Voltage Newb

[Aten]

My First Post and First time overclocking

So far ive OC my q6600 using a  GA-P35C-D3SR( rev2). Went from 2.4 to 3.0. Benchmarked and stress test with no problems.
I would like to push it further, maybe 3.2 or even 3.4 but i doubt i could get there without tweaking voltages. So far i ve only
added an increment (next step up from default) to CPU voltage.

I understand basis principle that you stress test each time you increase the FSB until you bluscreen or cant post. The idea then
being to increase the voltage to the CPU.

What im not clear on is eventually i might reach a point when increasing the cpu voltage will hit a wall unless you make changes
to other parts of the board. In the voltage section of my bios i have:

DDR2/DDR3 Overvoltage Control (NOT PLANNING TO OC MEMORY)
PCI-E Overvotage Control (+0.1, +0.2, +0.3)
FSB Overvoltage Control  (+0.1, +0.2, +0.3)
(G) MCH Overvoltage Control  (+0.1, +0.2, +0.3)

Which of the remaining three will i need to tweak and do u do it in a certain order? Perhaps theres a hierarchy?
I might get lucky and hit 3.4 with only having to tweak the CPU voltages. Or is recommended by default and for
stability to tweak the other sections as well?

TIA for any advice or help on this matter.
Aten.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte forum.

The FSB is the main voltage you will have to play with as you always have to increase that to get stability when you increase the speed. In the end it is normally the memory and heat that determine how far you can go. So make sure that your cooling system is up to the job.

[Aten]

Hi Dark Mantis. Thanks for the quick reply.

With the CPU voltages i can see current setting and know its limits for this paticular board.
How can i determine this with the FSB?

When you say memory can determine how far you go, are you refering to

DDR2/DDR3 Overvoltage Control
or
(G) MCH Overvoltage Control 

I just googled MCH and apparently it stands for "Memory Control Host."

Are these two connected or seperate?

So ideally you would tweak CPU voltage, followed by FSB and then maybe the MCH? Not sure but your only
supposed to tweak MCH if you dabble in extreme OC?

Like you said, im hoping i will only have to work with CPU & FSB but id like at least understand a little
more on the rest. Thanks again.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

You will find there are many settings in the BIOS that occur in more than one place but are the same thing.

When I said it will probably be the memory that decides on your ultimate OC, I was referring to the fact that usually the memory will hit a limit before the CPU and force you to back off.

I think you could do with some factfinding on the basics of overclocking before you start to dabble really. That way you will understand not only how to do it but also why you are doing a certain thing.

[Aten]

AFAIK, the memory doesnt apply to me since im only OC the cpu and using a memory divider of 1:1.
There fore i dont need to worry about hitting a memory wall? Instead just the walll of my CPU or FSB.

Trust me ive read through three different guides on OC and each one only really deals with over-volting the CPU. There was
some mention of increasing voltages for FSB but wasnt really explained. Having googled for some of the voltage options
(mch, pci-e,etc) most explanations have been reduced to "be sure to volt your northbridge & south bridge," which is
largely useless to me.

Just need to know out of these:

DDR2/DDR3 Overvoltage Control (NOT PLANNING TO OC MEMORY)
PCI-E Overvotage Control
FSB Overvoltage Control  
(G) MCH Overvoltage Control  

Which are needed  in relation to OC the CPU aside from FSB and CPU overvoltage control.

Is my assumption that:
DDR2/DDR3 Overvoltage Control
(G) MCH Overvoltage Control
Are not required for for high OC on just the cpu and relates largely to OC Ram?

So that leaves just the PCI-E Overvoltage Controller. Im guessing thats just for use in OC your Graphics Card so again not needed
when OC just the CPU.

Lastly,  i would love to know what peoplel are specefically refering to when they say to OC the "NorthBridge & South Bridge"
I know it applies to stuff like the CPU, FSB, PCI-e , etc but are they generalising everything or refering specifically to one of the controllers?

If you or anyone can answer this post, it would clear up so much for me. Or id even settle for a link
to a guide that concentrates on these questions.

TIA

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

I think the best thing is for me to post a link to an overclocking guide a buddy of mine prepared that is very good. There is also much more info on OCing etc on this site.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/26112-gigabyte-x38-p35-p965-ds-dq-s3-overclocking-general-bios-tweaking-guide.html