghz)
- Stable on prime95 24+ hours @ (1700 Mhz FSB) 3.4 GHZ @ 1.35V HT is on
- Peak temps 65c during Prime95 over 16 hours.

(Processor Cooling)
- Tuniq 120 - Big massive thing really.

(Graphics Card)
- Gigabyte GTX560 Ti SOC

(Operating System)
- Windows 7 x86 home edition (Genuine)

System voltages:

Core: 1.35 V
FSB: 1.3 V
Ram: 2.0 V
SPP: 1.4 V
MCP: 1.525 V
SPP <-> MCP: 1.25 V

My question is, first off, are my ram timings appropriate? Those timings are what they were stock. I have not overclocked the ram at all - I am wondering if I should a little bit. But I would like some advice on the ram timings.

Secondly, my voltages. Do they look right? I researched a lot online about safe voltages for my overclock. Just want to make sure nothing looks out of place there.

Thirdly, My FSB-DRAM ratio. Should that be 1:1 or something else? Please advise

The overclock seems to be stable, I just dont want to fry anything. I have run multiple instances of prime95 with no failures.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Cizar]

Anyone?

 

[Falkentyne]

You have to wait awhile before people will reply. This isn't a game forum...you need patience.

 

[redduc900]

At a FSB of 425MHz / 1700 FSB (QDR) how is the RAM running at only DDR2-800, when the lowest FSB : DRAM ratio is 1:1? At that FSB w/ a 1:1 divider, the RAM should be running at an effective 425MHz (DDR2-850). Since you have PC2-8500, change the DRAM frequency / MEM (DDR) to DDR2-1062, this utilizing the 4:5 divider for an effective 531MHz. And if the rated timings and voltage are 5-5-5-15 and 2.0V at 533MHz, then just leave them where they're at.

 

[Cizar]

Ok, I did that and it is now at the settings that you suggested. Seems to be working just great. I will run memtest again later tonight.

As far as possibly uping to 3.6 GHZ, do you think that is something that would be wise? I don't want to kill my CPU in the process of this overclocking. Do you have any advice for that?

 

[redduc900]

You won't kill the chip. You'll probably need a BIOS setting of ~1.40V Vcore, or whatever setting is necessary to achieve a loaded 1.38V or so at 3.6GHz. Just keep an eye on the core temp's w/ either Core Temp or Real Temp. Intel set the absolute max. Vcc / Vcore for the Q9000 series at 1.45V, so just keep the Distance to Tj Max at no less than 20-25C (75-80C max. core temp's).

 

[Cizar]

What should I do with the ram, keep it as is? Would the 4:5 ratio still be intact or would i need to change that to something else?
Sorry for all the noob questions by the way, and thanks for being so helpful.

 

[redduc900]

Just keep the FSB : DRAM ratio at 1:1 for the time being, and concentrate on a stable CPU overclock. DRAM settings can be changed after finding your max. stable overclock.

 

[Cizar]

Should it be linked or unlinked? When I link it and do the 1:1 and save and reboot, it makes a long beep and then changes my settings back to default. Is there something wrong there?

 

[redduc900]

So Linked / Synced settings for a 1:1 ratio at 425MHz causes a BIOS reset?

 

[Cizar]

Yeah, it cause that reset. If I have it the way you told me to put it, with the 1062 and the 4:5 ratio, it works fine, but it is unlinked.

 

[EarthDog]

Along with redduc's typical expertise, I invite you to take the leap yourself a bit and read the C2D/C2Q guide that is linked in my signature. This should help give you an idea of what you are doing instead of cookie cutter'ing' your way through this overclock.

 

[hank123]

keep the pll voltage to 1.6 or less and the vtt voltage to 1.45 (think) or less. pushing the vtt voltage can really help your over clock.

 

[Cizar]

Is there another name or acronym for VTT. I dont have that on my motherboard.

 

[Falkentyne]

FSB Termination Voltage=VTT.
VTT has actually been around as a measured voltage since the pentium 2 days. I don't think it was adjustable back then, though.