Overclocking my Q6600

So guys I'm sure you saw my new rig. I originally was not going to OC my computer just yet, however newegg had a nice sale and what can I say?

[edit] well I was going to post the stats, until I relized that my OC was screwed up and underclocked by the mobo.  Apparently auto was setup for the vcore and the volts were reading 1.4v.  I fixed it and put it back to stock and I'll get the real OC up later.  Also the cooler is the Arctic cooling 7 pro.

Those two fans right next to each other, blowing in perpendicular directions, doesn't negatively affect airflow?

ah yes, i wanted to ask you guys if I should move it from the top to the rear?

[edit] actually, I can't move it the rear supports a 120mm fan and the top one is a 140mm

Can you move the Heatsink? I think you would get better temps if the fans were moving the same direction.

I think im going to steal the 120mm fan from my old amd64 rig and put it in this one and remove this 140mm fan, or i could ziptie the 140 to the rear...

Is the heatsink/fan, good?.. i'm in the market for one =)

It's not bad, it's really quiet.  There are better heatsinks for overclocking, but I didn't want to spend $50 on a heatsink.  A really good one is the Zalman 9700.  I'm striving for an OC of atleast 3.00ghz.  My friend has 3.2ghz with this cooler and the q6600.

Ok, I have only been able to hit 2.9ghz with no errors and 1hr of crysis and no reboot.  However if I go any higher, the pc wont post.  My memory is running in sync.  The specs are currently 2.9ghz at 363fsbx8...1.325v.  Memory is currently 4-4-4-12 2.2v (stock).  speed is around 740mhz(don't remember exactly).  I'm not sure why I can't go any further. Any ideas?  I'm currently not at that pc so i cant get a cpuz screenshot for you.

I would leave the top 140mm where it is, Its an exhaust fan so its not going to be messing with the airflow much. If any thing it it would help pull air arocss the heat sink as well.

mentaldisorder:

Ok, I have only been able to hit 2.9ghz with no errors and 1hr of crysis and no reboot.  However if I go any higher, the pc wont post.  My memory is running in sync.  The specs are currently 2.9ghz at 363fsbx8...1.325v.  Memory is currently 4-4-4-12 2.2v (stock).  speed is around 740mhz(don't remember exactly).  I'm not sure why I can't go any further. Any ideas?  I'm currently not at that pc so i cant get a cpuz screenshot for you.

As long as heat is not the limiting factor you could bump up the voltage. Also I like to lower the memory speed below stock and find my max CPU overclock then adjust the memory. That would take one thing out of the equation.

Well, i tried loosening the timing to 5-5-5-12, 6-6-6-12, and 6-6-6-15.  I got a little more out of it, but not much.  So does this mean it is the ram holding me back?  I've tried bumping the volts, but that does not help.

Heres the link to the ram...I can't believe it would be holding me back.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220269

2.9 ain't bad at all... why not just stick with that since it should be fast enough to feed the 9800 all it can handle.

To adress your question though: I suppose the ram could be holding you back, how much volts are you feedin those sticks at those timings?

I know it's a good OC, however I see people hitting 3.2ghz easily and 3.6 with effort.  At the 4-4-4-12 speed, the stock volts are 2.2v so that's what I'm leaving them at.  When I lowered the timings and put the volts to auto the mobo feeds em 1.8v.

Well Here it is guys!

2hours of testing this motherboard and running benchmarks and this is what I have so far.

Originally the OC I was posting was using the 8x multi instead of the 9x.  I read on an overclocking forum that the 8x multi had better OCing results, and frankly I think they were dead wrong.  This computer is faster in a benching perspective.  The memory is currently running at 966mhz at 5-5-5-12 T2 2.2v.

For some reason cpuz does not show the true voltages ...the vcore is actually at 1.3v.  All is stable so far.

Congrats. Thats not a bad overclock!