Newbie Grandpa Would like EP45-DS3R Q6600 to OC 3.4 Help Please!

[harleysforfun]

I will be starting with the optimized settings.
I want to have it run stable at 3.4
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 6.0.6001 64

Antec Neopower 650w PSU
Xigmatek S1283 Cooler
Antec P182 Case with 4 120mm fans
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 6.0.6001 (Vista 64)

CPU Properties:
CPU Type QuadCore Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
CPU Alias Kentsfield
CPU Stepping G0
Engineering Sample No
CPUID CPU Name Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
CPUID Revision 000006FBh
CPU VID 1.3250 V
CPU Speed:
CPU Clock 2400.1 MHz (original: 2400 MHz)
CPU Multiplier 9x
CPU FSB 266.7 MHz (original: 266 MHz)
Memory Bus 400.0 MHz
DRAM:FSB Ratio 12:8
CPU Cache:
L1 Code Cache 32 KB per core
L1 Data Cache 32 KB per core
L2 Cache 2x 4 MB (On-Die, ECC, ASC, Full-Speed)
Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID 09/22/2008-P45-ICH10-7A89PG01C-00
Motherboard Name Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (2 PCI, 3 PCI-E x1, 2 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Chipset Properties:
Motherboard Chipset Intel Eaglelake P45
Memory Timings 5-5-5-18 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Command Rate (CR) 2T

DIMM2: Corsair XMS2 DHX CM2X2048-6400C5DHX 2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-18 @ 400 MHz) (4-4-4-13 @ 270 MHz)

DIMM4: Corsair XMS2 DHX CM2X2048-6400C5DHX 2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-18 @ 400 MHz) (4-4-4-13 @ 270 MHz)
http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/TWIN2X2048-6400C5DHX.pdf
BIOS Properties:
System BIOS Date 09/22/08
Video BIOS Date 04/30/07
Award BIOS Type Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message EP45-DS3R F10
DMI BIOS Version F10
Graphics Processor Properties:
Video Adapter EVGA e-GeForce 8600 GTS
GPU Code Name G84GTS (PCI Express 1.0 x16 10DE / 0400, Rev A1)
GPU Clock (Geometric Domain) 675 MHz (original: 675 MHz)
GPU Clock (Shader Domain) 1458 MHz (original: 1450 MHz)
Memory Clock 1008 MHz (original: 1008 MHz)

[Chucko]

Re: Newbie Grandpa Would like EP45-DS3R Q6600 to OC 3.4 Help Please!

You're in for a fun time, this is close to what I bought - same mobo, CPU, & cooler, got some cheap slow Crucial RAM (which I'll replace soon) and a PNY GeForce 9600GT. My Q6600 has a VID of 1.2750V and so far I have it running at 3 GHz at stock voltage!

The Xigmatek HDT-S1283 is working great for me (56 C under Linpack stress testing at 3 GHz), but be sure to get the optional Crossbow bolt-down mounting kit. The supplied push pins suck donkey b@lls.

Run one stability test at stock speeds just to make sure everything is OK. I would suggest starting out with 7x333MHz and SpeedStep (EIST in the BIOS) disabled, then work your way up through the multipliers, stress testing as you go. Add core voltage as needed - the chipset is spec'd at 333 MHz so it shouldn't need any help to get there. Keep a log so you can remember what worked and what didn't. Above 3 GHz... ask the experts here for help.

You'll hear a lot of people use Prime95 as a stress test but I prefer the Intel Linpack benchmark (incorporated in Intel Burn Test and OCCT I think). Linpack works the CPU and memory system much harder than the prime tests - I see 6-8 C temp difference. You will find your instabilities and cooling system weaknesses much faster! I'm on Linux so I'm not up on what's available for Windows, but you'll get a lot of suggestions here.

Have fun, and don't let the magic smoke out!