Thinking about overclocking my E6600 hoping to hit 3 GHz . Should I get a aftermarket cooler or not?

Right now I have a stock E6600 WITH the Intel d975xbx2. I have heard that I should be able to hit 3 GHz fairly easily with the stock cooler. 3 GHz is what I was hoping for. Should I use a different CPU cooler? If so which one and how much further beyond 3GHZ could I expect to go with an aftermarket cooler?

Thanks a lot for the help

 

I'm quite sure the E6600 can do 3 Ghz no problem (HS not a factor). On the stock cooler, 3 Ghz is not problem either. However, basically any aftermarket cooler is better than the stock Intel ones. If you are short on money, go and find the ones you want, and then search them and look at the reviews. Quite sure Sam can help you on that... However, it is good to keep in mind that the Intel Stock coolers are quite decent in its own game; maybe not as good as the mid - higher end aftermarkets, but they still get the job done; quite sure better than the AMD stock ones.

Depending on stepping and revisions, the amount of overclocks vary. Other factors include the RAM that you use (unless you lower the RAM:FSB Ratio?), and maybe more of an importance, your motherboard. The PSU may come into play also. Crappier PSUs may simply fail with higher clocks (more power needed... -> it the PSU was at its limit already).

I've checked here:
http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/motherboards/1690_5.html
--> Your motherboard should be a great overclocker; therefore it should not be a bottleneck.

I read somewhere of the E6600 that it should be able to crack 3.1 Ghz with the stock cooler (and stable), while with a decent aftermarket, it should be able to clock at around 3.5 ghz. Again, these were his results. They may be better, or worse. I highly doubt, however, that any clock above 3 Ghz would do that much better than at 3 ghz. At the same time, the voltage that is required to pump out such a number increases a bit more soon after ~3 ghz. For instance, my E2180 (a stripped C2D), becomes extremely power hungry after 3 ghz. (Quite sure it can do 2.5 with stock voltages, while I'm quite sure it needs @ 1.43V @ 3 ghz to even post, and is somewhat stable @ ~1.48) I'm quite sure the general rule of thumb of vcore increase was something along the lines of a .02V per 100mhz after the vcore increase (Confirmation... not quite sure).

The E6600 itself, still has lots of potential in it. Its great to pump out the few drops of juice before it becomes obsolete (I hope later than sooner!)

Good Luck!!

GenesisX

 

My old video card whent out so I had to get a new one. I got a gtx 260 core 216.
before i bought it I did a quick check to see if my cpu at stock would bottleneck the card. when i did the quick check I had read that it would not bottleneck, but now from what I understand it probably is bottlenecking my video card.

Is my cpu @ 2.4 GHZ bottlenecking my gpu?

 

Well games nowadays don't really depend on the CPU as much as they used to so the CPU is probably not a bottleneck.
The E6600 is old but still a very strong CPU and overclocking will help it a lot but by no means is it holding you back.
And yes, the E6600 should have no problem going to 3GHz.
If I were you, I would just change the TIM under the heatsink on the stock fan. Use AS5 or Zalman ZM STG1 thermal paste.
Just to give you an idea I took my E6300 (the 1.86ghz version of the Core 2 Duo series) to 3.2GHz, and it was 24/7 stable:
http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=534689
So the E6600 should do even better.

 

Many people online asked if a C2D (anyone (ex. PDC, C2D etc.) would bottleneck a 4870 @ 3 ghz. They were later told that, no, they wouldn't. However, a C2D @ 2.4 is more on the weak side. I may not bottleneck the 260, but the 600 mhz would do you good. It is not like it can't hit it... right?

Bottom line, whether it does bottleneck or it doesn't, the C2D, and your computer in general would benefit from the 600 mhz increase. Yes, temperatures will increase... Hey, the 260 is creating heat too... =D

Just overclock it, and see how it does. I'm sure you will benefit from it...

 

Also, while you are at it, Lap the E6600! The old C2Ds had very concave ihs's so that would help it tons.

 

At 2.4Ghz, the E6600 is indeed a bottleneck. I'd take that review with a pinch of salt though, most Intel boards are either terrible for overclocking, or don't allow it at all.

 

Thanks for all the help guys.


I've decided to take a very small foray into overclocking, just to kind of get comfortable with things.
As I said before the board I'm using is the Intel d975xbx2. From I understand this board has a watchdog feature which you need to disable before you can begin overclocking. I have tried and tried and I cannot find the watchdog said within the BIOS.

I have seen a picture in which the watchdog setting can be found under the maintenance tab. However I do not see the maintenance tab.

Can anyone tell me how to find the watchdog setting. And very basically how I should be being with my first small overclock.

 

I'm not completely sure especially with my insufficient experience in intel boards; however, if the options are omited in the BIOS, you may double check in the Intel website for new bioses available. They may contain new options that did not arrive with the original bios supplied with the motherboard.

Is it possible to just overclock with such feature on? Chances are, if you can't find it, if doesn't do anything (especially with such much options in newer motherboards). Have you tried adjusting such settings?

Just try it... Have fun with it.

Lapping, vDroops, new thermal pastes, a better cooling fan, and better ventilation for the whole case itself, are good options for increasing overclocking.

If your motherboard suffers from the droop, then apply it. Thermal paste is a very easy solution to decrease temperatures. It is easy, and has good efficiency for increasing heat disperse. Then there is lapping. It may render the CPU's warranty, but c'mon; the CPU is 3 years old now (or nearing atleast!). All you need is sand paper.
A cooling fan, a good one, may go for a minimum of $20 - $30. Nothing I can help there.

E6600 is a wonderful CPU, along with all the other C2Ds. Have fun with it!

GenesisX

 

Intel boards never used to be able to overclock at all. Not a sausage. That may have changed without my knowledge as I never recommend them as they aren't good value for money either, but that review suggests there is a means of enabling the overclocking features.

 

Don't lap the thing before you even know that you can overclock.
Otherwise, it will be a waste of time and you would have killed the warranty for no reason.
If you have some money to spend, get a new motherboard.

 

Agreed.

 

heres a link that showes how to oc with this board.

http://vr-zone.com/print.php?i=4111

does this seem like a safe way to reach 3 GHZ with stock cooling?

I hear 3 ghz is very doable with stock cooling (atleast for now)

 

It should be easy on most boards, depends what the retail BIOSes are like for that board, but I think you'll be alright.

 

I have 18 days left to step up from gtx 260 216. for $25 i can get the the gtx 275. with the OCed cpu I still dont think I would see much difference if I go to the gtx 275, but for 25 bucks what do u guys think?

 

GO FOR IT!!!

 

There's a big difference. I'd say go for the 275.