Help with overclocking EP45-UD3P and q6600

[PromethiumX]

Hello. I recently upgraded my computer for the first time in about 5 years. I am no stranger to overclocking, but it's changed A LOT since I last got my system stable! I came from an Athlon XP 1800+ Oc'd to a 3200+ using an NF7S2.0 to my current System:

Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750w power supply http://www.corsair.com/products/tx/default.aspx
Gigabyte EP45-UD3P version 1.6 using Bios FB
Intel q6600 SLACR g0 stepping (supposed to be fantastic Overclocker which is why I'm here ;) )
OCZ PC8500 2x2gb RAM OCZ Technology | Products | Memory | OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 Reaper HPC 4GB Edition
XFX Radeon 4890
Windows 7 Ultimate

My processor is water-cooled. I made a custom mount to use the block I used on my old Athlon with this current processor. It turned out quite well and I am pretty proud of myself. I don't believe temps are my problem.

My problem is that I can't get this darn thing to go above 3.3ghz no matter what I try. I see others with this same model and stepping of processor running at 3.6-3.8ghz stable and I WANT THAT! But I have no idea how to get there. I have searched the forums and tried others identical settings in the bios and I simply cannot get above this current level. I'm hoping that you guys can help me out a bit.

The only thing I use my computer for is general office duties (email, printing etc.) and gaming. I love computer games, especially Team Fortress 2.

Cut to the chase here are my bios settings.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.(don't have this setting?)
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.24


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 360Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................:   800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................:  900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................:  0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................:  0


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.50A

Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 900Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................18



Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... auto
tWTR.......................................... auto
tWR............................................ auto
tRFC...........................................60
tRTP...........................................auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:7 
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 7
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

Load Line..........................................: disabled
Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.4 in BIOS 1.31 displayed in HWM

CPU Termination…..... 1.240V
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V

CPU Referen.…………....Auto

CPU Reference2………Auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.200V
MCH Reference….…….Auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......Auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.500
ICH Core…………...……1.200
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....2.100v
DRAM Termination .…Auto
Channel A Reference .... Auto
Channel B Reference ....  Auto

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
[URL="http://forums.tweaktown.com/#"]Virtualization Technology[/URL]................: [Disabled] 

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]

And here are some pictures of my various programs. These come at the above settings after running Prime 95 in Blend mode for 30 minutes. I can't seem to get much higher than these settings no matter what I try.






Here's hoping I got the first post right!
Thankyou very much for your time.

[Chike]

Re: Help with overclocking EP45-UD3P and q6600

The A is intended for 266MHz FSB, Try one of the B or D multipliers. I'd leave tRFC auto too for now.
Also loosen tRD(Static tRead Value) while working on CPU Frequency, 9/10 should eliminate the possibility it is being a problem.
A notch or two up MCH Core maybe, and same with PLL.
Of course more Vcore may be needed.

[Psycho101]

Re: Help with overclocking EP45-UD3P and q6600

Definitely coming up short on Vcore for 3.4GHz +. The Q6600 is rated to 1.5V and you won't see many (except the finest of examples) running less than 1.4V at 3.4GHz and above.

Your aim should be around 3.6GHz, anything over this is a bonus and as much to do with luck in getting a good CPU as it is with voltages etc.

Using Load Line Calibration will certainly help too. A 65nm quad will have no problems with even its max rated voltage combined with LLC.

As for which multiplier to use, the short answer is the one that works and gets your RAM closest to the rated speed. In my experience, the letters after the multiplier make zero difference. For example if the 2.66c multiplier is intended for use on a 200MHz FSb, then why is it the only multiplier that works with my 411 FSB and keeps my RAM roughly around its rated speed? 2.66D (supposedly best for 400FSB+ doesn't even POST).

Another critical setting will be CPU Termination. Again, a 65nm CPU can take more VTT than a 45nm chip, at around a safe limit of 1.5V compared to 1.4V. More isn't better, you need to find the amount that works. CPU and MCH reference voltages also scale with CPU Term and may require adjusting. This shoukld be done while CPU Term is temporarily set to 1.2V. At 1.2V the stock References should be 0.760V for each. You'd set this and then use PG UP/PG Down to raise or lower the ref you're changing, then restoring your previous CPU Term setting. You will then see the reference voltage rise after inputting your chosen CPU Term, which is perfectly normal.

Note that some Q6600 G0 batches have been rumored to contain less highly overclockable chips. It isn't all that unusual to see later batch G0's struggling to hit 3.2GHz, which again, is where luck comes in.

If it were my CPU and I was using water, this is what I would set to try for 3.6GHz. I'd do this as soon as the PC was switched on for the first time and temps were checked and verified as being "normal":

 MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.(don't have this setting?)
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.6GHz


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 400MHz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................:   800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................:  900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................:  0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................:  0


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.66D (If unstable, try using 2.66C)

Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1064Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................18



Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... auto
tWTR.......................................... auto
tWR............................................ auto
tRFC...........................................auto
tRTP...........................................auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:10 
 
Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 10
 

Load Line..........................................: Enabled

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.5V (if stable, lower, first in big 
steps then notch by notch)

CPU Termination…..... 1.38V Try lower and higher up to 1.5V
CPU PLL…………………....1.59V

CPU Referen.…………....Auto or 0.760V @ 1.2V CPU Term


MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.260V
MCH Reference….…….Auto or 0.760 @ 1.2V CPU Term
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......Auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.590
ICH Core…………...……1.200
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....2.120v Use enough to show 2.1V in the PC Health section.
DRAM Termination .…Auto
Channel A Reference .... Auto
Channel B Reference ....  Auto

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled] 

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]

[PromethiumX]

Re: Help with overclocking EP45-UD3P and q6600

Another critical setting will be CPU Termination. Again, a 65nm CPU can take more VTT than a 45nm chip, at around a safe limit of 1.5V compared to 1.4V. More isn't better, you need to find the amount that works. CPU and MCH reference voltages also scale with CPU Term and may require adjusting. This shoukld be done while CPU Term is temporarily set to 1.2V. At 1.2V the stock References should be 0.760V for each. You'd set this and then use PG UP/PG Down to raise or lower the ref you're changing, then restoring your previous CPU Term setting. You will then see the reference voltage rise after inputting your chosen CPU Term, which is perfectly normal.

Note that some Q6600 G0 batches have been rumored to contain less highly overclockable chips. It isn't all that unusual to see later batch G0's struggling to hit 3.2GHz, which again, is where luck comes in.

If it were my CPU and I was using water, this is what I would set to try for 3.6GHz. I'd do this as soon as the PC was switched on for the first time and temps were checked and verified as being "normal":

 MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.(don't have this setting?)
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.6GHz


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 400MHz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................:   800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................:  900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................:  0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................:  0


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.66D (If unstable, try using 2.66C)

Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1064Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................18



Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... auto
tWTR.......................................... auto
tWR............................................ auto
tRFC...........................................auto
tRTP...........................................auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:10 
 
Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 10
 

Load Line..........................................: Enabled

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.5V (if stable, lower, first in big 
steps then notch by notch)

CPU Termination…..... 1.38V Try lower and higher up to 1.5V
CPU PLL…………………....1.59V

CPU Referen.…………....Auto or 0.760V @ 1.2V CPU Term


MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.260V
MCH Reference….…….Auto or 0.760 @ 1.2V CPU Term
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......Auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.590
ICH Core…………...……1.200
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....2.120v Use enough to show 2.1V in the PC Health section.
DRAM Termination .…Auto
Channel A Reference .... Auto
Channel B Reference ....  Auto

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled] 

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]

While I don't fully understand what you're saying with the termination I tried the settings you just gave above and I was unable to even see the bios screen. I also tried what Chike said. I was still unable to get past 370mhz x 9 before prime95 gave an error on a core.

[Psycho101]

Re: Help with overclocking EP45-UD3P and q6600

There hasn't been sufficient time for you to test all the possibilities I indicated in that profile. Have you really tested using the 2.66C, 2.66D, 1.38V CPU Termination, 1.40, 1.42, 1.44, 1.46, 1.48, 1.50, then lower, maybe down to 1.28.

The possibilities don't end there either. You may need more or less MCH core, a totally different multiplier such as 2.00D/B etc.

If you still get no joy, lower FSB until it does POST to see how far off getting 3.6GHz you are.

All this might take a hour or so.

If you still get nothing, use your 3.3GHz settings but with 1.5V Vcore and see how far you can raise the FSB from that.

[PromethiumX]

Re: Help with overclocking EP45-UD3P and q6600

There hasn't been sufficient time for you to test all the possibilities I indicated in that profile. Have you really tested using the 2.66C, 2.66D, 1.38V CPU Termination, 1.40, 1.42, 1.44, 1.46, 1.48, 1.50, then lower, maybe down to 1.28.

The possibilities don't end there either. You may need more or less MCH core, a totally different multiplier such as 2.00D/B etc.

If you still get no joy, lower FSB until it does POST to see how far off getting 3.6GHz you are.

All this might take a hour or so.

If you still get nothing, use your 3.3GHz settings but with 1.5V Vcore and see how far you can raise the FSB from that.

How I've been testing it is by using the settings in easytuner from within windows while using prime95 to give it full load. Is this the wrong way to do it?

[PromethiumX]

Re: Help with overclocking EP45-UD3P and q6600

oh ho ho! Now I'm beginning to understand what you mean!

ok right now I'm at 395mhz !

PLL = 1.57
Termination = 1.42
Vcore = 1.506


looking pretty stable so far! 54C is my highest temp

Thanks so much for your help