Hi, this is my first post so I hope it is in the right place.

I built a custom PC with an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz, Gigabyte P35-DS4, 4GB (2x2GB DDR2-1066Mhz) G'Skill, GE7300 Nvidia 256MB graphics card, WD 10,000RPM 150GB Hard Drive, XP Pro x64. Under default settings this rig is far slower than my laptop (1GB DDR2-533, 1.6Ghz dual core). I tried to over clock my system to get better perfomance. I lowered the ram to 2.0x and increased the cpu frequency along with the appropiate voltage. It goes up to 4.0Ghz with no problem, but it is very unstable at that point. I want it at 3.4Ghz (1.4Volts). Then I increased the ram to 2.5x (about 978Mhz, 2.1Volts). The max it goes up to 3.0x (about 1200Mhz, 2.1Volts) it boots up just fine but I never get to the desktop. Windows restarts like if it was a virus problem. I checked my video card and set the frequency to 100 but nothing changes. I tried with a 256MB ATI Saphyr and my rig won't even boot up. The power supply is an Antec Neo Power 500W. I'm sure it's not the power supply since I tried a 700W p.s and the same problems occur.

I'm very upset with the perfomance of this rig. My old system had a Dual Core 3.0Ghz (667Mhz), 2GB (2x1Gb 667Mhz), Intel 945 Mo-bo, Seagate 120Gb Hard Drive and it was fast. I edit video for Weddings and other celebrations. I don't use my rig everyday but when it is time to edit it must run and it must run at full effeciency. My old system was O.k to edit video but when I tried High Defenition it was kind of slow so I decided to upgrade my system (currently it is undergrade).

If you can please help me configure my rig or tell me what componets will make a supper fast 100% efficiency system. Thanks.

Well I can tell that at the 3x you are starting to OC your ram. But at 3.4GHz and a 1:2.5 satio it should be plenty fast if not much faster than your dual core, especially if your program takes advantage of quad cores.

The components you have are fine. And yes at 4GHz without water cooling and probably a voltage mod to the mobo it wont be 100% stable. But I don't have that mobo so I can't tell you for sure.

BTW have you even tried to encode on it and compare the speed of the HD video compression to your old system? At about 3GHz a quad core should be able to encode it quite fast.

The first thing I would do is top worrying about doing any type of OC and first find out what is wrong with your rig.

If your Laptop is faster than this PC at stock, you are having some serious issues with something. My first guess is some type of HDD problem, since if that is not working up to snuff that will slow the system the most.

I would run some benches for CPU, Mem, and HDD and post them.
Folks can then let you know what may be amiss.

After you are in good shape at stock, you can look at over-clocking.

Lower your multiplier to 8x and up the FSB like 425x8=3.4 and up the voltage until you make it stable. I have mine with gigabyte mobo to run at 3.2ghz at 356x9 @1.4125 volts and 2.5 memory ratio and set the dram overvoltage to .04 or 2.2 (4-4-4-12 timing). My ram is PC-6400 or 800Mhz. Your graphics card is abottleneck to your set-up get a better graphics card for video and photo editing.

I Agree with Zen. Your stock settings should bury that laptop. Figure out your stock system problems first then worry about an overclock.

Agree. Get you basic issues resolved before you try to OC. Your new rig should kill your your laptop despite a weak video card.

Ater you figure out your problem at stock and begin to OC; remember that your FSB and NB/MCH gets very stressed running a quad. You may need to bump that voltage and put some additional cooling on the NB to get things stable. I wouldn't be pushing 4 ghz on air for 24/7 in fact much over 3.6ghz probably is running your temps too high on air. You may need to get on water for that.

Agree with all of the above comments and here is my 2 cents:
What do you mean it is slower than your laptop? How did you determine that and what ways? Knowing how it is slower can give us a starting place to work from, instead of guessing.
I have a Q6600 oc'd to 3.2, Coolit Eliminator, on a DS3L mobo with 4x1 gig in my render farm. Have benched it several ways.
Found the best and most stable is either 390x9 or 400x8, memory at 2x (1:1). Increasing the memory speed above 1:1 has very little impact what so ever on any of my work production.
With 2x2 gig mods, you do need to increase both the vdimm and mch volts as you increase your FSB.

I hope you mean 1.125v and not 4.125v as that would be a nuclear meltdown.

Agreed that 8 CPU Multi/400 FSB (3.2Ghz), and 1:1 FSB:RAM ratio is a proven good and stable working overclock for a Q6600. I have been running these settings (off the top of my head: 1.3~ish vCore, 1.45v FSB, 2.1v vDIMM {per OCZ's spec} @ 4-4-4-12 2T, tREF 54 {also per OCZ's spec} - else Auto) currently with 4 x 2GB sticks, and it's been prefectly stable under "The Operating System Which Must Not Be Named" since I built the system over 6 months ago. So since your are running XP, you should be able to get your computer to something 500 Billiondy Gigahurts using only the sunlight coming in the window and a handful of alfalfa sprouts for power. (BTW: That's a joke, in case your sense of humor won't pass P95 Blend)

I am running DDR2 800, though. Not 1066.


Since you are looking for 3.6, the obvious target is a 9 multi on a 400 Mhz FSB instead of the 8 which myself and some others are running. You'd be looking at a 450 FSB with an 8 Multi - This may work better, depending on your mobo/CPU combination. And Yes, that can often mean a particular individual board/processor rather than maker/model.


What I would recommend at this point, and as a general rule really, is to handle the two main subsystems separately - Keep your memory at DDR2 800, (YES, this is grossly underclocking it), and KEEP it there while you get your processor overclock sorted. On reaching your target, beat the snot out of your comp to ensure it's stable - 8~12 hours P95 test 1 and/or 2, at sustainable temps (in the 60's - I don't like to see 70, ever). More retentive types than I will tell you 24 hours. Only when you are sure your processor is stable, go back and play with your RAM. When the system passes 12 hours P95 Blend it's a done deal in my book.

My 0.02, anyways

Thanks jimmysmitty for correcting me on the voltage I mean 1.4125v