Kentsfield/Quad-Core Overclocking Thread

[Redeemed]

Originally Posted by Xion X2

I think eVGA also released a BIOS on their 680i that was supposed to better optimize quad-overclocking, but you don't want to ask me what I think of 680i...

ASK HIM! ASK HIM! ASK HIM!

[Xion X2]

Originally Posted by Redeemed

ASK HIM! ASK HIM! ASK HIM!

The 680i is a pile of #*@!ing *(#@OI ed OI#@OI#@ !*!*@# southbridge-overheating **cking *IU!#OOI piece of trash *!@#*hit-kicking I#@!)@!OII#$% buggy, pissy #*$king overpriced bug-riddled *!~( @!*$! #&!&!! $$$$@@!piece of dog ****.

There, I've said my piece.

*slow exhale*

[Jon]

ASK HIM! ASK HIM! ASK HIM!

Hahahaha, maybe I'll just stay away from the 680i!?

I was actually looking at the Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3P board which supports up to 1333fsb in the latest revision.

Then I'm tied between using 6400 memory and lowering the memory multiplier or the 8500+ memory and clocking the memory higher as well.

[Redeemed]

Originally Posted by Xion X2

The 680i is a pile of #*@!ing *(#@OI ed OI#@OI#@ !*!*@# southbridge-overheating **cking *IU!#OOI piece of trash *!@#*hit-kicking I#@!)@!OII#$% buggy, pissy #*$king overpriced bug-riddled *!~( @!*$! #&!&!! $$$$@@!piece of dog ****.

There, I've said my piece.

*slow exhale*

Ahahahahahaa! Couldn't resist it!

Jon-

I'd stay away from the 680i myself. I'd go with the mobo that supports the 1333MHz fsb if I were you.

[Xion X2]

Originally Posted by Jon

Hahahaha, maybe I'll just stay away from the 680i!?

I was actually looking at the Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3P board which supports up to 1333fsb in the latest revision.

Then I'm tied between using 6400 memory and lowering the memory multiplier or the 8500+ memory and clocking the memory higher as well.

Since your multiplier on the Q6600 is locked, you'll want the slower memory (if you plan on keeping the board for a while.) Intels need a 1:1 FSB/RAM ratio on a heavy overclock to be stable, meaning that if you run a 400FSB w/ a 9x multi which would get your CPU to 3.6gHz, you would have to run 800mHz on your RAM to be stable.

And I seriously doubt if you'll be able to push that Q6600 higher than 3.6 unless you're on a good water or phase setup. So in that case, faster memory would be a waste of moolah.

But it really depends on the FSB, too. I'm unsure as to how high you can push that Gigabyte. I know that it's a good board, but I don't know how high the FSB goes on it. If it goes up to 500 and you feel comfortable running the chipset at that speed, then faster RAM (like 1000mHz) would pay off. You could run your FSB @ 500 and your RAM @ 1000.

[Jon]

But it really depends on the FSB, too. I'm unsure as to how high you can push that Gigabyte. I know that it's a good board, but I don't know how high the FSB goes on it.

According to the manual 700mhz!

Well, I'm only guessing cause the manual is far from clear... but for example if I set the fsb to 390, cpu speed will be 3.5ghz and then I should have the choice of memory speeds of 780 or 975 (calculated from the vague info in the manual). So if I have 6400 memory I should choose 780 and everything is great right? But what I don't get is why wouldn't it be better to get the 8500+ memory and choose 975?

Just for reference, I only have air cooling, but the air con is right in front of my pc so it sucks in ice cold air! But I'm only looking for a modest overclock anyway.

[Xion X2]

Originally Posted by Jon

According to the manual 700mhz!

*LOL* Yeah, good luck with that, friend. I'll go ahead and get on the line w/ the fire department so they can head on over in advance.

Well, I'm only guessing cause the manual is far from clear... but for example if I set the fsb to 390, cpu speed will be 3.5ghz and then I should have the choice of memory speeds of 780 or 975

Well, you'd have many choices, but most of them won't work.

You can't just go by what the manual says or what choices it gives you. It will give you all sorts of dividers to use, but the Intels struggle with a high overclock with anything other than a 1:1 ratio. You're better off just running your RAM at twice your FSB.

So if I have 6400 memory I should choose 780 and everything is great right? But what I don't get is why wouldn't it be better to get the 8500+ memory and choose 975?

Because none of this is dependent on the speed of the RAM; it's dependent on the speed on the northbridge/FSB.

Think of it this way: The Intels work best, when overclocked, with the RAM running at twice the speed of the FSB. So if you have an FSB set at 400, you have a better chance of being stable w/ your overclock by running your RAM @ 800mHz. On the other hand, if you're lucky enough to have one of the few motherboards out there that can do a 500FSB (and the Gigabyte might, I would research this if I were you), then you can run your FSB at that higher frequency and set your RAM @ 1000mHz (if you bought 1000mHz RAM or have 800mHz RAM that overclocks well.)

[Jon]

*LOL* Yeah, good luck with that, friend. I'll go ahead and get on the line w/ the fire department so they can head on over in advance.

Thanks, since you are calling them in advance, can you ask them to save the quad core before the house?


I think I get it now. I was just concerned that if I went for say 333 which the gigabyte board promises it can do then I will have 3ghz and a 720mhz ram speed at 2x. Whereas at 2.5x its 833 I think, I just didn't want to end up with the ram slowing the system down. Also, I thought at standard 266 fsb used a 3x multiplier for the ram anyway.

I was going to wait 3-4 weeks before ordering, but Im tempted to order a Q6600 today... Is there anything being released in the next 3 weeks that will make me cry if I order today?

Also, any opinions on the abit quad gt board?

[Xion X2]

Originally Posted by Jon

Thanks, since you are calling them in advance, can you ask them to save the quad core before the house?

I think I get it now. I was just concerned that if I went for say 333 which the gigabyte board promises it can do then I will have 3ghz and a 720mhz ram speed at 2x. Whereas at 2.5x its 833 I think, I just didn't want to end up with the ram slowing the system down. Also, I thought at standard 266 fsb used a 3x multiplier for the ram anyway.

Just make sure to run your RAM at twice your FSB speed and you'll be fine.

The additional dividers that it gives you are mostly there to adapt to different memory speeds without the processor being overclocked.

I was going to wait 3-4 weeks before ordering, but Im tempted to order a Q6600 today... Is there anything being released in the next 3 weeks that will make me cry if I order today?

Nope. Only upcoming events are Intel's price cuts in Q3 before Barcelona, AMDs native quad-core, hits market. No one knows for sure yet when AMD's first quads will hit the market, though.

Also, any opinions on the abit quad gt board?

Sorry, I don't know much about it. But if you're going with a motherboard and don't care anything about SLI or Crossfire, then the best but most expensive option would be one of the new P35 chipsets by Intel. Gigabyte just released one that hit a 575mHz FSB and ~480 with a quad. That would be perfectly suited for a very high overclock on your Q6600 should you acquire the proper cooling for it.

If you want to go cheaper than that, a P5B Deluxe or Gigabyte DS3 that you mentioned before would be a fine option.

[Jon]

Thanks for all the good advice. I've just ordered a Q6600 with the Gigabyte board and 2gb of ocz memory. Now I just have to wait till Tuesday for it to arrive. Time is dragging already.

[Jon]

What cooling solution do you plan to use?

For the moment, I'm totally broke. So I'll see what kind of temps I get on air cooling (its in a thermaltake armour with the 25cm fan and all the optional 12cms). Plus, the room its in is small and air conditioned.

Don't plan to go >3ghz until I have some better cooling. I have been reading that these quads run really hot though! I thought 65 degrees is the max they are specd for?

[Jon]

I was looking at an OCZ Vindicator CPU Cooler... but if you have any better ideas for air cooling, I would be grateful.

I wanted something with a 12cm fan (nice and quiet), but still uses the standard black click legs to attach to motherboard (sorry, dont know what you would call them!).

Havent read up on it yet:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=57&subcat=821

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Great, not sure Ive read this right, but Intels data sheets say the Q6600 should operate at no more than 62 degrees case temperature.

The case temperature is defined at the geometric top center of the processor.

So I believe they are talking about the heat spreader? But they dont actually say what the max limit for the cores are.