Thank you, I have had CPU-Z for a while now. VCore is 1.344 idling and 1.336 under load. I will try out the Prime95 and CoreTemp apps now.OK, Under testing, Cores 0 and 1 are 77C+ under Prime95 load, 54 idling. Cores 2 and 3 are 49C idle and 73C loaded. The Tjunction box says 100C.Thanks,BoeingGuy

I must admit I read a thread like this and just shake my head in wonderment at the lengths folk go to coaxing a few more fps out out of FSX. If you can get 15 fps min without overclocking then why bother? On the other hand if you are struggling on say 10 fps a 30% overclock is only going to get you another 3 fps at the risk of frying your chip.Bruceb

In my case I went for 30fps-to 45-50 by overclocking.Doesn't seem to cause any harm-comps been on for 3 days now-so why not? Kinda amazed me...http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

In my case, frame rates in heavy populated cities went from 9 to 16. So maybe it is worth it.

I am getting even better except the one exception-New York-where I duplicate your 16-20.Well worth it imho....http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

Ya know, with the default airplanes, I run 50+ FPS all the time with scenery maxed out. Runnin' the Grand Canyon? Who else can't get enough of that Mustang? But on final to LAX, that darn PMDG airplane has to calculate every single vector every single millisecond. It just drags, even with the Q6600 @ 3.6Ghz and an 8800GT @ 725Mhz. It needs every ounce. And hey, why not? O/Cing is So easy. Legnths? What legnths! With the right parts, it's as simple as re-setting two (yes, count 'em, 2) bios settings. They are: 1) vCore and 2) FSB. How simple can this be?! And these chips are absolutely bulletproof these days. Unless you smash them with a hammer, you can Not hurt them. Actually, it's silly NoT to take Intel's gift. There's more to computin' than FS.

So what you seem to be claiming is that 25% overclock will produce a 77% increase in fps! If that is the general experience then I take it all back.Bruceb

Sam - I'm not sure it's a good idea to suggest trusting CPUz's reported cpu voltage over the voltage input directly in the bios, just too many motherboards, and versions of CPUz?Same with running the individual cpu core temps as indicted by coretemp into the 80's, that's very high IMO, but I do like to be conservative.Not saying your wrong, pushing to the limits, but for those reading this thread and thinking of oc for the first time they might want to take a more tame approach?

>I got my Core 2 Quad running at 3.02 GHz on a 1333 MHz FSB>from the default 2.4/1066. It's idling around 36 Celsius and>loaded with FSX around 45-46 Celsius. I have a Thermaltake V1>Heatsink running at max speet, 2 25 cm case fans running at>max speed, and 2 12 cm interior fans running at max speed. Are>these temperatures OK? The manual said something like the safe>point was 38 Celsius. Is 46 too much?>>Thanks,>BoeingGuy>>EDIT: If it's unsafe, I'm bringing it down to 2.8 Ghz. If I>have the OK, I'm taking it up to 3.2 GHz and stopping there.>3.2 might my final destination, depending on if there>is anyone out there who can tell me their temps. I have a Q6600 G0 stepping running at 3.2GHZ on a GA-P35C-DS3R motherboard. CPU cooling is a Rosewill RCX-Z775-EX. I have an eVGA 8800GTS 640MB card installed as well. To get the Q6600 stable at 3.2GHZ I raised the Vcore to 1.4V as indicated in the BIOS. CPUZ reports 1.344V as does Everest. I also raised my NB voltage 1 or 2 notches and my memory voltage is up 2 clicks. My 4GB DDR28500 is running at 1068Mhz, 2:3 ratio. My CPU Tjunction ( the Intel MAX 71C rating ) is typically 7C lower than any of the 4 core temps. Running FSX my Tj is around 50C with core temps around 55-57C. Running just my browser, Tj is 35C and cores at 36-42C. Running Prime95, Tj is 54C and cores 56-61C. These temp readings are with Everest and SpeedFan ( with the 15C offset applied ). As someone noted here, the Q6600 will shut itself down if it detects dangerously high temps but I see no reason for a system to even approach that level with adequate cooling and reasonal overclocks. I must say though, my ambient temps here have been around 12-15C so I expecy in summer my CPU temps will rise some. Paul

Here are some screens. I'm using Orthos. VCore in BIOS is set to 1.4000. With FSX, I get anywhere between 58-70C (varied in all 4 cores) in Seattle with all settings except for traffic maxed. No Bloom either. I get 19-26 FPS.Idle: sorry CPU-Z got cut off due to size limitations, but the Vcore is 1.34 (1.4 in BIOS):http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/183976.jpgLoaded: 1.336 Vcore.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/183977.jpgNow I have a RAM issue. The POST message said DDR2-713. I want to get all 800 MHz I paid for! Or is this a limitation?Thanks,BoeingGuy

Asus appears to have problems with their bios settings and AI suite. My Tc and vCores agreed all around with bios 0506. Updating to the 08XX caused All vCore readers to report .1v below my bios setpoint. AI's Tc began to read 10C high. The bios update was the single action that caused this discrepancy. All other readers remain in agreement. Use an actual vCore of 1.5 volts as your core voltage limit and Do NoT simply trust the bios setpoint is correct. CPUZ is a good point of reference for vCore. As before, use Coretemp's Tjs for temperature monitoring. Tc is just for entertainment.To draw an analogy: Michelin guarantees its tires will run up to 100MPH. That's why I bought 'em. I have a need to go 85MPH, 'cause, well, 85 gets me there faster than 60. However speed-limiting at 60 won't hurt a thing, other than simply waisting a resource.That old 60C limit (with a 70C top end) was an entirely valid strategy for the P4/Athon generation. However new limits apply to this new generation of CPUs. We've come a long way, baby. 85C Tj is fine. However be careful. For instance, we hear that 71C described as a Tj limit. It is Not. 71C is a Tc reference temperature. Everest and Speed Fan read Tc. Tj is the temperature taken directly inside each core and will be Hotter than the Tc (temperature-case). If we're gonna run this racecar, we have to keep this straight. But even if we really mess things up, the CPU has built in temperature protection and will protect itself from us. Tweak on!Note: Disable C1E in the bios for testing. This feature declocks the CPU to a X6 multiplier under light load. But the 9X run Looks like you've about arrived. Those ~80 Tjs are right where they need to be. It appears you are cooling limited. The Thermalright Ultra 120 will allow a 3.6 clock with about those same temperatures. Is an additional 400mhz worth $70? BTW, that's a nice CPU. The 1.2250 VID and tight spread on the Tjs is tellin' me Intel's getting better at this CPU making business . . .even over the last few months. You can't dial in ram. It will run at 2X the FSB, or some fixed (multiplier) ratio. Get your FSB set first. Ram speed will make no difference anyway.

For the ram you need to change your memory ratio/fsb.Right now your running 1:1, 356 x DDR2 = 712In the p5k it lets you just select the speed,based on ratios you dont see,after setting the ram bios speed setting to manual.Yours is probably the same.It wont make any difference in FSX but you can try it.Check with Prime95 after to see if your still stable,often its the ram that makes p95 fail.I think your running the CPU way to hot at 84C.If your room temp goes up in the summer 6C you'llbe able to cook on that thing :)How long can you run 4 threads of Prime 95 ?

Thanks to everyone for all their help, however, my father became really worried when looking at these temps, so we have agreed to stay at 3-3.02 GHz for the time being, which also meant DDR2-800 RAM speeds again. I don't know if we'll get a better cooler yet.

Why the high Vcore voltages? I run Q6600 stable at 3.4GHZ 55C max under load, with the following:-http://www.whitleylegends.co.uk/CPUIAN.gif

Where can I find a Ultra120 cooler? Preferably a well-known site like Newegg or Mwave or others like those?