TurboV Q9650 P5Q
TurboV Q9650 P5Q
Hello everyone, this is my initial post here. I just set up my account and have a few questions. I really appreciate your assistance with these specific points instead of just telling me to upgrade—this is 2O18. I’m from Europe, my income isn’t high, so I kept it within the budget. I apologize for my English; it’s not my main language, and I hope you can help me.
My questions are:
- Is it safe to use an ASUS TurboVEVO to overclock my Q9650? I have a P5Q chip and a decent cooler.
If not, where can I learn how to overclock my CPU? I have no idea what to do and I’ve never used BIOS except for setting the boot device. 😅
I want to do this without risking damaging everything, since I don’t have much money for anything else. I noticed the Q9650 is a good processor, especially when overclocked, so I’d like to push it further.
If anyone asks, here are my specs:
CPU: Q9650 3.0Ghz
MOBA: P5Q
RAM: 8GB HyperX DDR2 800Mhz
GPU: ASUS Strix GTX 960 2GB OC
CPU Cooler: LC POWER CC 100
PSU: Seasonic S12II 620W 80+
I would also appreciate any advice on how to overclock safely, since I’ve only saved half a year for this and hope you can all help me. Thank you in advance, and I look forward to your answers!
There's always a potential of damaging something when OCing and doing it under 300MHz just doesn't produce and tangible gains. Not so much because of CPU but MB is usually first victim. The VRM section most likely.
Follow the guide closely, I’m currently using UD3R with stock RAM and missing matching RAM, which allows me to reach 3.2GHz on Q6600. Ensure proper airflow since my setup is an open bench with two 120MM fans. You should avoid damaging the motherboard or CPU by not setting the voltage above 1.55V for extended periods; I set my E5800 at 1.55V for around 4.5 to 4.6, but I’m not sure. For other configurations like MCH with Google max voltage settings, which vary per board, I recall ASUS offers SB and NB options. Simply searching “P45 overclock tutorial” will bring up many OC guides on Google. Stick to reputable forums, Overclock, Bit Tech, and official motherboard sites for OC instructions.
CountMike :
There's always a potential of damaging something when OCing and doing it under 300MHz just doesn't produce and tangible gains. Not so much because of CPU but MB is usually first victim. The VRM section most likely.
Im not following u, my hardware is not eligible to OC, and is vulnerable to damage it really easy?
The guide is quite straightforward. I’m currently using an UD3R motherboard with stock RAM and am missing the matched RAM slot. I could reach up to 3.2GHz on the Q6600. It’s important to ensure proper airflow, especially since my setup has an open bench with two 120mm fans. You should avoid damaging the motherboard or CPU by setting the voltage above 1.55V for extended periods. I set my E5800 at 1.55V for around 4.5 to 4.6, but I’m not sure about that. For other configurations, like using MCH with Google Max voltage settings which vary per board, I know ASUS offers SB and NB options. Simply searching "P45 overclock tutorial" on Google will bring up many videos. Stick to official forums, Overclocking communities, and motherboard-specific sites for detailed OC instructions. I don’t remember the exact site, but there’s a comprehensive list of motherboards and their OC methods. I’m planning to check it soon, but I’m not sure if adjusting the multiplier affects RAM or if I need specific guides for that. Some PCs and motherboards behave differently, so it’s best to treat each setup uniquely.
Attempt to raise FSB gradually until the system fails to boot, using a 10Mhz increment, increasing by 10 each time, saving and exiting, then navigating to BIOS and repeating the process until the PC stops booting or crashes due to overclock. After that, reduce the last stable value by 10Mhz—for instance, if the last stable was 360, set it to 350. Proceed to Windows and run tools like prime95, aida64, or intelburn test (intel requires at least 10 passes; passing the OC indicates success). Prime and aida should complete a minimum of one hour under stress.
Afterward, increase the voltage by 0.10 to 20V on the CPU and set RAM to 2.1V, then retry. This is essentially trial and error. If you encounter a limit with FSB, ensure the CPU voltage stays below 1.45V (1.55V is safe), and keep temperatures under 80°C max. Monitor temperatures using hwinfo or hwmonitor.
Other configurations to disable include C1E and speedstep, as these can affect multiplier settings and cause crashes during Windows startup, even if the overclock remains stable. If you need more specific guidance, I can provide a detailed guide since I have it saved on the PC (a link from a website).
You may reach a limit around 350-400 FSB. Occasionally, to achieve higher FSB, lowering the CPU multiplier is necessary, and adjusting RAM speed accordingly is important because RAM capacity increases with higher clock speeds. It can feel complex at first, but once you grasp it, it becomes simpler.
Ps. Sorry for the confusion.
Just attempt increasing the FSB gradually until the computer fails to boot, using a 10Mhz increment, raising it by 10 each time, then save and exit, then check BIOS and repeat until the PC stops booting or crashes due to overclock. After that, reduce the last stable value by 10Mhz for instance if the previous one was 360, set it to 350. Then proceed to Windows, run tools like prime95, aida64, or intelburn test (intel requires at least 10 passes; if it passes the overclock check, it’s fine). After that, increase voltage by 0.10 to 20V on the CPU and set RAM to 2.1V, then retry. This process is essentially trial and error. If you reach a point where FSB becomes too high, CPU voltage should stay below 1.45V (maximum safe is 1.55V), and temperatures must not exceed 80°C max. Monitor temperatures using hwinfo or hwmonitor.
Other adjustments to disable include turning off C1E and enabling speedstep, as it affects the multiplier and can cause crashes during Windows startup even if overclocking is stable. If you need more specific instructions, I’ll find a complete guide since I have it saved on the PC (a link from a website).
You might encounter a limit around 350-400 FSB. Sometimes, to achieve higher FSB, you should lower the CPU’s multiplier that controls your clock, and adjust RAM speed so it can handle the overclock. As FSB increases, RAM speed should decrease accordingly. It does seem complex at first, but once you grasp it, it becomes simpler.
P.S. Sorry for the long explanation.
I’ve reviewed around 1 million guides, and none explained it as clearly as you in those few sentences. When I get home from work, I’ll start right away—I never thought of such a simple approach. Thank you for clarifying everything, I wrote down the stress test software, I fully understand now about the CPU, and now it’s just about tweaking RAM. Perfectly acceptable if it hits 3.7-4.0 on air.