Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs

[mykhal c]

Originally Posted by DJ Hellfire

I just swapped my Q6600 back into my studio rig and added a CM V8 cooler. Gonna give overclocking to 3.0 or 3.2 a go. Put the Q8300 into my Inspiron 530 (which is now the fam computer) since I found hardly any overclocking lit on that processor.

yep...i'm runnin' 3.29 with my Q6600 on stock voltages for cpu and ram!!! FSB is crazy at 1880!!! 3.4 is doable with the Q6600...but gotta have the right coolin'!!! i think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what's under the hood once you start playin' around with it

[DJ Hellfire]

Originally Posted by mykhal c

yep...i'm runnin' 3.29 with my Q6600 on stock voltages for cpu and ram!!! FSB is crazy at 1880!!! 3.4 is doable with the Q6600...but gotta have the right coolin'!!! i think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what's under the hood once you start playin' around with it

So what exactly did you change and to what specs?

[mykhal c]

Originally Posted by DJ Hellfire

So what exactly did you change and to what specs?

man i changed everythin'..just about. my approach was/is to open up the FSB as much as possible...not so much cpu speed. so i go for the fastest FSB and adjust cpu speed from there. so i dropped my cpu multiplier to 7 but my FSB is 470. but the FSB strap has to be changed as well as memory timings...like i said, kinda changed everythin'...days of tweakin' i'll see if i can point you to some good OC threads that might help. posts back with links.

[DJ Hellfire]

Just one quick question, when you overclock, what are you supposed to set the RAM timings too? For example, my RAM is 7,7,7,21. Amd I supposed to set it back to that after OC'ing or use XMP? Right now I am OC'ed at 3.0, but my RAM timings are 9,9,9,24.

[mykhal c]

the key is the mobo you're usin'...that's the guide. usually the ram timings are locked into the FSB...unless you unlock them, which is NOT advised. as a general rule the more you OC your ram the looser your timings will have to be. but OC'g your cpu does NOT mean you have to OC your ram. you'll have multiple choices in ram speed when you OC your cpu. it's then you have to make choice on what you can/want to do with your ram speed/timings. hope that makes sense.

EDIT: most of my bookmarks for OC'g relate to the Q6600 and ASUS P5K mobo. do a search on your mobo and the Q6600 and you'll probably find hits directly related to your setup.

[DJ Hellfire]

So I should leave the XMP off when OC'ing? Reason I ask is because when I turned the XMP on, the RAM settings fell right into spec.

[mykhal c]

XMPs are a good place to start BUT you gotta watch what they do to your voltages and temps. AUTO settings 'generally' make things run hotter 'cause the voltages are 'typically' set higher. so findin' your mobo's sweet spot for as many settings as you can is definitely the way to go. for example, the VCORE on my cpu is 1.2275v. but i was able to OC my cpu to 3.1 on a 1.1675v. by NOT usin' the AUTO setting for cpu voltage and usin' 1.1675v i was able to have lower temps at full load than i would have if i had done things in AUTO settings. so just remember as you tweak keep a serious eye on voltages and temps. hope that helps

one last thing...XMPs will always work for ram...'cause after all they are manufacturer settings. but like i said earlier things are 'usually' locked. so again just watch what the XMPs will do to cpu speed/clock and voltages/temps.

[DJ Hellfire]

Originally Posted by mykhal c

XMPs are a good place to start BUT you gotta watch what they do to your voltages and temps. AUTO settings 'generally' make things run hotter 'cause the voltages are 'typically' set higher. so findin' your mobo's sweet spot for as many settings as you can is definitely the way to go. for example, the VCORE on my cpu is 1.2275v. but i was able to OC my cpu to 3.1 on a 1.11675v. by NOT usin' the AUTO setting for cpu voltage and usin' 1.1675v i was able to have lower temps at full load than i would have if i had done things in AUTO settings. so just remember as you tweak keep a serious eye on voltages and temps. hope that helps

one last thing...XMPs will always work for ram...'cause after all they are manufacturer settings. but like i said earlier things are 'usually' locked. so again just watch what the XMPs will do to cpu speed/clock and voltages/temps.

OK. Thanks a lot for the inf!

[mykhal c]

good luck

[DJ Hellfire]

Update on my progress from beginning to present:

Old rig:

Originally Posted by DJ Hellfire

Dell Inspiron 530 w/XP SP3
Q6600 2.4Ghz Core 2 Quad
4GB Dell 800Mhz ram
Foxconn DG33M03 Motherboard
ATI Radeon HD 3650 512 MB PCI Express Graphics Card
ST3250310AS OS Drive
ST3500320AS Audio Drive
300W Stock PSU

159 PT8 Dverbs @ 24/48K 1024MB 95% CPU. Stock clock settings.

New rig before OC and with Q8300:

Originally Posted by DJ Hellfire

Intel Q8300 Core 2 Quad w/stock cooler

GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-UD3LR

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)

COOLER MASTER RC-690 mid tower

OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

161 PT8 Dverbs @ 24/48K 1024MB 95% CPU. Stock clock settings.

New rig after Q6600 swap & OC to 3.0Ghz:

Originally Posted by DJ Hellfire

Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad

Cooler Master V8 CPU cooler

GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-UD3LR

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)

COOLER MASTER RC-690 mid tower

OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

187 PT8 Dverbs @ 24/48K 1024MB 95% CPU.