Retail Q9650 Overclocking Thread

[sean222]

seam22: on H20 you should be able to get an Q9650 to 4.5ghz easily...
Try running the CPU Vcore at 1.5v and the MCH at 1.46v, it should run just fine, leave the rest on auto. Thats quite a lot of voltage, but to see if you chip can "do it" you could try that.

I tried pumping up the voltages, no luck, 4th core still failed small FFT instantly.

Sean this template is what Tom and are are using for 4500/1200 stable keep in mind that mems are the PC29600 PI and this is using tight timmmings, you can change just PL8 and tRFC 50 and leave the rest AUTO if you want and use standard not turbo.

Hope you make it mate

Best of the lucks
Sergio

Thanks alot Sergio, I'm sure others will appreciate your template too
Unfortunately, no luck for me. The 4th core kept failing Ram is good. Tried more vcore and adjusted the ref values 1 or 2 notches, still no luck.

If your ram wont do 1200mhz, try Sergio's template using MCH Frequency Latch~Auto, 200D, trfc 55 other sub timings auto, pl9 turbo or standard. If it fails you may need more vcore or an adjustment in the ref's up or down a notch.

Thanks OC Nub...I did run my mem at slower speed and loose timings when I tried out Sergio's template above.

Try using both clock drives at 1000mV and setting both clock skews to 0. My board won't do much if the clock skews are set above 0.

Thanks. Tried this, no luck though, didn't make a difference in terms of stability.

Thanks for the template. That was extremely helpful.

Although my chip (1.25 VID) doesn't want to do 4500 with the template, I did squeeze a 4300 out last night 10 hours small fft. I dropped mch down to 1.4 and ran vcore at 1.425. Now I'm trying to lower vcore to get it under 1.392 loaded.

I will butt heads with this chip until it does 4500, i'm determined.

Conclusion:

Well, thanks everyone, I really appreciate all your suggestions...but I've been overclocking long enough to know that my chip is just limited to around 4.25GHz I've spent like 22hrs straight trying endless combinations of ref values and overvolting everything...no dice though

Also, the fact that my GTX 295 block is in the same loop as my Q9650 doesn't help my temps at all...as you all know, the GTX 295 generates a crapload of heat

My plan is to stick with 4.25GHz and tweak my ram as much as possible.

Really wish I had another chip to test.

One day when I get time I'll take the 295GTX out of the loop to see what happens. For now though, I'll just settle on 4.25, I've wasted way too much time for no real world gains...which is ok...cause this is one of my hobbies