Overclock Q6600 to 3.5ghz problems

about 6months ago i was able to overclock to 3.5ghz per core easily and without many problems except for occasional BSOD. However that was under dual channel 1gb x 2. Now since then, I've upgraded my ram to 1gb x4 dual channel and at max now i can overclock to 2.6ghz per core before my Motherboard(ASUS P5Q3) says that there is a overclocking issue and won't let me boot unless i reduce the FSB. Any suggestions on how to overclock to 3.5ghz again? or near? Thanks in advance.

 

Take the extra RAM out
Using 4 sticks of RAM has a heavy burden on overclocking, and only good boards can overclock the CPU well with them installed, your best bet to try and increase the speed with 4 sticks is to increase the MCH voltage.

 

umm can you explain MCH voltage?

 

MCH is short for memory controller hub, otherwise known as northbridge.

 

=S that is the only thing I've never messed around with cause i heard u could get really drastic results....

 

You will if you up it too far, but with 4 sticks of memory fitted you won't get a decent overclock unless you try it. Don't go mad, limit yourself to 1.4V to start with.

 

out of curiosity, speedfan used to say around 14volts for something that is named "+12V" when i had it overclocked to 3.5ghz. is the 12V thing the same as Northbridge?

 

Not at all, 12V is the value of the 12 Volt power rail to the components in your PC. If it's reading 14V, then the program is obviously reading wrong (this often happens) and you should ignore it.

 

ok, so do i just increase the FSB after i increase the northbridge voltage? so far i've only increased by .1 lol.

 

That's all you should do to start with, 0.1V is still quite a large increase. The highest I would recommend is 0.25V above stock.

 

well i was able to get to like 2.9ghz per core with .1 increase. but at 2.9ghz it would bsod once in a while so i think i'll just stick to having it around 2.7 or 2.8ghz. Thanks for the help.

 

Try +0.2V and see if it has any effect. Also remember to check your memory multiplier is still set correctly.

 

ok, that memory part helped its now at 5-5-5-15 and i can stay in 3ghz without any problems now, the only thing I'm worried about is whenever i run a stress test, my CPU temp on Speedfan reaches 60-65 degrees Celsius and I'm not sure if that is a safe temperature for my MoBo(ASUS P5Q3 non deluxe). can anyone confirm if it is safe or not?

 

65C is safe for a CPU. If it's your motherboard temperature you should be concerned.

 

wait cpu is the processor right? if so what is the abbreviations for mobo temps on speedfan? after an longer stress test max temp was around 75 degree celcius for CPU.... im a bit worried about the temps now at 3ghz. if i didn't mention earlier its a Q6600.

Edit 2: after freaking out about the 75degree Celsius thing, i did some intensive googling and found a person with near same motherboard as me and processor and apparently, my motherboard had CPU voltage at 1.4 and people the person recommended it at 1.2565. this actually dropped my CPU temp down nearly 20 degree Celsius so far at 3ghz. so currently its running 50-55 degrees Celsius in prime95.

 

Yeah, you don't need as much as 1.4V for 3Ghz. When you have high temperatures, you should consider a new CPU cooler.

 

haha, im running fine now 3ghz on idle is 30 degree celcius on full load its about 51. and i don't think i need a new cooler yet.... its already water cooled with like 6 fans in the case.

 

You're getting 50C+ with water cooling? Something's not right there...

 

its not a really big named watercooler i think got it when i custom built it from cyberpowerpc. its called Austek i believe. i'll double check and edit the name on this if it is incorrect.

Edit: it is spelled Asetek, its is radiator and pump together and there isn't extra water so no tank.

 

Even so, watercooling kits should not be getting anywhere near those sorts of temperatures with a Q6600 at those sorts of voltages. You should really be seeing no more than 40 under load, and no more than 25-28 under idle. It's possible you might have algae growing in your CPU block. I will also warn you that cheap watercooling kits are prone to leakages.