Further Help in Overclocking the Q6600 for Two Disabled People

[Alvin777]

Hello HWBOT friends.

The Intel Core 2 Quad Core Q6600 system is overclocked at around 2.572Ghz (from 2.4Ghz) with Aida64 stable, 286 FSB w/ 9x multiplier, RAM is only at 573Mhz DDR3 1146, the voltages are in auto but it can be maximized even more.

 I'm doing my best to optimize an old, so that it's maximized, they earn faster but with little cost. It's budget PC (budget but the parts are branded), there will be a beefy cooler (Dimensions, L x W x H: 120x73x156mm) w/ 120mm fan that'll be installed (it's on stock Intel cooler that's been thoroughly cleaned). The goal is to get it stable with least a 332 FSB x 9 multiplier to take it to at least 3Ghz (from 2.4Ghz) so that the memory (4GB x 2) can go to the board maximum of DDR3 1330 (the memory is a DDR3 1600).

 

The parts are:

 

Intel Q6600 (G0 version, which is unlocked)

Asrock G41C-GS Rev. G/A 1.02

Kingston KVR16N11/4 (DDR3 1600, 4GB x 2, in Dual Channel, Flex Mode Operation enabled on the BIOS)

Enermax EG465p-VE (460w)

Crucial MX500 (w/ Momentum Cache enabled)

Intel stock cooler (will be upgraded to a HFS, w/ one fan that has the performance of the big sized Deepcool Gammaxx)

Lian Li Lancool mid-tower casing w/ two Lian Li 120mm fans (1 back exhaust, 1 front, 3-pin)

Windows 10 Pro (latest)

 

The voltages settings have increments but are fixed:

 

DRAM Voltages (is in Auto) but it can be set to: 1.35v, 1.4v, 1.45v, 1.5v, 1.55V, 1.55v, 1.6v, 1.65v, 1.7v, 1.75v, 1.8v, 1.85v, 1.9v, 1.95v, 2.00v

NB Voltage (is in Auto) but it can be set to: 1.05v, 1.11v, 1.23v, 1.3v

VTT Voltage (is in Auto) but it can be set to: 1.1v, 1.2v, 1.37v, 1.46v

GTLRef Voltage (is in Auto) but it ca be set to: 0.67 x Vtt, 0.65 x Vtt, 0.63 x Vtt, 0.615 x Vtt

The DRAM Command Rate is in Auto but can be set to: 1N, 2N

 

DRAM Timing Control are all in Auto but can be set to:

DRAM tCL: 5 to 10

DRAM tRCD: 3 to 10

DRAM tRP: 3 to 10

DRAM tRAS: 9 to24

DRAM tRFC: 17 to 78

DRAM tWR: 3 to 15

DRAM tWTR: 2 to 15

DRAM tRRD: 2 to 15

DRAM tRTP: 2 to 13

 

DRAM RCOMP and tRD Configurations are all in Auto but it can be changed:

 

CH0RCOMP Setting: 54-0-11-6-6-6-6 (grayed out, can'' be changed)

CH0 RCOMP ODT: 1 to 63

CH0 G0 (Data): 1 to 15

CH0 G1 (Command):1 to 16

CH0 G2 (Control 1): 1 to 15

CH0 G3 (Control 1): 1 to 15

CH0 G4 (Clock2 1): 1 to 15

CH0 G5 (Clocks 2): 1 to 15

 

CH! RCOMP Settings: 54-0-11-6-0-6-0  (grayed out, can'' be changed)

CH1 RCOMP ODT: 1 to 63

CH1 G0 (Data): 1 to 15

CH1 G1 (Command): 1 to 15

CH1 G2 (Control 1): 1 to 15

CH1 G3 (Control 2): 1 to 15

CH1 G4 (Clocks 1): 1 to 15

CH1 G5 (Clocks 2): 1 to 15

 

DRAM tRD Settings

 

DRAM tRD Settings: 5-5 (grayed out, can't be changed)

DRAM CH0 tRD: 0 to 30

DRAM CH1 tRD: 0 to 30

 

DRAM DLL SKEW Settings

 

CH0 CLKSET0 SKEW Info: 1-5-1-1-0-120 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH0 CLKSET0 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH0 CLKSET1 SKEW Info: 3-2-0-0-0-254 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH0 CLKSET1 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH0 CMD SKEW Info: 2-6-1-1-0-216 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH0 CMD SKew: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH0 CTRL0 SKEW Info: 2-0-1-1-0-156 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH0 CTRL0 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH0 CTRL1 SKEW Info: 2-0-1-1-0-156 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH0 CTRL1 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH0 CTRL2 SKEW Info: 3-4-0-0-0-274 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH0 CTRL2 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH0 CTRL3 SKEW Info: 3-4-0-0-0-274(grayed out, can't be changed)

CH0 CTRL3 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

 

CH1 CLKSET0 SKEW Info: 1-5-1-1-0-120 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH1 CLKSET0 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH1 CLKSET1 SKEW Info: 3-2-0-0-0-254 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH1 CLKSET1 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH1 CMD SKEW Info: 2-6-1-1-0-216 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH1 CMD SKew: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH1 CTRL0 SKEW Info: 2-0-1-1-0-156 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH1 CTRL0 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH1 CTRL1 SKEW Info: 2-0-1-1-0-156 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH1 CTRL1 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH1 CTRL2 SKEW Info: 3-4-0-0-0-274 (grayed out, can't be changed)

CH1 CTRL2 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

CH1 CTRL3 SKEW Info: 3-4-0-0-0-274(grayed out, can't be changed)

CH1 CTRL3 SKEW: -350ps, -300 ps, -250ps, -200ps, -150ps, -100 ps, -50ps, Normal

 

Other settings:

S.M.A.R.T.: Enabled

32-Bit Data Transfer: Enabled

ACPI HPET Tabled

Floppy, Parallel, Serial port related: disabled

Most settings related to energy savings are enabled or are in auto.

Settings that wake up the computer like LAN things: all disabled) 

 

Other Info:

Aida64 Stress test, the CPU at 288Mhz FSB x 9 vCore are: 1.176v (minimum), 1.6v (average) and 1.192v (max)

Core Temp: maximum 63C (100% Aida64 CPU usage)

 

.

Thank you. God bless, Rev. 21:4

 

[Leeghoofd]

 I would strongly suggest to update the Bios version on non OC'ed settings  to version 1.3 or even 1.4

Normally 9 x 333 with Ram at 1333MHz should be a no brainer... However the ASROCK doesn't support Cas 11 

 

Follow these steps for the OC TWeaker Bios page and see if it boots and is stable

 

1) Set RATIO CMOS Setting to 7 (later you can move up to 9X mutliplier )

2) Overclock Mode to Manual

       CPU Frequency to 333
       PCIe Frequency to 100

3) After setting the above set the DRAM frequency to 1333

4) DRAM Voltage to 1.55

5) Press F10 Save and reboot

 

[Alvin777]

Thanks. So true, I wish they (the disabled clients, I guess the budget is always going to their disability needs) had  more budget for a proper overclockable board (not sure why Asrock which I think is Asus quality minus a few slots made a budget MB that implies it can do overclocking coz' you can take the FSB to 500 yet did not include a CPU voltage adjustment and seem to also imply you can take the RAM to 1333 yet it can only take a 10% overclock)- I guess it's still technically a MB that can do overclocking (but more of marketing, sadly).

 

By the way is there a CPU overclocking app for Windows 10 or Windows 11 (I'm upgrading to Windows 11, I saw a lot of overclocking world record holder use it, as well as very technical Youtube people) wherein you can adjust the CPU voltage like you could with GPU overclocking software (like EVGA PrecisionX or MSI Afterburner)?

 

Also if the voltages are set in Auto there are values grayed out on the right side. Are these values good enough to be applied to the voltage (manual mode) for more stability?

 

Have a great & blessed week. Thanks again in advance and advice and tips are always welcome.

Edited October 3, 2022 by Alvin777

[Alvin777]

Hi. Thanks again. It's currently stable at FSB 285 x 9.

I would guess the next is to increase the voltage of the RAM (may initial goal is to overclock it to reach the board's maximum of DDR3, 1332Mhz or DDR 3, 1333 ). I've tried 1.55v on the RAM (auto for the NB voltage, GTLRef and VTT voltages) but that didn't work.

The RAM is currently at 571Mhz at DDR3 1149 (the other choice is 420 at DDR3 856)

The RAM for some reason is divided into two choices: If I bring the FSB using the 571 RAM the start point, to bring it the RAM to 665Mhz DDR 1332, the FSB would be at 332 (it would exceed the board's 1333 limit by 1hz if I used FSB 333, unless that's still ok w/ just 1hz above board specs). At this setting the CPU would be overclocked at almost 3Ghz.

If I bring the FSB using the 420 the RAM start point, to bring the RAM to 667Mhz DDR 1333 (exact 1333) the FSB would be at 443 (which'll overclock higher at almost 4GHz)

What're your recommended voltages for the RAM, NB, GTLRef and VTT to reach DDR 1333 or very close to it?

(this is in a way good practice w/ overclocking come to think of for later, more modern setups for other clients)