Q6700 for XFX 790i Ultra SLI

I've done the whole support ticket with XFX, and frankly, most of the tech support people know less than I do.

XFX 790i Ultra SLI
Core 2 Quad Q6700
600 Watt PSU
Any other info, read my sig.

Anyhow I had this motherboard for sometime now. However, I think there is has been something wrong with my overclocking for sometime now. I have the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 processor on my XFX 790i Ultra SLI mobo. The stock speeds for the processor are as followed:

Operating Frequency: 2.66GHz
FSB: 1066MHz
Multiplier: x10
Voltage: 0.85V – 1.5V
Thermal Design Power: 95W

Currently, my overclocking settings are as followed:

Operating Frequency: 3.50MHz
FSB: 1400MHz
Multiplier: x10
VCore: 1.450v
FSB: 1.450v
SPP: Auto (1.450v)
MCP: 1.500v
Memory: 2.000v
Power Supply Unit: 600W
XFX 790i Ultra SLI BIOS: P09

For my current stable temperatures are as followed:

Processor
CPU: 37C
CPU1: 27C
CPU2: 26C
CPU3: 34C
CPU4: 38C

Video Card
GPU: 50C

Motherboard
System Temp: 32C
MCP Temp: 57C

Disk
Disk1 Temp: 33C
Disk2 Temp: 31C

I have absolutely no temperature problems. I have a custom built water cooling setup for the cooling system for just the CPU. Everything else is stock, with the exception of 5 case fans and 1 RAM cooler.

For the longest time I just thought that was the max for this processor. However, after doing some research online, I've found many people being able to achieve higher FSB speeds with this processor.

I've been wanting to overclock my FSB to around 400MHz. I've tried lowering the CPU Multiplier to 8 and 9, tried different voltage for the VCore, FSB, and SPP at or around my current stable configuration.

I've read about something called an FSB hole? It has to do with motherboards unable to run stable FSB over 350MHz. If this is the case, is my motherboard flawed? I have the most recent BIOS update, P09.

I will be buying the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550S within a couple of weeks. The Thermal Design Power for this chip is 65W. Now that will be a 30W difference. I'd really hate to buy this new processor and then find out that I have the same exact problem, unable to achieve a FSB between 400-500MHz. Any help would be great.

FSB clocking is a feature of both the CPU and the board. The only thing that stands out at me from your post that might be adversely affecting things is PSU - you say "600W", but that means very little. What PSU are you using?

You might be able to push a higher FSB with a new CPU. You might not. Unless you can do some tests with your current CPU in another known-high clocking board, you've got no way to tell which is holding things back.

Ya this sucks.

I'm trying to OC the Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6700 G0 version, stock is 2.66 GHz. However, I haven't found too many people claiming they've gotten anything over 3.6-3.7GHz using this processor, regardless what FSB they have.

I just bought the Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9650, I'm hoping that will change. I also submitted a ticket on XFX, but they take forever.

I saw on EVGA's site that there was a problem with their board not being able to achieve any FSB higher than 350-400. I think that was BIOS version P5. That has be corrected from what I know of. I know the EVGA board has a BIOS p10, but XFX still only has P9.

Do you know anything about this? I wonder what would happen if I flashed my BIOS using EVGA's. Ideally, they're the exact same board.

If it was the PSU, I could disconnect some fans and mem cooler, unplug some USBs. I do have a lot of USB plugs, Mouse, Keyboard, amBX (Lighting and fan system that goes with movies and games), External Hard Drive (not always on), and the G13 Gameboard.

XFX support is very, very unlikely to help you with overclocking questions. They might not even be able to for legal reasons (encouraging you to break another manufacturer's warranty terms, ie. Intel).

I wouldn't go flashing an eVGA BIOS on an XFX board without checking very, very carefully - what board are we talking about here anyway? The 790i Ultra? The 790i FTW? It's extremely unlikely to work, in any case.

My point re PSU wasn't so much load as quality of PSU (again - what PSU do you have?). A PSU needs to not only provide the rated amount of DC current, it also needs to do so smoothly and without stability- and component-damaging ripple or line noise. Further, a quality PSU will maintain the voltage of each line much closer to ideal, even under load, providing better stability for OCing.

I have the XFX 790i Ultra SLI. I tried doing a little more research last night and came across some overclocks for the Q6700 that weren't any higher than 4.0GHz. Below is what volts he used:

Quote:

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ok for 4ghz, here is what i have so far...

Cpu 1.6v...this has to be actual voltage.
FSB: 1.5v
MCH: 1.675
SPP, and the SPP link voltages should be the highest voltage colored in green in the bios

AND most importantly..to stay stable at 4ghz, each cpu lane needs 140mv.

Goodluck, lemme know how it works if you try it.....btw im freaking out right now, playing crysis at 1920x1200 fully maxed with nice frames...wth

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http://forum.notebookreview.com/desk...results-4.html

Is it possible that by using a non-conductive thermal paste like Arctic Cool MX-4 could cause this? Maybe combined with Intel's Heat Spreader will not give me that power to run past 3.5GHz?

I'm more afraid that it might be my motherboard. I mean, shouldn't I be able to get an FSB of at least 400MHz by lowering the multiplier without having problems? Considering there's been issues in the past with these boards running higher than 400MHz, would that be a logical assumption?