Adjusting performance settings on a Q6600 quad core DELL OptiPlex
Adjusting performance settings on a Q6600 quad core DELL OptiPlex
Hey guys,
I've been working on overclocking my Dell Optiplex 755 with an Intel Q6600 Quad Core processor. The easiest way I found was using SetFSB and checking RealTemp and CPU-Z to confirm everything was stable. When I reached around 2.7Ghz, my Chrome and Firefox would close and refuse to open, followed by a Dell bluescreen shortly after. I'm not sure why this happens. I got the advice from a YouTube tutorial for a similar PC and processor setup, which managed to get over 3Ghz without any issues. Thanks!
There are no assurances with overclocking, and you might end up with a faulty chip, particularly if it's a B3 stepping instead of G0.
I haven’t encountered a Q6600 functioning at 3.0GHz on Dell, Lenovo or HP systems even with a BSEL mod, despite those boards not being able to maintain that speed stable at stock voltage on aftermarket platforms like ASUS or Gigabyte.
It’s likely the OEM boards slightly overvolt frequency "holes" where certain frequencies aren’t stable—possibly due to circuitry optimized for standard speeds, leading to internal reflections and resonances.
The best initial step would be to try 3.0/1333 and perform a stability check.
If that fails, the issue might lie with SetFSB not correctly setting the frequency.
Each CPU functions uniquely, so your CPU may not remain stable at increased clock speeds with standard voltage. Other motherboard parts might also struggle with high FSB. The most reliable choice would be to purchase a higher-quality LGA775 motherboard, which offers improved control features.
There are no assurances with overclocking, and you might end up with a faulty chip, particularly if it's a B3 stepping instead of G0.
That being mentioned, I haven't encountered a Q6600 functioning at 3.0GHz on a Dell, Lenovo or HP with a BSEL mod, even though they wouldn't sustain that speed stable at stock voltage on aftermarket boards such as ASUS or Gigabyte.
It seems those OEM boards slightly overvolt frequency "holes" might occur, likely because the design is optimized for standard frequencies like 1066 or 1333, which could lead to internal reflections and resonances. Therefore, the initial step should be testing at 3.0/1333 and checking stability.
If that doesn't succeed, it may simply be that SetFSB isn't correctly setting the correct strap in the chipset, making a hardware BSEL mod worth considering.