Overclocking Q9550

I would welcome any help and advice you could give me on overclocking my new system. I have read extensively about the build and feel like I understand what I'm doing. BUT, after the build is done I would like opinions on my setup and how to maximize the system. Again, I'm new and I probably need to be talked thru it like a three year old. Thanks for patience and any help you could give.

System parts:


Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
(x2) EAH4870/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
(x2)Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
SILVERSTONE OP1000-E 1000W ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V
ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Problem 2:

My idea is to run my OS and games on the fast drive and use the other two as data storage set up in a raid one configuration. Sounds good, although I have ZERO idea how to set this up ...

Update

I have done a bit of rethinking and perhaps the gigabyte x48-dq6 would be a better choice of a motherboard. With the x48 is will have two 16 slot pci lanes and better performance.

ry the sticky http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=515316

I think if you OC, you can get well over 400mhz FSB... I would consider some faster RAM, but I'm not as experienced as the rest of these guys, maybe you are fine.

First... if it hasn't been said yet.

Next, the Penryn Quads (Q9x00 series) have problems with massive FSB speeds. A lot of it seems to depend on the chipset; a P45 may give you better overclocking capability at the expense of some PCI-E bandwidth when you use Crossfire.

Thus, on an X38/X48 motherboard, I'd expect to see between 3.8 (450fsb) and 3.95Ghz (466fsb) as your max stable overclock if that cooler is able to do it. However, on the P45 you may be able to get as far as ~4.25Ghz (500FSB) if you're lucky.

Will that extra 200-400mhz of speed negate the lesser PCI-E bandwidth for crossfire? Guess it depends on your games and the settings you'll be using to play them.

I'm running my Q9550 at 445x8.5 prime stable. I can get into windows at 455 FSB but it's not yet stable and I haven't had much time to devote to tweaking the bios to get it stable yet. I'm running on a P35 platform

don't know if this thread is still live, but it's relevant to me.

q9550 @ 3.9 ghz on air cooling. currently attempting 4.0ghz @ 1.232v and looking good so far. temps remain below 58 deg. i believe these temps are ok? i'm starting to think i will hit the fsb wall before my cpu limit.

i have increased the fsb, manually set vcore , pci-e @ 100 and left all other voltages on auto.

That's a really good overclock. I wish that my Q6600 wouldn't need so much voltage and I'm only at 3.5 GHz.

lookus said:

don't know if this thread is still live, but it's relevant to me.

q9550 @ 3.9 ghz on air cooling. currently attempting 4.0ghz @ 1.232v and looking good so far. temps remain below 58 deg. i believe these temps are ok? i'm starting to think i will hit the fsb wall before my cpu limit.

i have increased the fsb, manually set vcore , pci-e @ 100 and left all other voltages on auto.

Click to expand...

What stepping is that?

ok i'm at 4.0 ghz and 24 hrs prime95 blend stable. a screen shot at about 11 hrs.


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the thing is , nb, sb, fsb term volt. are at auto. now will these auto voltages reach unsafe 24/7 volts or will the mobo not let them get to dangerous levels.

i have manuall set the above volts in bios to just under the yellow settings and it was not stable. which suggests to me that the bios must be increasing some of these volts to at least the yellow stage of volts. that would mean that to set these manually i would also have to do the same. will the auto volts set by the mobo be UNSAFE for 24/7 use? i understand that the mobo will overcompensate and that they may be a little high, but will they be unsafe?

i have read in a forum of a quad being fried by too high a fsb term. volt. setting. i was told not to go above 1.35 for fsb term volt. i will keep this in mind. i haven't gone that high on manual for that yet.


stepping is - 7
revision c1
vid - 1.2125
batch - L815A717

does anyone have an opinion on this?

Thats really nice OC & volts there, and teh temps aren't bad.

In terms of the votages on the NB etc, you should manually adjust them as low as you can get them and remain stable. Personally, I wouldn't trust my $330 CPU & $200 mobo to auto volts.

Auto volts is bad for 24/7...especially at 4GHz.

Your vcore, and temps are outstanding, though! I need a P45 bad!

Try running OCCT custom 2hr RAM test to make sure your NB is stable. I was P95 small fft stable at 4GHz overnight, but failed that test almost instantly.

Edit: Are you running blend? Try small fft.

I'm mostly stable at 2.83Ghz on my q9550 LOL I'm switching out this 680i board as soon as possible.

Nice OC. Try to set your FSB Term Volt to 1.2 or 1.3 and see if you're still stable. You don't want to be higher than 1.3 with these 45nm.

Hi. Got a Q9550 a couple of days ago. Running in a Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R that’s getting long in the tooth.

Boxed CPU & Fan. Case is open as I’m messing with it. OC’d at 3205 MHz. [modest].
Ran prime95 for 6 hrs. Everything checked ok. No warnings, errors, etc.Max core temp was 69 deg c. at 100% CPU usage. CPU core 1.2 Volts. DIMM 1.9volts. Idles now at 40-44 c, with cam, server, and minor progs running. CPU 32c.

Running Stock, what could this cpu, board, ram (Kingston 2G-UDIMM SDRAM), DDR2-667 (333 MHz) combination do speed wise?, without wasting it. Would it be worth any effort money wise to try for 3.5, or 4GHz GHz ?.

Before clocking, I was advised to get a heavy cooling system, however, the junkyard stock works fine at 3.2ghz. What would a REAL cooling system accomplish ?

I had a Dual Core Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, 3GHz in this board whith same fan and clocked at 4.4ghz for over 4 months. This raises the question of Heat sinks & Fans, what gain would there be if I bought , say a ‘top shelf’ cooling system ?.

Doubt if the E8400 would move much faster. I also doubt if this Q9550 is all it’s cracked up to be. I can’t visualize it reaching the 4.4ghz. However, I could be wrong.
Update : now running the Q9550 at 3307 Mhz for 2 days. Stable.

A real cooling system "could" drop you load temps a bunch. (YMMV, depending on "real" cooling system)

I'm not to familiar with your exact board, but by looking I would say your ram and temps will hold you back. 333 ram @389, what are you using for stability testing?

FWIW, my Q9550 is running @3.5 on a ep45-ud3r. Load temps hit 55c, Prime95 sm fft's w/ a HDT cooler.

I’m using Prime95. I presume that’s for Stability Tests [stress].

I constantly monitor with Everest. I find it odd that the Q9550 coughs at 3.4 GHz, but has run a few days steady on 3.3 and passed all the Prime tests.

Had the E8400 not been stable for so long at 4.4, I wouldn’t be suspicious, and you’d be right in suspecting the RAM, but it DID. Wouldn’t that mean that the ram’s ok at least to 4 Ghz ?

The GA-EP45-DS3R is just a mid(low end) Gigabyte MB. [Which likes the E8400], I guess.

I’ve not forgotten that everything but the FSB is on Auto, but it was also with the E8400.
--------------------------------------------
Now :
CPU Clock : 3307 Mhz
CPU Multiplier : 8.5
CPU FSB : 389 Mhz
Memory Clock : 389 Mhz
Memory Speed : DDR2-778
DRAM:FSB Ratio 1:1
Memory Timings : 5-6-6-18 CR2
GPY Clock : 110
GPU Memory Clock : 369
Motherboard : 45c
CPU: 35c
Core #1: 47c
Core #2 : 45c
GPU Diode : 42c
CPU Fan : 2700 RPM
CPU Core : 1.3 V
DIMM: 1.89 V
-------------------------------------
I’ve no idea where to set the voltages. The only thing I know is Lower the Better, like heat. Once I’ve exhausted all the avenues and this doesn’t live up to it’s reputation, I’ll revert back to the E8400.

The speed IS noticeable, and the temps at 4.4 were around the same as the Q9550 at 3.3 in the same MB and fan. Just doesn’t seem right, even with 2 extra cores.

All I've bought so far is more heat and less speed. [ never send ME shopping ].

The last readings were dismal, something had to be wrong.
Originally, I put on silicon according to the letter. Looked perfect, smooth
as the razorblade. Absolutely even. Thin on the CPU and the Heat Sink,
Made sure Heat Sink Fit like a glove. Tight. All for nothing, as the temps in
the previous post shows.

Out came the compound. No more Nice Guy!
I used it like Shaving Cream.
HUGE Blob on the CPU. Dropped the Heat Sink on.

Bellow is the result.
-------------------------------------
Now : [Shaving Cream Method]
CPU Clock : 3307 Mhz
CPU Multiplier : 8.5
CPU FSB : 389 Mhz
Memory Clock : 389 Mhz
Memory Speed : DDR2-778
DRAM:FSB Ratio 1:1
Memory Timings : 5-6-6-18 CR2
GPY Clock : 110
GPU Memory Clock : 369
Motherboard : 41c
CPU: 29c
Core #1: 39c
Core #2 : 38c
GPU Diode : 49c
CPU Fan : 2418 RPM
CPU Core : 1.18 V
DIMM: 1.78 V

All but FSB on Auto. Bit of a Contrast I’d say, and somewhat respectable for a stock fan
at that FSB.

On the instructions with the compound, it says that around 200 Hours is the settling time
to achieve maximum conductivity. They say that this usually drops the temp on an average by 4 to 6 Deg c. We’ll see. Let’s say 5 deg off the temps above. That would put the cores around 34c !. It just may hit the 4 GHz mark yet, on a stock fan. We’ll see.

ram is the problem here, even with looser timings for higher clocks. the looser timings at such low ram speeds is killing performance...

Evilsizer, you mean my ram ?

Memory Timings - 5-6-6-18 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
DIMM1: Kingston 2G-UDIMM 2 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)
DIMM2: Kingston 2G-UDIMM 2 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)
DIMM3: Kingston 2G-UDIMM 2 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)
DIMM4: Kingston 2G-UDIMM 2 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)

Ran at 4.4 GHz with the Dual Core Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, same board & fan. One thing for sure, was faster than this Q9550 at the moment.

RAM might be cheap as oil in Texas, but here, high speed stuff like a 4gig stick was nearly $2000 a couple of months ago. Much more than my comps worth.

Check out where I bought most of my gear at [ Centre Com Australia ], in google, only cos their just up the road from me. 1 gig sticks are the only hope, and their not exactly cheap.