HOWTO: Overclock C2D Quads and C2D Duals - A Guide v1.1

[graysky]

Okay guys, I updated the guide (now version v1.2). It has been streamlined, dead/bad links removed, etc.

[Lazy Dog]

All I can say is WOW!!!

Congrats!

[EzyRyder]

Definetely one of the best overclocking guides I've ever read. Thanks a lot!!!

[graysky]

Glad you guys found it useful - always glad to contribute.

[Alik4041]

Thanks so much for this guide. It helped out a lot and I think the reason my agp x850 card died was because I left the agp freq at auto

Anyways, I have a question about the max cpu temp.

On the Intel Spec Finder, it states that the Q6600 and Q6700 have a max temp of 71C. But on the QX6800 and QX6850 it's 64.5C. Why is that?

[graysky]

@alik: dunno man...

[Zeus...]

Great article - explained in plain english, will help me go from AMD overclocking to Intel overclocking.

[goatboy]

Another nice job graysky.

I did notice a discrepancy though. In the early part of the guide you state to start with a high vcore and work down.

A good starting point is the upper end of that range. In my experience, a setting of “auto” ALWAYS over-estimates and thus over-volts. More on this later. For a Q6600, an initial setting of 1.37ish should be a good starting point. The end game here is to use a minimum vcore for a given FSB and multiplier you selected for your overclock. Finding the minimum vcore significantly lowered my cpu load and idle temps.

Then towards the end you state...

I think this whole process can be easier if you start with a lower vcore and work your way up. I started my testing @ 1.2150v and found that I got a rounding error after just 3 minutes. I pumped it up to 1.2375v and got the same result after about 21 minutes (actually depicted in the screenshot above). Further increasing it to 1.2500v gave an error after the first hour. Finally, 1.2625v ran stable for over an overnight (>8 hours) at which point I stopped and called it good.

Either way will work, but I thought you might want to know. And either way, it's still a great guide. I remember when I first started overclocking, most explanaitions weren't geared towards noobs. It took a lot of work to find guides that explained in simple, beginner terms.

[graysky]

Good catch dude... just did an update fixing this as well as adding some content.

[slebor]

Nice tutor... really help dude

[graysky]

Glad you found it useful

[Ulver]

amazing
ty ty

[javaneze]

I'm a first time overclocker so I can't actually evaluate the guide, but I know it helped me a lot.
I've succesfully pushed my E6600 @ 3,2 GHz using the settings given.

I would like your comment on something though. Isn't it a shame that you purchased a pair of DDR2-800 but running them @667?
I read all about how it's a better choice to run at a 1:1 divider and the link to your "Memory bandwidth tests" post , but I feel a little bad that I wasted money on 800s and not utilizing them.

Cheers and thanx for the inspiring & helpful post!

[graysky]

@java - I used to think like that, but cost-wise, they were more or less the same as the 667 sticks.

[nobi125]

Great guide.

[topboy]

Very nice peice of writing Gray.

Very usefull well done and thanks

[graysky]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks to all for the kind words.

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Great guide, keep it up

[graysky]

Small update preformed.

[Demo]

Would increasing the GTLref or CPU VTT increase CPU voltages?

[graysky]

Good question, Demo. Are you running a DFI board by chance?

[Demo]

No, Abit IP35-E

[Marvin_The_Martian]

Meh I must have posted in this thread before, but my post got removed. I just said I agreed with Dragonorta, posted just after him I remember.

Anyway /Thread and unsubscribed

[peterpiper]

just found this thread.. very informative.. cheers, great guide..

[graysky]

Version is now 1.5.2 (updates in first post)