Help with overclock...

[Ratty]

Hi All,

the current setup I have is;

Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6
Intel Q9450 2.66GHz
8GB (4x2GB) Corsair XMS2 CM2X2048-6400C5

I have currently set the timings manually in the BIOS and currently have a stable overclock to the following;

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=518002

everything is watercooled apart from the Gfx card (which is running around 65 idle, 85-90 under heavy load)
CPU is showing around 28-32 using CoreTemp
Motherboard is around 27-29

I have set the CPU voltage to 1.25v and the ram to 2.1v which is running at 400MHz 1:1 @ 5-5-5-18

anything else i can change to try and push it to maybe 3.6GHz or possibly 4GHz?

if I put the FSB to 450 (3.6GHz) it just blue screens when loading vista, but i have a feeling that it is the ram (all 4 banks in use) that is causing this, any other ideas?

[Brad]

Well i would say you want more Vcore and what the voltage of the NB?

[Ratty]

NB is + 0.20v
and cpu should be 1.325 sorry..
1.25 is default according to MIT

[Jonny2Bad]

Yeah definately more vcore needed, maybe a touch on the nb, i always make notes of what the stock voltages are running at and increase as needed, 9450 is nice oc'er keep upping the vcore till you get your speed keeping an eye on temps as you go. Also worth a little google on this to see what others are running to get your desired speed. I reckon about 1.35v on the vcore for 3.6ghz

[Ratty]

Thanks Jonny i'll try that.

as soon as I push the FSB over 420MHz it will just crash or bluescreen.
would that be the RAM or the ram voltage to low? or could that be the limit of the cpu?
its even more anoying as the temps are so low! plenty or room to play with!

[Ratty]

also, ive looked about and most people seem to be running 450MHz FSB and hitting 3.6GHz with no problems, but like i said above, i just cant push it over 420MHz

[Jonny2Bad]

Yeah could be a number of factors tbh more likely to be the vcore though, push it till about 1.38v but no more than that on this chip they really arent as sturdy as the q6600 for volts, the ram settings are crucial also make sure your getting the lowest possible mhz on your ram, at this stage i would probably keep the nb on auto but making notes of what it is, then when your stable do the nb manual getting it as near to stock as is stable. A 2.15 wouldnt hurt on the ram if the vcore doesnt work.

[Ratty]

Thanks Jonny, will give that a go first thing and see how that lasts!

so leave the RAM:FSB at 1:1 (400MHz) and just try pushing the vCore up to see what that gets?, the ram is already at +0.30v (2.1v) but I had to push that up to get it past 2.92GHz.
would 2.2v be too much?

[Jonny2Bad]

If your ram is running at stock 400mhz you shouldnt need to push the volts up at all, i wouldnt go any further on that ram its stock is 1.8-1.9 really shouldnt need anymore unless the ram is oc'd, remember the ram speed will be changing with the different fsb timings, try different settings to get the lowest possible clock on the ram. I hate oc'ing on gigabyte boards lol That board has an issue with 4 slots of ram being used and high frequencies so keeping it low is a must.

[Ratty]

upped the vCore, but it just bluescreened on vista :(
looks like im at the max stable im gonna find

[Jonny2Bad]

Ok can you post your cpu details of the cpu and the ram buddy so i can take a look at what your running. 3.6 is possible im sure