Getting ready for my first OC adventure...

[cniles]

I just built my first gaming rig and its running so well stock I am thinking of overclocking it. CPU is running at a frosty 29C. The CPU is a E6600 which is suppose to be good for Overclocking. What I am trying to find is a guide outlining the steps to take. I'm also thinkng of trying Ntune but I read on a post here that overclocking via the Bios is the better way. I saw mention of a guide in a post here but haven't been able to find it. Any and all reccomendations are greatly welcome. System info in sig.

Cniles

[gvblake22]

I would suggest against using applications like nTune to overclock your system, making the adjustments in the BIOS is the much better way to go. As for overclocking guides, we don't have any for Intel systems quite yet (just an Athlon64 overclocking guide). But that doesn't mean we won't help you! Here are some quotes from other posts regarding overclocking the E6600 processor to get you started...

Originally Posted by gvblake22

...people have different strategies, but I like to overclock one at a time to find what each is capable of, then combine the two at the end for a total system overclock. To do this, you can either start with the processor or RAM, whichever you like.

I usually start with finding the headroom on the processor. To begin such an endeavor on your particular system, I would lower the CPU:RAM ratio to 1:1 so it runs with the FSB and you give yourself a lot of room in the RAM for overclocking the FSB and find the limit of your processor (and possibly motherboard). So set the RAM to 1:1, you can leave the RAM timings and voltages the way they are, and start increasing the FSB 5-10 MHz at a time and test for stability at each change. When you get hit instability, you now know where the highest stable speed is of your processor at stock voltages.

From here you can put your FSB back to stock (266MHz) and put your RAM speed back to DDR2-800, and lower your CPU multiplier to something like 6x so you give yourself some room to increase the FSB without overclocking the processor. Now you are ready to overclock the memory, which is done the same way you overclocked the processor, 5 - 10 MHz at a time (with testing at each interval). Report back with your findings and we'll go from there

Originally Posted by gvblake22

I like to use StressPrime, 3DMark05, and SuperPI to test for stability. I'll run 3DMark all the way through, then run a 1M, 16M, or 32M test of SuperPI (depending on how impatient you are because a 32M run will take almost 30 minutes). Then if all of those pass, I will let StressPrime run the small FFT test for 1 - 6 hours or so. It seems a little crazy to spend that much time testing a 10MHz increase from stock, but this extensive testing also helps to "break-in" the processor as the speed is increased slowly as opposed to just ramming 400MHz up the processors @$$ right from the beginning and hoping it plays nice.
If there is instability, you are likely to find it pretty quickly with either 3DMark or SuperPI before you can even get to StressPrime

Also, you probably don't have to run StressPrime for 6 hours everytime you make a change. A run of 3DMark05 and a 32M SuperPI test should usually do it for most of the FSB increments. Maybe just toss in the StressPrime test every 50 MHz or something...

nVidia themselves have also put together an overclocking guide for people running a 680i based motherboard, so you should take a look at that as well.
<<LINK>>

[cniles]

Thanks for the info! I have been getting some good info from posts here. I'll check out the Nvidia Guide right now!

cniles

[cniles]

One other question. At what temp do you need to consider Water Cooling? I haven't stressed the computer yet but wanted to get an idea where I need to maintain the temps at.

Cniles

[qazwsx]

its up 2 you what you want to keep your temps at. the chip wont live as long if its always at high temps. alot of people dont like to see it getting over 50c-55c.

[sean126]

I found a nvidia file that may be helpful to you.

http://www.nvidia.com/docs/CP/45121/...erclocking.pdf


I didn't read all of it, but it looks pretty good. It should answer alot of your overclocking questions that pertain to your particular motherboard. I googled my board, but didn't find anything really all that helpful.


I'm not sure, but I think I've read that alot of people want to keep their cpu temps about 50C or below...when overclocking. Don't know if that's just on air or for both air or water.

[cniles]

I just read through the Nvidia Overclocking guide for the 680i MB. Very helpful but a little vague in one instance.

The guide tells you to start by bumping up the CPU Multiplier and once you reach instability raise voltages.

Next you are to Increase the FSB Speed.

What is not discussed is how much to raise these levels with each increase. I would imagine you need to raise them in small increments and then test stability after each increase.

Is there a set amount to raise with each increase? Am I on the right path or is there a better sequence to follow?

Thanks again,

Cniles

[sean126]

I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes here.

Cniles....with that e6600 I don't think we can raise the cpu multiplier. that's for the top of the line processors...so we are stuck with playing with the front bus speed.

As far as voltages....the people I trust on here says if you don't go crazy then you'll get many miles out of your processor. Me...I don't play games, I just want a little more bang for my buck...so I'm leaving the voltages at stock and cranking the FSB up as far as it will go. From what I understand, if you start increasing the voltage then you run a greater chance at shortening the life of your processor over the long run.

The all-knowing and all-seeing GVBlake22 suggests raising it 5 or 10mhz at a time and then testing, if I remember correctly.

It's best to double check my answers with one of the more experienced pro's here.

[qazwsx]

I got a free OC'ing guide with a magazine and its got some do's and and don'ts.
DO

• get some benchmarks
• get a decent cooler as the intel stock one is awful
• get to know your bios and its options
• always make changes in small steps. its much safer that way
• once in windows, make sure the systems 100% stable

DON'T

• jump straight in, preparation is the key
• Dont dial in large overclocks in one go.
• unless you know what your doing, leave the voltages alone
• every chip will overclock to a different speed
• memory speed is tied to the cpu bus freq, if going for a large overclock, don't forget to lower you dividers.

thats more or less it, hope it helps

[cniles]

Man you guys are fast! Thanks for the information. I wasn't aware that we couldn't increase the multiplier. In the Nvidia guide now that I look it says that feature starts with the 6800 chip. I think I'll go with the 5MHz steps since this is my first OC and test after each.

Thanks again for the help.

Cniles