Originally posted by: TungFree
MadScientist: I don't know how you determined that your CPU needs 1.36Vcore to run stable at 3.3 Ghz. My Q6600 GO needs only 1.2575Vcore at 3.3 Ghz. Did you test your CPU with Prime95 v25.5, Small FFts setting with the ram set at loose timings, 5-5-5-15-2T and a 1:1 divider?
No I set the timing at 4-4-4-12-2T and tested the 3.3 until it stopped the errors.
So what is the propper way to do it set it at 5-5-5-15-2T and a 1:1 divider?
The 1:1.2 was SerpentRoyal's recommendation to me and yes it shows 880 Ram speed before I try to boot. So I am willing to set it at 1:1 ratio or else it crashes, unless with smaller Vcore and your idea of how to use the 5-5-5-15-2T and a 1:1 divider for testing, and in the end after no errors for 8 hours to reduce the 4-4-4-12-2T without testing?
Update: ran 5-5-5-15-2T and a 1:1 divider for testing
tried 1.300 V core... and 1.8 DramV ....crashed on Prime95 v25.5, Small FFts
tried 1.320 Vcore and 1.85 Vdram ..... crashed on Prime95 v25.5, Small FFts
tried 1.340 Vcore and 1.85 Vdram ..... crashed on Prime95 v25.5, Small FFts
tried 1.340 Vcore and 1.90 Vdram ..... crashed on Prime95 v25.5, Small FFts
tried 1.340 Vcore and 1.95 Vdram ..... errors no crash
tried 1.360 Vcore and 1.950 Vdram ..... No errors no crash after 2 hours still testing
No errors after 8 hours
I'm probably going to repeat a lot of what SerpentRoyal told you already so bear with me. I like to take the isolate and then consolidate approach to overclocking. You can either start with your ram or CPU. I usually start with my CPU.
1. Set your ram at loose timings, 5-5-5-15 or 18-2T, 1.8V, or whatever SPD in the bios sets it at, and at a 1:1 divider. Set the CPU to it's default setting. For a Q6600 GO with this board it's 272 FSB x 9 = 2.448 Ghz at 1.2375Vcore. Run Memtest86+ V1.7 to make sure your ram is stable (no errors) at these settings. If Memtest86+ errors raise the vdimm. Your ram is Kingston Value ram rated at CAS5 (1st number), 1.8V, 800 Mhz. Correct? It should be Memtest86 stable at CAS5, 1.8V, 800 Mhz or less. This takes your ram out of the equation.
2. Keep the ram at 1:1 divider and start raising the FSB in 5 to 10 increments. Run Prime95 V25.5 Small FFts at each setting until it errors. This will usually happen within the first 15 minutes. Small FFts puts maximum stress on your CPU and very little on the ram. Raise the vcore and test again until it passes. Monitor your CPU temps with CoreTemp. Repeat until you reach an overclock and temps you are comfortable with. Run Prime95 for 6-8 hours to make sure it's stable. If not stable raise the voltage and repeat. I can do 400 FSB x 9 = 3.6 Ghz at 1.3575Vcore bios stable but my load temps are in the 60's so I am running at 3.3 Ghz at 1.2575Vcore with load temps in the low 50's.
3. To find out what my ram is capable of I set my CPU to a 266 FSB and a 6 multiplier. This takes my CPU out of the equation. I start with my ram's rated timings, in your case, 5-5-5-15-2T, 1.8V I'm assuming. Start raising the FSB by 5 to 10 increments and run Memtest86 test 5 until it errors. You may have to increase the ram divider or CPU multiplier. Try to keep the CPU at or below stock setting. Increase the vdimm and repeat. With your ram I would not go any higher than 2.0 vdimm. This gives you a ram profile at these settings. Loosen the timings up to 4-4-4-12-2T and repeat. When you find ram settings you are comfortable with run Memtest86+ test 5 for at least 1 hour and all tests for at least 10 passes.
Here's some Memtest86+ stable settings I found for my 4 sticks of Ballistix DDR800:
3-3-3-8-2T.....734Mhz.....2.1V...1:1 divider at 367 FSB
4-4-4-12-2T....832Mhz....2.2V....Because I have 4 x 1Gb I had to raise the MCH to 1.29V for this setting.
5-4-4-12-2T....924Mhz....2.0V
5-4-4-12-2T....976Mhz....2.1V
5-4-4-12-2T...1018Mhz...2.2V
5-5-5-15-2T...1120Mhz...2.2V
4. Now it's time to consolidate. Set your CPU and ram to known stable settings. Run Prime95 V25.5
Blend setting for at least 8 hours. The Blend setting will stress both your CPU and ram. You may find that some ram settings that were stable in Memtest86+ fail Prime95 blend and you will have to adjust your ram settings. MemTest86+ is better than Prime95 at finding bad RAM but it isn't as good as Prime95 at stressing the CPU/RAM interface. Monitor your idle and load temps with CoreTemp.
As I stated earlier there is a debate on whether higher mem freqs, tighter timings, or whole integer dividers, i.e, 1:1, 1:2 are better for real life applications. I'm currently running at tighter timings, 3-3-3-8-2T at 2.1V, 1:1 divider.
Use bios 12, bios 14 defaults your overclock settings back to stock when you power down and power back up.