My sad E6600

[budzman]

So after a few days of trying to get a decent overclock out of my E6600 i've just come to the conclusion that I just got a crappy one out of the batch, It tops out at 2.9ghz (stable) lol.

The reason I know it's the cpu holding me back and not my 680i is from a few signs like the fact that I need to bump the voltage up to atleast 1.5v to get it to POST at 3.0ghz anything lower and it wont even POST and higher voltages to POST at like 3.2, 3.3ghz.

If I set the voltage to around 1.55v even at like 3.4 or 3.3ghz it will run fine for a couple hours but I always end up getting a BSOD after a while. My temps are pretty decent even at those high voltages since my room temp is pretty low and i'm using a Zalman 9500 with excellent case airflow.

So I ask, would a new bios give my cpu new life or should just ditch the E6600 and get a E6400? The current bios for the evga 680i board is rather buggy and maybe thats the reason the chip wont o/c good?

I don't really mind having to get another cpu since it is all about being lucky and getting a good overclocking chip but if a newer bios will save me then that would own.

BTW its a L631A454 chip.

 

[JAG87]

that chip should be actually VERY good.


I think you are just doing things wrong.

What RAM do you have? If your ram is not EPP enabled, you need to set your ram latency and VOLTAGES manually in the bios. I have had so many people run into instability because they bought ram that runs at 2.1 or 2.2V and they leave the voltage setting to AUTO.

Also try more vNB, vSB, and vFSB.

Good luck.

 

[hardwareking]

I think u should wait for a bios update before getting rid of that awesome chip.

 

[budzman]

I'm using Buffalo Firestix @ 2.2v and these have been stress tested @ 1066 5-5-5-15 for over 24 hours without any problems. When overclocking the cpu I even set them to 800mhz to avoid any possible memory problems.

I am using the Unlinked option to set the FSB and memory clocks.

I tried a a few different voltage settings for HT/MCP/SPP/FSB with no luck so I just set those back to auto.

 

[Duvie]

I would also wait because frankly the early 680i reports appear to be a big dud...reviewers obviously got handpicked ones...Most ppl I have heard from dont seem to be ocing so easily...

A BIG NOT IMPRESSED FOR ME!!!!

 

[Yellowbeard]

Originally posted by: Duvie
I would also wait because frankly the early 680i reports appear to be a big dud...reviewers obviously got handpicked ones...Most ppl I have heard from dont seem to be ocing so easily...

A BIG NOT IMPRESSED FOR ME!!!!

Agreed, I would suspect the MOBO before the CPU for sure.

 

[n7]

I too will jump on the blame the mobo bandwagon.

While it's entirely possible your E6600 doesn't OC well, i'd lean toward the new & unimproved 680i mobo as being the real culprit

 

[blank98]

Well I got an eVGA 680i mobo and im at 3.2GHz stable at 1.3 volts.

 

[budzman]

lol ok my system just crashed with the cpu running @ 2.8ghz and the ram at 800mhz while I was just listening to mp3s. I am really getting close to returning this piece of crap board.

 

[Killer4Hire]

I have tested my e6600 up to 2.8Ghz on stock volts and the 800Mhz ram is running close to 900Mz with that oc..

It will break over 11,000 cpu points in 3DMark05 at 2.8Ghz. on a DS3 board..

 

[orion23]

I would also try a different board since "most" e6600's I've seen can do way better, specially the latest weeks such as 30, 31 and 32a.

 

[genec57]

I have the 680i with the E6600 at 3.4 stable. I have no problem whatever overclocking this board.

 

[JAG87]

you might just have a dud of a board. exchange it and try again (yaya i know hassle, but hey everyone else is having a great time with it, so should you!)