Whenever I change the multiplier to x8 or less in the BIOS, it will always go back to x9 in Windows, whatever I set it as. Speedstep etc is always disabled. For example I want 450x8 for 3.6ghz, but it will always end up being 4.05ghz, which crashes about 1 minute into windows.

Also note that 300x8 works, and it will always start at x8 (2.4ghz) but once I pass about 2.6ghz, the multiplier always springs back to x9 !!

Any help?

Specs? Any o/c software installed & what? SetFSB?

I don't have any overclocking software, I've been using BIOS only.

Specs are

MSI P7N Plat. SLI
Q6600 G0 Stepping @ 3.42 (1520/380x9)
4GB GeiL 800mhz 4-4-4-12 (Running at 456mhz 4-4-4-12)

As I said already anything that passes 2.6gb will make the multi suddenly only read as 9x.

That's strange... I'm not familiar with MSI mobos but it sounds like something in your bios is resetting your multiplier to 9x.

If you can't get it figured out, maybe stick with 9x and a 400 fsb.

Sounds like a BIOS problem with your MB. Is there an update available?

Well the BIOS value is always whatever I set it to. It just shows x9 in windows and I know its x9 because it crashes at 4050mhz where as 3600 is stable so I thought it might be a windows issue or something..

BIOS version for my mobo is latest (1.1)

Update your bios and tell us if the problem persists

Not entirely sure, but possibly the BIOS is resetting itself because it thinks that an overclock has failed, so it sets everything back to default.

What Speed does it report at BootUP?

If you have any MSI Motherboard Utilities install in Windows, Try removing them. (Except ChipSet Drivers Of Course.)

Perhaps there is some MSI Windows OCing Utility that is adjusting the value once Windows Starts....

Well I dont know if I have any MSI motherboard utilities, how do I find out? Also to the guy who said update bios.. it have lastest ._.

It doesnt reset anything when it does it, for example I can put it to 400x8 but it will just go to 400x9. Only the multiplier doesnt seem to stick in windows - all BIOS values remain the same.

I think it's an SO problem, what does cpuz report about the multiplier? I have also a q6600, 8x400 = 3200 but XP showing 3600MHz, if i check with other software i get 3200 (4x800)

XP it's not the only soft that shows 3600, NuclearMC also shows 3600 (9x400)

If cpuz, everest or speedfan shows 8 x 400 than it's ok

It shows x9 multi + the x9 actual mhz in cpu-z, coretemp, realtemp and everest ;o

I have Vista 64, instead of XP however.

What does the POST screen show your CPU running at?

Post screen just says

8800GT PCI-E
<driver version numbers here>
something else
something esle

It doesnt say the cpu frequency during bootup :\

TM functioin???

did you disable all the stuff in adv. menu, cpu?? like TM function, C1E, max cpuid stuff?

Yeah DOT control, Intel EIST, CPUID, C1E Speedstep etc etc are all Disabled >_<