Qx9770

[Mals]

Hi guys, I have a QX9770 that is a handmedown that replaced an old E6400. It's the best proc I've got access to for a while, and I am very happy with it. I recently finally decided to OC because I upgraded to a GTX 670 and I want the new games to run.

So I am doing my first OC ever of a processor, and luckily it's unlocked.

First step I did was just hit 3.6gz by upping the multiplier from 8x to 9x.
I think i bumped up the vcore to all of like 1.35.

Now.. when i tried to bump it up to 10x multi (4.0ghz) I was bluescreening on startup.

My rig is in my signature.. I am wondering what feasable vcore I am going to need to reach to make this thing steady at 4.0 like everyone seems to say it is capable of without a problem?

I have a Corsair A70 cooler.. right now at 3.6 I've yet to see it go above say.. 45C.

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2007/07/25/overclocking_intel_core_2_quad_q6600/2

It's only the 6600 variant, but the principals are the same. Scroll down to nearly the bottom of the second page for voltage settings.

 

[Mals]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2007/07/25/overclocking_intel_core_2_quad_q6600/2

It's only the 6600 variant, but the principals are the same. Scroll down to nearly the bottom of the second page for voltage settings.

So this makes it much more complicated than i think I need to do. I don't think I need to mess with the FSB or the FSB voltages. The advantage of the unlocked multiplier is that I can just put it at FSB 400, multiplier x10, and I just need to find the sweet spot for voltages.

From my research, "they" claim anything over 1.4 (actual) is enough to be concerned with. There is also apparently something called "vdroop" which I guess is degredation of your actual number you set in BIOS and what your voltage is.

My concern is setting the voltage in bios at an acceptable number that allows for stability but doesn't fry my QX9770. Since so many people say 4.0 is totally doable easily on these chips, i was hoping to figure out what voltage I need to set it at that will be safe.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

So this makes it much more complicated than i think I need to do. I don't think I need to mess with the FSB or the FSB voltages. The advantage of the unlocked multiplier is that I can just put it at FSB 400, multiplier x10, and I just need to find the sweet spot for voltages.

From my research, "they" claim anything over 1.4 (actual) is enough to be concerned with. There is also apparently something called "vdroop" which I guess is degredation of your actual number you set in BIOS and what your voltage is.

My concern is setting the voltage in bios at an acceptable number that allows for stability but doesn't fry my QX9770. Since so many people say 4.0 is totally doable easily on these chips, i was hoping to figure out what voltage I need to set it at that will be safe.

Keep volts under 1.40v I used to have 1.38v running on a Q9550 but that always ran super cool so there wasnt an issue with it.

As far as heat goes. keep it below 70'c when stressed. You have a corsair H70 so you should be fine... Optionally, you might want to change the stock corsair fans to some 1850rpm Scythe GTs as they move a serious amount of air and are almost whisper quiet.

temps should be no problem for you anyway even if you dont swap the fans out.

V-Droop is an anomaly....when the CPU is under stress the voltage drops past the specified setting in the bios. V-Droop is usually caused by bad VRM control - something a bios update can easily fix.

 

[Mals]

Cool got it. I don't even know that I get "vdroop". The board I have is an older Nforce 690i ultra (handmedown as well) but it is quite a high end board the more I research it. The A70, especially for the $35 price I got it for on sale, is an absolute beast and since at 3.6 it never goes over ~45C I doubt I will need to upgrade the fans. my case is whisper quiet these days after replacing my reference 280 GTX with the 670 gigabyte windforce. The Fans on the A70 do such a good job I doubt I will need to drop it down. DO you thnk i should just straight up set the voltage to 1.4v and assume it will vdroop a tiny bit and think I will be safe?

Should I be checking my voltage in CPUID/HWMonitor just to make sure they don't actually go past 1.4 under load? Is that the best way to ensure your voltages are safe, since BIOS setting might not be actual?

 

[NinkobEi]

The problem with changing the multi in leaps of 8 to 9 is that the jump is such a high number. OC'ing is best done in small-ish increments which allows for making minor tweaks along the way.

there's likely a setting to fix vdroop, or at least stabilize it, but for the life of me I can't remember what it's called. you can tell if you are v-drooping by checking the bios voltage and comparing that to the windows cpu-z voltage.

edit: the setting is load-line calibration, make sure that is Enabled

 

[Mals]

The problem with changing the multi in leaps of 8 to 9 is that the jump is such a high number. OC'ing is best done in small-ish increments which allows for making minor tweaks along the way.

there's likely a setting to fix vdroop, or at least stabilize it, but for the life of me I can't remember what it's called. you can tell if you are v-drooping by checking the bios voltage and comparing that to the windows cpu-z voltage.

Gotcha, that is what I figured.

I understand that overclocking in a massive 400 mhz leap is stupid. However, does that mean I should be... from my 3.6.. make it simple.

Should I go up by 100 a piece, 50 a piece..and keep the FSB below 400, so let's say to hit 3.7, just put my multiplier to 9.5 and my FSB to 390? And then keep moving like that? Next do 10x380 for 3800... and keep crawling up by 100? Just to end? I feel like I should be able to plug it in, kick it to 400x10 at 4 and find the right vcore and it will still work. A few well-respected reviewers (sites similar to TPU) said their first OC attempts were.. throw it in.. bump the vcore/multi up to 4.0 and then go from there. Thoughts?