ASUS P5K Deluxe - Intel P35 Bearlake + E6600 B1 / Q6600 B3

[Coach3K]

Well, I'm about halfway through the posts in this thread and I wanted to post what I'm currently stress testing, so maybe there'd be some feedback by the time I get to the last page.

You can see my whole setup in my sig, but the basics include an E6420/Ballistix 8500 setup and Ultra 120 Extreme for cooling.

I set all my case fans to medium with their switches and fan controller (Antec Tri-power x2 in front and x1 on side, 200mm on top, 2x Scythe S-Flex "F" push/pull on U120X, and SilenX (90CFM) on rear exhaust). Ambient temps between 25-28 c.

After spending the last few days testing up from 375 FSB (x8), I had some trouble last night getting 3.6 (8x450) to be stable for me in Orthos for more than a minute at my targeted 1.400-1.450 Vcore while staying around 60c.

Today, I moved the Vcore up to 1.4750 and it went through a 30 minute test of OCCT maxing at 59c on both cores. I left Orthos running at lunch and when I left it was stable at 20 minutes with both cores maxing at 60c.

Here are my bios settings (0501) - copying template from others' earlier posts with older BIOS's - I may have missed a setting for 0501:

JumperFree Configuration Settings
AI Overclocking: Manual
CPU Ratio Control: Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting: 8
FSB Strap to North Bridge: 333 MHz
FSB Frequency: 450
PCI-E Frequency: 101
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-900 (1:1)
DRAM Command Rate: 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# Activate to Precharge: 18
TWR: AUTO
TRFC: AUTO
TWTR: AUTO
TRRD: AUTO
TRTP: AUTO
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled

Transaction Booster: AUTO
Boost Level: N/A
Clock Over-Charging Mode: AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled

CPU Voltage: 1.475v
CPU Voltage Reference: x0.63
CPU Voltage Damper: Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.50
DRAM Voltage: 2.20
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.40
North Bridge Voltage: 1.55
North Bridge Voltage Reference: AUTO
South Bridge Voltage: AUTO

Advance CPU Settings
CPU Ratio Control: Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting: 8
C1E Suppport: Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Vanderpool Technology: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Enabled
PECI: Disabled

USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled
Legacy USB Support: Enabled

I had trouble finding settings at lower Vcores that would run Orthos stable. I'm not sure 1.475 is a good Vcore to run 24/7, though I could live with the 60c temps at full load if that is, indeed, as hot as it will get. My goal is to get the base clock at a stable point at at least 3.6, then tweak my RAM settings separately.

Are there any settings that could still use some tweaking or are incorrectly set? Any recommended changes? Would flashing back to an earlier BIOS help achieve the same clock at lower Vcore, or should I stick with 0501?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!