Hi all, I know the Q6600 is a bit oldschool now, but I'm still having fun squeezing the last drops out of it my trouble is, my chip seems particularly unclockable, and the temps seem a bit high. The best I've managed so far is the following: 8 x 436 -->3.5GHz Vcore = 1.525V CPU GTL (0/2) = Auto CPU GTL (1/3) = Auto CPU PLL = 1.6V FSB Termination = 1.3V Vnorth = 1.3V NB GTL = Auto FSB/NB Strap = Auto Now don't get me wrong, 3.5GHz is very tasty. But most Q6600 G0 owners seem to get 3.6GHz with around 1.48ish volts. I haven't tried changing the GTL setings yet, will do tonight though. Perhaps a related, or seperate issue, is the temperature. I have a TRUE lapped on a lapped chip, with open case, properly applied AS5 and a Sunon Denki 'Big Boy' 38mm deep fan, yet I'm getting idle temps of around 35degrees and sustained full load temps of around 80degrees. Most people stop at 3.6GHz because they get 60degrees full load! Any ideas on either problem? Thanks
If, as you say, most owners can get 3.6 with 1.48V, and your at 3.5 with 1.525V, then I'd say that the increase in voltage must be responsible for the higher temperature. Also, what's the ambient temperature of the room the PC is in. Seems a pretty good Overclock though. I've never taken my Q6600 over 3.2GHz. I've never really known what a safe maximum voltage is. But now I've seen quite a few people running Q6600s at or around 1.5V, is that around the maximum to take them on air cooling?
People seem to follow a general rule of 15% increase as a maximum (often quoted with a 3year lifetime, compared with around 10 for no increase in voltage) which is what I've got it at now. A lot of people seem to have a heart attack when they see 1.525Volts but they live in the shiny new world of 45nm, where that would be a CPU's death knell. Just seems pretty hot given the beafiness of the cooler, and the mahusiveness of the fan. Guess watercooling might be a way forward, although tbh I'd wait till an i5 before doing that. I've noticed some sights saying that fiddling with the GTL is often needed for the last few dregs of overclock, will try it soon and see if it helps.
to be honest, 3.5Ghz is very good, i've only managed 3.4Ghz with push-pull fans on TRUE. you could always try to add a couple volts, northbridge voltage seems a bit low, always ran my at 1.45v, found needed that to make 4 sticks of 2GB RAM sticks to be stable.
have you tried dropping the fsb and increasing the ratio? so 400x9 perhaps to get the desired 3.6GHz. that is what i did at least to get mine at 3.6GHz. though. i don't remember the settings i had. the board fried because of a bad power supply. i haven't tried getting her back to 3.6GHz since. perhaps i should seek that realm again...
Before answering i have to tell u that 3.5Ghz is a good speed. Try reducing the voltages a bit. That would reduce the temps. Also try to overclock with the multiplier at x9. For me it was very hard to overclock with the multiplier at x8. I always went with x9. And last week i overclocked my Q6600 with the stock intel cooler and stock voltages to get 3.2Ghz. Beyond that i got different problems. Might try again sometime later.
