EggXpert

I'm currently trying to overclock my Intel Q9450 (stock 2.66 GHz) to 3.0 GHz, wondering if these numbers look ok:

CPU:
FSB: 375 Mhz
Multiplier: 8x
Final Clock: 3000 MHz
Voltage: 1.3V

Idle Temp: 46~50 C
Load Temp: 55-65 C
HSF: Zalman CNPS 9700

Motherboard (Asus Maximus Formula):
Northbridge: 1.35V
Temp: 52 C

RAM (OCZ Platinum DDR2 800Mhz PC6400 Revision 2):
Timings: 4-4-4-15 CL2 T2
Frequency: 901 MHz

Idle/Load Temp: Unknown
Cooling: Heatspreader + OCZ XTC RAM Cooler with 2x 60mm Fans

Chasis:

Antec P180B with 4x 120mm Fan (2 intake, 2 exhaust) in upper chamber, 1x 120mm fan in lower chamber.

PSU: Antec TPQ 850W Modular

Any opinions on these numbers? especially the temperature and voltages. I have some experience overclocking my E6600, but I don't know the stock voltages on the NB, or what the normal operating temps for the Q9450 is. TIA

Yep, using realtemp, after finding that speedfan and coretemp both had incorrect TJmax

any thoughts why a 45nm chip would run so hot?

1.4 volts is about as high as you wanna go on a q9450 on air, 1.3v should be fine, or even kinda low, I had to bump mine to 1,35v to get 3.0GHz

At 2.666GHz mine idles @ 38C room temp is 77F

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GmsCool:

At 2.666GHz mine idles @ 38C room temp is 77F

 38C Overclocked? What kind of HSF are you using... or are you liquid?

Thanks for the help guys, appreciate it.

No on air, lol, and that was at 2.666GHz so no it wasn't OC'd

Using a Scythe Ninja Copper HSF with two 120CFM - 120MM fans in a Coolermaster Stacker 830 SE case

I over clocked more, its more  stable at 3.2GHz and 1066 ram, but the temps are getting kinda high, I got a max of 69C on OCCT, so I might get better fans and try 3.6GHz

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GmsCool:

No on air, lol, and that was at 2.666GHz so no it wasn't OC'd

Using a Scythe Ninja Copper HSF with two 120CFM - 120MM fans in a Coolermaster Stacker 830 SE case

I over clocked more, its more  stable at 3.2GHz and 1066 ram, but the temps are getting kinda high, I got a max of 69C on OCCT, so I might get better fans and try 3.6GHz

That modded Ninja sounds pretty sweet :-p might need to upgrade soon. :-p

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Finally finished the complete build, here's a few pictures. Despite the fact that I tried to cable manage the machine, the Antec P180B doesn't seem to be the best gaming chasis, as my airflow still feels restricted. When I have the side panel off, my core temps drop an average of about 5-7 C; put it back on, and I'm back to the 46-50 C idle temps while overclocked. =/ I even dremeled the chasis to wire the thing better, but still no real luck.

By the way, does anyone know if crossfire requires any special software setup, and does my hardware setup look right?

Nice looking rig.

I would recommend if you find it unstable, to go to 3.2GHz, I'm allot more stabil here than I was at 3.0GHz it's kind of a "hole" in the FSB for the Q9450 it seems.

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I'm still running on auto settings for voltages, the NB is1.42v CPU is 1.34V and my 1066 RAM is running barely over stock v @ 2.14v

Have you tried loosening you ram timings a bit? since you only have ddr2 800 ram I would run it at that link it to 800MHz  so 2:1 1600/800

I'm using an ASUS striker II formula main board.

Keep a very close eye on your temps as I said it does get a bit warm at these settings. 

Good news is that I got a 15,903 in 3DMark06

Compare link

LOL, check these fans out, 65 decibels, lol

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Wierdest thing,

No matter what I do, I can't get my thing to go above 3 Ghz. Maybe its the Maximus Formula holding me back? I did a 2:1 ratio for the RAM and left it at 800 Mhz, while the clock was set for 400 x 8 = 3.2Ghz.

Voltage are as follow:

NB: 1.41
CPU: 1.3425
RAM: 2.1

 I get a BSOD everytime Vista starts loading. Do I have a dud?

You have the latest BIOS?

Does the bios have the option to set SLI ready memoery? if so set it to Extream.

Also make sure the command rate is set on the ram to 2T

If you have CPU-Z it will show you the rated timings you ram can run at just click on the SPD tab and it shows a basic list of what it can run at.

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Nighthawk this thread (200+pgs)should give all the information you could ever want to help you get where you want to be. The MB is not the problem it is the settings your using.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=179580

How did you make out?

I've been stable at 3.2 with all settings except the vram set to auto.

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My Rig,Black Knight. Take a look and vote!
Cox in Arkansas:

 I'm still currently having lots of trouble with overclocking my Q9450. Lately, one of my OCZ Platinum R2 PC2-6400 died on me, so I decided it was time for an upgrade. I got the Corsair Dominator PC2-8500 2x2GB with the cooling fan. Put it in; luckily, no DOA.

However, this has led me to the conclusion that the OC bottleneck was not a result of the RAM. Even with the 1066 Mhz RAM, I can't get my FSB to 400 MHZ (x8 = 3.2Ghz on q9450). Also, it's quite unfortunate that the Corsair has very little OC headroom, because if I want to go back to 375 FSB (for 3.0Ghz), I would need to go with 1123 or something on the RAM, which causes BSOD. I even tried loosening up the timings to 5-5-5-18 and 6-6-6-18, still no luck.

RESULTS:

FSB: 333, RAM at 1066 5-5-5-15               PASS
FSB: 333, RAM at 1066 4-4-4-15 (2.2 V)    PASS

FSB: 375, RAM at 980~ 5-5-5-15               PASS
FSB: 375, RAM at 1200~ 5-5-5-15 (2.2 V)  FAIL (Fails POST)

FSB: 400, RAM at 1066 5-5-5-15               FAIL (BSOD at Windows Load)
FSB: 400, RAM at 1066 6-6-6-18 (2.2 V)    FAIL (BSOD at Windows Load)

FSB: 425, RAM (unknown)                       FAIL (Fails POST)

 Voltages are as follows:
CPU: 1.1375 (attempting to OC to 3.2 Ghz)
NB: 1.35 (for both 375 and 400 Mhz FSB)
RAM: 2.1 (at 1066), or 2.2 (at 1066+)

 Any thoughts?

 BIOS updated to 1201

TIA