[ZeframCochrane]

Hello everyone.
I'd like to ask a question regarding FSB vs. DRAM clock speeds. I have a Q6600 @ 2.4 GHz CPU and 4GB of PC2-8500 (at 533 MHz or 1066 MHz DDR). The Q6600's Bus Speed (as shown me by CPU-Z) is 266 MHz, so now I'm getting a FSB : DRAM ratio of 1:2.

So the question is, does it make sense to try and get the ratio to 1:1 without overclocking?

The reason why I'm asking this is that I'm getting very disappointing FPS in games. And having a GeForce GTX 580, I'm assuming the bottleneck is elsewhere, and I'm at my wits' end to find where, so now I'm thinking about clock speeds.

Thanks for any help!

 

[greenbrucelee]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

No it doesn't 1:2 ans 5:6 are perfectly acceptable.

The reason why your getting bad frame rates is that your CPU and GPU are bottlnecking because the GPU is more powerful than the cpu.

If your running intensive games then you will get crap frame rates. This is when a valid reason for overclocking the cpu would actually be beneficial.

 

[ZeframCochrane]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

Hello and thanks for you reply!

Ok then, I understand. I'll need some help overclocking though. First off, will I be able to get anywhere with the stock cooler?

Reading other threads, I understand that overclocking is a gradual process, where I'm supposed to go by small increments every time and check stabilty. I've never done it though, so I'll need a hand to figure out where I'm supposed to fiddle, and by how much.

Here's a screenshot of my BIOS:
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/5454/bioslo.jpg

Thanks!

PS. Perhaps this thread should be moved to the overclocking section? Feel free to move it as necessary.

 

[Tyree]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

There is a sticky guide to basic OC'ing.
http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f273/how-to-overclock-a-core-2-duo-or-quad-637592.html
You will need to replace the OEM heatslink/fan with an aftermarket unit before applying any OC and note that OC'ing does void warranties.

 

[ZeframCochrane]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

There is a sticky guide to basic OC'ing.
http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f273/how-to-overclock-a-core-2-duo-or-quad-637592.html
You will need to replace the OEM heatslink/fan with an aftermarket unit before applying any OC and note that OC'ing does void warranties.

Hello and thanks!
I read all the stickies and guides in more than one forum, but I could use some handholding.

For example, I haven't been able to make heads or tails of my (non-OCd) CPU's temperature. I've been monitoring the temperatures with Core Temp, and its idle temp is 57°C (actually, 57 on the first two cores, 50 on the other two). When I fire up Prime95, it skyrockets to 85°C. I've let Prime95 run for hours, and I haven't noticed any instability. So here's me confused as to what's going on.

I've also read somewhere of people managing to OC a Q6600 G0 stepping to about 2.8 GHz with its stock cooler, and I'm trying to figure out if there's any truth to that claim.

 

[Tyree]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

I've also read somewhere of people managing to OC a Q6600 G0 stepping to about 2.8 GHz with its stock cooler, and I'm trying to figure out if there's any truth to that claim.

No two PC's, regardless of their similarities, will react the same to OC'ing and/or performance.
Move up in small increments and test.

 

[ZeframCochrane]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

No two PC's, regardless of their similarities, will react the same to OC'ing and/or performance.
Move up in small increments and test.

Ok, thanks!
So my temperatures as of now, don't imply anything either positive or negative?

As I test, what am I supposed to expect when I eventually reach an unstable condition? Computer rebooting as I run Prime95? Cos the sticky says "you do not want to go over 60°C" and considering I'm already starting pretty much at 60°C, I need another condition to check when I should stop applying increments.

 

[Tyree]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

If the temps are acceptable/stable and no shut downs, you're OK.

 

[ZeframCochrane]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

If the temps are acceptable/stable and no shut downs, you're OK.

Ah, good. Thanks!

Now, talking about how to move around in my BIOS...
Should I switch CPU Host Clock Control to ENABLED, change the CPU Host Frequency value to 276 (ie. 266 + 10), then test with Prime95, then increment it to 286, etc?

 

[greenbrucelee]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

check the BIOS as its the most accurate place. Sometimes software does not work.

 

[ZeframCochrane]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

check the BIOS as its the most accurate place. Sometimes software does not work.

Ok, I've bumped 266 to 276, a 10 MHz increase. Did it through the BIOS.

Been running Prime95 for 3 hours now. I read on various guides that some people test the CPU for 24 hours, others for just a few hours or so. Can I run the test for a few hours, and save the 24 hours test to when I will have reached a signifcant overclock, like 2.7 GHz?

 

[greenbrucelee]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

a 10MHz increase doesn't warrant a stress test. If you get into windows and everything appears to be fine then go back and increase again.

Once you have increased by 60MHz then stress test for one hour whilst monitoring the temps.

A Q6600 should be able to clock to 3GHz without issue. 3.2GHz is the sweet spot and anything after that means you have a very good chip although the most I have seen someone clock the Q6600 to is 3.4GHz with air cooling.

The guide that Tyree linked was written by me. I always overclock even though with todays i5s and i7s it really isn't needed.

It is only when you get to a big overclock or an overclock you are happy with that you should stress test for a long time. For you final stress test you should run prime for atleast 6 hours or you can download IBT and run it on very high for 20 passes which will only take about 20 minutes but it is the same as 4-5 hours worth of prime95 but be warned IBT is extremley hard on the cpu and you would get higher max temps from it.

For example my i5 2500k is overclocked to 4.5 in prime my max temp is 58 whilst in IBT my max temp is 69 which is ok for that chip. With my core 2 duo overclocked to 4GHz prime reads 48 whilst IBT reads 59.

Read my guide on core 2 duos it tells you everything you need to know about how to oc safely and properly.

Beaware that not every cpu (even the same make) is created equal and someone with the same exact system as you may get very different results.

 

[ZeframCochrane]

Re: FSBRAM ratio question

Thanks for all your help!
I think I know everything I needed to know now.

Cheers!