rabrittain, I remember using
This thread for help when I was building mine last year.
I don't go for the MEGA overclocks, but it is still good to have a plan. First, I decide just how hot I am willing to let my CPU get. (for a Q6600, I think
60C is a good worst case number)
At stock clocks, using CoreTemp to monitor temperatures, I start by bumping Vcpu in very small ncrements until I get to
45C or so idling. I also like to set my RAM voltage to it's specified value immediately (this value is normally above the default of the Motherboard so it needs to be set correctly to let the RAM perform at it's rated speed and latency settings.)
Next, I do the isolate and maximize method to find the max speed of CPU and RAM independently.
Next, I find the best balance of the max speeds I found. I still haven't loaded my CPU, so my temperatures better be low enough to allow for that. (I like
45C or less to start with.)
Finally, I load my CPU with F@H while closely monitoring core temperatures. If they start to go too high, I back off the CPU speed a little. If still too high, I back off the Vcpu a little.
Eventually, you get a system that loads to ~
60C or less and now you watch for stability. Memtest86 is a good tool for a quick indicator of gross instabilities, but nothing beats a few days of folding to really prove it out.
Good Luck!
:beer: :music: :music: :beer:
-Sid
EDIT: IMPORTANT, the first temps I entered were too high (those were AMD numbers) fixed now.