EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

[Kristof16]

Hi im new to the forums and overclocking.
I already know that the board and chip vary in overclocking capabilities.
I also have already messed around with my BIOS to overclock, but I went back to optimized defaults because I was getting really frustrated. I can get to 3.0 and 3.2 easy, but 3.6 is not working right now.

What I dont know is how can I get my Kentsfield G0 q6600 to 3.6ghz.
The default voltage for my chip is 1.25v.

System Specs:
EP45-UD3R motherboard
Q6600
9800 gt 512mb
2x2gb Corsair Dominator @ 1066 mhz (also how can i overclock memory)
Antec TruePower Trio 550 Watt (im thinking this may not be enough)

Please help.

[Kristof16]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

Update:
I tried this:
9 x 378 @ ~1.325v (i cant remember)
and rest on auto (except for memory - 2.1v)

and then I ran prime95 which sent my cpu idle temps from 49C to ~80C.
coretemp says my tjmax is 100C...
so any suggestions of staying at 3.4ghz?

would increasing any other voltages help increase performance/stability?

What about the R.G.B., the memory (Auto/Turbo/Extreme) settings, and the X.M.P.?

[gampamu]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

1.25VID G0 Q6600's are typically excellent overclocking chips (I have one). They are hot chips though, and high end cooling is essential in maximize their potential. If you are pushing 80C with Prime at 3.4G/1.325V, your CPU cooling is simply not adequate for overclocking. I recommend backing off for now and resuming only after installing a better cooler. The XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 would be an excellent choice.

[Psycho101]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

I agree.

Those temps are too high. I'd hate to see what Intel Burn Test / Linpak would do to those temperatures. You may find that you reach the TJunctionMax and either throttle, or shut down. Definitely consider better cooling, and in the meanwhile set a clock speed that keeps you between 60and 68c during Prime95 load. TJMax may be 100c, but there's a very real possibility of damage a long tome before 100c.

The recommended HSF is great. Also search for products from Noctua, Thermalright and Prolimatech. Scythe's Mugen 2 is also a good product, but is rather large. Most enthusiast heatsinks are tall and can hang over RAM sockets. This means that if your RAM has tall heat spreaders you may encounter problems. Check HSF specs for measurements and search for any known incompatibility issues before you buy.

[Chike]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

Scythe's Mugen 2 is also a good product, but is rather large.

It's size is a minor incoveniance, and it's not compatible with high profile DIMMs.
It's retention kit however, is simply unhuman.

[Kristof16]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

Alright, I got a better cooler for my cpu... The Xigmatek HDT-S1283.
I dont think I did a good thermal paste job, but here are my temps:
Q6600 @ 3.4ghz
Idle- ~37C
Prime95- ~62

I wont be using my cpu at 100% in games, I think, so I want to overclock to 3.6 ghz. I would like to know which voltages to increase and how much should I increase it to. My setup is all default except for vcore and memory voltage.

[Nickel020]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

For 3.6GHz increasing VCore should be all that is really needed. If you increase CPU Termination a little (~0.5V) you may be able to achieve that overclock with a little less VCore.
Voltages other than VCore usually only need to be changed when you're getting near the maximum overclock of your CPU, but a Q6600 can do a little more than 3.6GHz usually if you try hard, so incerasing VCore should be enough.

To check if you did the thermal paste job correctly uninstall the cooler carefully and check if the paste is spread evenly on both CPU and cooler. Do note your temps before unmounting and check at the same settings if they did get better afterwards. It's important that room temperature stays the same when comparing temps, as a 1C increase in air temperature leads to about a 1C increase in CPU temperature.
Only do this of course if you got some extra thermal paste^^

[gampamu]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

Pretty much what Nick said. Here are the 3.6G settings I was using with my Q6600.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
******************************
Robust Graphics Booster ..............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ......................: [9X]
x Fine CPU Clock Ratio................: +0.0
CPU Frequency ........................: 3.6GHz( 400x9)

********** Clock Chip Control ********

>>>>>  Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control................: [Enabled]
x CPU Host Frequency(Mhz).............: [400]
PCI Express Frequency(Mhz)............: [100]
C.I.A.2...............................: [Disabled]

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

******** DRAM Performance Control ********

Performance Enhance...................: [Turbo]
Extreme Memory Profile(X.M.P.)........: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch................: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)........: [2.66D]
Memory Frequency(Mhz).....800.........: 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)..........: [Manual]

>>>>> Standard Timing Control
x CAS Latency Time................5...: [ 5]
x tRCD ...........................5...: [ 5]
x tRP.............................5...: [ 5]
x tRAS...........................18...: [15]

>>>>> Advanced Timing Control.........: [Press Enter]
x tRRD............................3...:  [ Auto] 
x tWTR............................3...: [ Auto]
x tWR.............................6...:  [ Auto]
x tRFC...........................52...: [ Auto]
x tRTP............................3...:   [ Auto]
x Command Rate (CMD) .............0...: [ 2]

>>>>> Channel A Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter]
x Static tRead Value.............10...: [7]
x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........0...: Auto

x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........5...: Auto
x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........8...: Auto

x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DDR Write Training..................: Auto

>>>>> Channel A Driving Settings......: [Press Enter]
x Driving Strength Profile............: [1066MHz]

x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto

x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto

>>>>> Channel B Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter]
x Static tRead Value.............10...: [7]
x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........0...: Auto

x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........5...: Auto
x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........8...: Auto

x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DDR Write Training..................: Auto

>>>>> Channel B Driving Settings......: [Press Enter]
x Driving Strength Profile............: [1066MHz]

x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto

x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto

****** Motherboard Voltage Control ******

Voltage Types..........Normal...........Current
-----------------------------------------------
>>> CPU
Load-Line Calibration.................: [Enabled]
CPU Vcore..............1.27500V.......: [1.375V] 
CPU Termination........1.200V.........: [1.200V]
CPU PLL................1.500V.........: [1.500V]
CPU Reference..........0.760V.........: [Auto]
>>> MCH/ICH
MCH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.100V]
MCH Reference..........0.760V.........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O................1.500V.........: [1.500V]
ICH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.100V]
>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage...........1.800V.........: [2.2V]
DRAM Termination.......0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel A Reference....0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel B Reference....0.900V.........: [Auto]

Since you have different memory, you will need to adjust the memory setting to suit your modules. Also, some modules load down the MCH more than others and require an increase in the MCH core.

Good luck.

[Kristof16]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

Thank you so much. That cleared up alot of my troubles.
I have another question relating to the motherboard.
What does the R.G.B. and the X.M.P. do?
Do these give me a performance boost at all?
What should I change it to, for maximum safe boost?

[Nickel020]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

Robust Graphics booster will overclock some video cards (it doesn't support all video cards) by 5-10% on both core and memory. To see whether it overclocks your card use a tool like GPU-Z to check your frequency when it's disabled, then check when it's enabled.

X.M.P. is a set of timings programmed into some RAM modules that are specified to run faster than the normal JEDEC spec og 800Mhz CL5. So you just enable that and your RAM should for example run at 1066MHz CL5 or 800MHz CL4, depending on what it's rated for. So you just have to change that one setting instead of having to change the memory multiplier and all of the timings.

PS: I'm always happy to help, but try Google next time ;)

[Kristof16]

Re: EP45-UD3R settings for a Q6600

Thanks. Youre right, I should have used google, but Im really busy right now.