CPU clock

Gudgeog

I bought a used computer with an E6600 core 2 duo.

I was looking at overclocking it and read it is supposed to have a multiplier of 9x.

CPUZ says its 333 MHz at 7x (2.4 GHz as it is supposed to be).

I was just going to change it to 266 MHz 9x but the options to change the multiplier are not working in my bios (P5K SE Asus board).

a) why cant I change the multiplier to 9x from 7x?
b) if I'm stuck at 7x, should I just up the clock to 400 MHz so that my ram (800 MHz) is matched 1:1? I'm fairly sure that chip can handle 2.8 GHz and more.
c) I have the CPU core voltage on auto, should I really look into optimizing this if I overclock the chip?


thanks, I did alot of research to try to do this on my own, but everywhere I read has my CPU at 9x multiplier.

kharvelan

here's a pretty good resource I found online which may help you.

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardware/103676-c2d-overclocking-guide-beginners.html

and yes, your mobo should allow the multiplier to change, maybe theres some weird jumper you have to move?

Gudgeog

Its possible I'm just a bios noob.

I hit enter on the modify ratio options and nothing happens.

Any of the other options give me a sub menu, but not the ones relating to the multiplier.

It could be something really simple I'm missing.

Photon

Very few chips actually let you change the multiplier afaik (only expensive ones like the extreme editions i think).

Most overclocking is done by changing the FSB. It doesnt sound like 2.8 would be too far to push, just step it up bit by bit and run something like orthos or prime95 while monitoring temps to check for stability.

I'd see what you can acheive with stock (auto) mobo voltage to start with ... volting too high can get you into dangerous territory (though it wont be a problem if you are careful).

Maybe we should have an overclocking related thread in here, squeezing that extra little bit of oomph out of your hardware is awesome

Edit:

Looking at it, you are right it seems your processor should be 9x233 ... sure you havent somehow ended up with an E6550? those are actually 7x333 .... or maybe your mobo is detecting the chip wrong somehow?

kharvelan

also maybe a bios update may be in order!

exoplasm

In some BIOS you can press ALT+F1 or something similar to "unlock" extra features/menus.

Also try using the + and - keys on the numpad to change the multiplier value.

I think most core 2 duo chips have unlocked multipliers... my cheap ass e4300 does.

Infidel

You can definitely change the multiplier on the E6600 Duo, it's what I have and I run at 8x instead of the default 9x because I'm pushing the FSB more.

333 x7 doesn't add up for the stock E6600, is CPU-Z reading weird due to your motherboard? What motherboard do you have? Or maybe you don't actually have the E6600 as someone mentioned.

For CPU voltage you basically want to be as stingy as possible as it directly increases your heat and it starts ramping up quick. More juice will run stable but start cooking, you want to bump it up via trial and error and the exact setting you use will vary case by case so you need to experiment. Just stop increasing it when you get things working stable, if you can't get things stable via voltage alone then knock it back down and try less aggressive clocks etc.

Photon

exoplasm wrote: »

In some BIOS you can press ALT+F1 or something similar to "unlock" extra features/menus.

Also try using the + and - keys on the numpad to change the multiplier value.

I think most core 2 duo chips have unlocked multipliers... my cheap ass e4300 does.

Can you increase the multiplier or only decrease? What i meant when i said most chips dont allow you to change it is that they wont allow an increase, so if his really does run at 7x stock then he wont be able to increase it to x9.

Maybe im wrong, i just know my e8400 (oc'ed to 4ghz) would only let me reduce the multi.

Edit:

Just had a thought, could speedstep be the culprit here? That works by reducing the multi when the chip isnt being stressed, though ive never seen a bios that reports the lower value.

Gudgeog

Its definately an E6600, its definately 7x 333 in the bios and CPUZ, I have turned off speedstep or whatever the thing that brought it down to 6x 333 (2.0GHz) during low loads.

I need to find a way to make the menu options work in my bios (updated to newest bios, first thing I tried).

I'll look to see if theres an alt-F1 or something option in my mobo manual.

thanks for the help, and as far as I've read all the regular core 2 duos (not extreme) allow reducing the multiplier from its maximum but not raising it, my chip should be able to be set to 1x to 9x.

I guess its just a bios thing, I'll figure it out. thanks

Gudgeog

Well I'm an idiot, dyslexia strikes again.

E6550! 7x multiplier is normal. duhhh.

Well, here goes for overclocking it anyways.

thanks anyways guys, whoops!

DigitalSyn

Depending on the processor, the multiplier will change under load.

I have an E8400 and I sit at 6X until I put load on my processor, then I jump to 9X. This cuts down on power consumption while the CPU is not under load.