I have a G0. I know about these different steppings. I have a VID of 1.225. My voltage is just about 1.3 volts. I used these same readings with stock cooling, and it still almost fried my system.

Thanks very much, I'll give it a go as you suggest.The really odd thing about this board is that the Easy Tune 5 facility which comes with it has an option called MIB/CIA which appears to provide for differing levels of auto overclocking. It is apparently intended only for use with Intel chip sets, which I have, and requires a BIOS change to implement. There is no indication anywhere in the guides or handbook as to how to do this and no reference in the BIOS itself. It is a mystery.Bud

I also have a Q6600, but I am afraid I must have the B3 version because mine runs in the 60s at full load with liquid cooling and a Cooler Master full tower case. If I try to overclock it, it won't post after I get it to 2.57. Is there a way to tell which chip version I have without having to remove the liquid cooler. Any suggestions how I can get it to at least 2.8?Thanks for your help.

Download CPUID. It will tell you what stepping you have. Download Core Temp and it will tell you what your VID is. Also, if you have your voltage set to auto, see if your motherboard might be overvolting your vcore. Mine does by quite a bit. That can really contribute to higher temps.

I've been running my new Q6600(G0) at 425/8/DDR2-1066 as suggested in many beginner OC-guides. Would I see any sigificant difference by running at 378/9 as suggested above? Would temps drop or would it it allow me to tighten my timings with a lower FSB?Do you manually set the divider in the BIOS or leave it in AUTO as well?

Thanks, I'll give it a try this weekend. I'm at the office, so I am not in front of my computer, but I think my voltages are set at 1.4.

Jordanal,The more dividers you have, usually the cooler it will be. I have an idea that you might be thinking that the faster FSB is better than faster overall speeds, therfore stepping down to 8 from 9. I've seen different discussions in different forums about ratios/fsb-to-speed discussions. There is some truth in these discussions that a faster FSB performs better as opposed to efforts put on getting the rig to run as fast as she can go. However, I've done some experiments challenging these arguments. Remeber, we are gamers, so a benchmard like 3DMark06 is a good benchmark for gaming. Saving on some of the visuals, I can say, we are talking about a difference of only hundreds of points. Now, back to the multiplier, 8 or 9? Try to keep in mind you have alot of other components in your computer like resistors, capacitors, etc. No temperature sensors on those components. Trust me when I say they get hot also. Therfore anytime you can jump on an opportunity to lower whatever you can for heat, I suggest you jump on it. Therfore, 9 is is going to run cooler than with a lower multiplier, and thats what I suggest you go with. Myself personally, for the trade off of a fraction of an increase in performance to the much larger drop in heat....I think you guys/gals know the answer to that one.So, to sum up the answer to your 2 questions...No, not much difference in performance...and yes, temps would drop by about 4-8 degrees by using the 9x multiplier rather than the 8.

Of course on the simpler hand, you could get a Thermalright 120 cooler, http://www.tankguys.biz/product_info.php?products_id=1735Mount it up, then set VCore (core voltage) to 1.4v and the FSB to 400. Leave ALL other bios settings in auto. Boot 'n run. Go fly. It'll be a stable, 24/7 platform with a 3.6Ghz quad humming in the background. At least my P5K-e wifi/Q6600(GO)/DDR2-800 is doin' it. Can't imagine why anyone else's wouldn't. I like simple.

Thanks Jim, yes it does.I see in CPU-Z that I have:1.184V2421.1 MHz266.0 MHz bus speedX9 Multiplier1072.0MHz Rated FSBRevision G0Looking forward to playing with this stuff! :)Thanks for all your help Jim,Bruce.

I have a question about the G0/B3 version / stepping for the Q6600. I see the words "version" and "stepping" used interchangeably, or it might just be my lack of OC experience.CPU-Z shows me that my Q6600 is "Revision G0", and "Stepping B". Do I have the G0 or B3 "version" of the Q6600?Thanks- Bruce.

You have a G0. Mine says the same thing in CPUID and the sSpec number on the box was SLACR, which is the G0.

Thanks.Bruce.

I downloaded the two programs you suggested and ran them this weekend. CPUID shows my CPU is a Q6600 Kentsfield , revision G0, Stepping B, Model F. Core Temp shows my VID at 1.2875v.I'm still puzzled why I can't over clock past (279.74 X 9) 2.5176mhz. It appears I have about the same set up as people who are sucessful getting it up in the 3.2 to 3.4 range. If I advance my FSB beyond 280 my computer won't post. I have 2 Gigs of Corsair Dominator memory @800 mhz, so memory shouldn't be an issue. I live in Phoenix, so the ambient temperatures could be causing my CPU to run a little hot, in the mid to high 60's. I have liquid cooling and a full tower Cooler Master case with three case fans.Anyone have any ideas as to why I can't overclock this rig at lease up to 2.8?Thanks for any suggestions.

What is your memory divider set to? If you raise your FSB above 266, but don't pick the correct memory divider, you will be overclocking your RAM. If you don't increase DIMM voltage it probably won't overclock well.As far as heat goes, what is the vcore voltage reading in CPUID?

Time to start bumping up your Vcore. You will need ~1.4v to get to a 400x9=3.6Ghz CPU speed. Reset all bios setting to auto and just play with Vcore and the FSB. Your ram will be (finally) running at its rated 800mhz with the FSB at 400. No prob there. 1.5vCore is tops as long as the temps stay OK. Read Vcore with CPUZ. Don't trust the bios setting. Go get 'em.