Hello!
As you may be able to tell by the title, I would like to overclock my Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (4 cores @ 2.4GHz). I am well aware that the CPU is old, and I should have a newer computer or CPU, but, as I am a minor, I have no source of major income to be able to get or build a new computer. As for the CPU, from what I have read, the Q6600 is the most powerful CPU capable with my motherboard.
The reasoning behind this "need" for overclocking, is that the CPU seems to be a major bottleneck when gaming (Yes, I know, not a good gaming CPU, or gaming PC in general). After some monitoring, the CPU seems to be running at 100% utilization, when the GPU is around 60-80% utilization on specific games like War Thunder and PlanetSide 2, resulting in very low FPS, even sometimes on the lowest possible graphics settings and resolution. This system is a manufacture built system, so the option to overclock via the BIOS is not available.
I will list my system specs below:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Clocked at 2.4GHz on all cores (Default)
GPU: PNY Geforce GT 740 1GB at stock clocks (Core: 993 MHz, Mem: 891 MHz)
Motherboard: ASUSTek Berkeley IPIBL-LA
RAM: 5.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (2GB Crucial Technology @ 400
MHz, 1 GB Samsung M3 78T2863QZS-CF7 @ 400MHz, 2GB Samsung M3
78T2953EZ3-CE6 @ 333MHz)
Computer: HP Pavilion Elite m9040n
I have tried using SetFSB, but whenever any values are changes, ALL programs, including the taskbar and start menu go into the "Not Responding" state. SetFSB is the only program that will work when not on stock clock speeds. Am I doing something wrong?
I am also unable to update to the latest version of the Motherboards BIOS due to not having Windows Vista installed. BIOS version 5.10 is currently installed.
I hope that someone here can help me in this matter, as I really want to overclock this CPU to gain more performance. Keep in mind that money is not an option currently.
Thank you in advance for any help!!!
--xVxM4tthewxVx
You should get ~3ghz OC without spending anything if everything is in place: is the CPU a good batch (G0 stepping) for OC? Do you have a beefy cooler? Does the motherboard hold?
Other than that, it's easy to search around tomshardware for guides on q6600 OC guides because it's a very popular CPU and I'm sure there's one for your mobo too. But keep in mind all guides are just advice and should be treated like so, not as rules. A certain fsb ratio might work for them and not for you, but you might be able to OC higher. Rigurous testing is all it takes for overclocking.
Don't use weird programs to overclock, use the bios, no need to flash the bios for a slight overclock I'm sure**. I even used GIGABYTE's OC GURU software once**, and it worked with a few restarts with no problems afterwards, overclocking is much simpler this way**. I still think BIOS OC is healthier though.**
Watch those memory frequencies/timings though, you're at a disatvantage (potentially more unstable) with more sticks.
Old PSUs don't support much stress, you should mention it here as well in case someone more knowledgeable with q6600s can tell you exactly how far you can push it. 3.2ghz on air should be easier done than said.
Good luck and report back!
There is no option in my BIOS to overclock. I have also searched around the net, and cannot seem to find a definite answer on if its possible, and how, with this motherboard, and all the forum threads are really old. The CPU has guides all over the internet, but not in combination with this Motherboard. I really need/want this overclock (I need more power!!!).
I also don't know what you mean by G0. And the Motherboard holding. :)
As for cooling, I am using the Asus cooler that came with the PC (Used, so may be aftermarket).
Thanks for the feedback!
UPDATE: I have the G0 revision of the CPU
^+1 with that motherboard it ain't going to happen, unless you like the smell of burnt electronics.
As stated early, money is completely out of the picture. I have none of it...
I do appreciated your suggestions though!
740 to 750ti not worth it one bit. Save up and buy a proper card that you can keep in case you upgrade your cpu sometime. Keep in mind while you're cpu bottlenecked, your gpu is not strong enough for new games.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-wolfdale-yorkfield-comparison,3487.html
This will give you a good idea how much you'd need in terms of cpu power for current games. Even if the article is old, intel didn't improve much at all, the difference between an ivy bridge cpu and a skylake is minimal in games. Unless you think up to 15 fps improvement in 4 generations is something major, but for me it isn't. (best thing to do now is to find a cheap sandy/ivy bridge kit with an i5 and upgrade your gpu if you want a big upgrade for cheap)
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I'm afraid you're out of luck with that rig. But there is always a few ways even for a minor to make some money. Don't rule out the possibility to get a new PC. The key to solving a problem like that is to want it so much you'll force your brain to think more creatively. It's how I built my first PC back in high school. I had no money, but I had a strong desire and will to get a PC. When my brain entered the problem solving mode, I started seeing opportunities everywhere and I seized as many of them as I could. 6 months later I had a new PC.
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look around for BSEL mod for the q6600 i did it to my dell 755 and it sits at 3.0
That's actually very good advice, although could use some work on the presentation :)
I don't aspire to be a motivational speaker. My advice is basically a real life version of what new age idiots refer to as "the law of attraction". They talk about it as if it some mystical power with magical elements. It's not. It's just a natural tendency of human brain to adapt to a problem in order to overcome it. It's how we survived this long. If you're weak minded and you focus on negative aspects in your life you'll be blind to all the positives and opportunities for positive experiences and you'll notice the negatives because that's what your brain seeks. It becomes the default frequency of your thoughts and you only register negative signals. It's got nothing to do with attraction. The positives are simply not on your radar.
Most people are weak minded. That's why our society looks like it does. That's why people like Snowden are a rare breed. People tell themselves that it is impossible for society to change. Of course it is impossible when that's what they think. If they didn't think it was impossible they'd do something about it. But they gave themselves an excuse not to. Or they heard it on the TV somewhere and they accepted it. It's a self fulfilling prophecy. And then nothing changes as the result. It's like that in every aspect of life. Negative thoughts will force you into stagnation and since nothing changes you become more convinced that your initial hypothesis was correct.
The sad thing is that all you had to do is not listen when someone tells you that you can't do something just because of reasons. You can't know unless you try. Unless we're talking about flying like Superman or some stupid shit like that. You definitely CAN'T do that.
But you can get a new PC!
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I don't wish to tinker with the CPU. Things always go bad when I tinker with Tech in ways as such.
I do appreciate your suggestion though!
@TropiKo @ImprovizoR I do have plans in the future to build a custom PC. I had the strong urge to make a PC a few years back, and have wanted to go through with it ever since. Sadly, as a minor, money is nowhere to be found, and its nearly impossible for me to be able to achieve the amount of money necessary to build the kind of PC that I wish to own (Budget mid-range gaming PC). In the near future however, I'll (hopefully) have a job, and will be able to complete the goal of building my first PC!
I do appreciate everyone's suggestions on this matter. I have accepted that there is currently no way to achieve an overclock with my current system.
Thanks!
--xVxM4tthewxVx
My old Asus P5B Deluxe wifi ap mobo used to OC my e6400 like a mother (pencil mod for vdroop), Find (or more importantly keep an eye out for) an old motherboard that has OC'ing potential, Do some research on them and make a list of mobo's that will do the job, When you spot one for pittance or see someone giving one away GRAB IT.