well, my question is similar with mark allen, how to OC the Q6600, but my pc specs is different and I am not as experienced as you guys or mark allen, so i need guidance....

I am using ASUS commando, i dont know how to overclock
SPECS:
~intel Q6600 (stock Cooler)
~ASUS COMMANDO
~HD2900XT
~2gb of ram (pc6400)
~SONY BRAVIA 32"
~ENLIGHT 650w
~RAIDMAX NINJA
and what program (and BIOS of course) do I need to use?
and please tell me the risk

There is always a risk when overclocking your system what with damaging components if you do not know what you are doing. It could actually lead to multiple hardware failures. So long as you know what you are doing, and you find the limit of the component you are trying to overclock and have adequate cooling for it, you shall be fine.

The Q6600 is a piece of cake to get to 3GHz. What you will need to do is first is get the latest BIOS (if you dont already have it installed) from Asus's website. You will then either need to put it on a floppy/CD/Flash drive (following their instructions on how to do so) that way you can install the updated BIOS. But before you get started in actually flashing your BIOS, you will want to get into the BIOS itself and load factory defaults, save and exit the BIOS, then update.

Once you have done that, you are going to want to up the FSB. I'm not exactly sure how Asus does it with their Intel boards, but if its anything like my EVGA (doubt it but you never know), you may just be able to find where it shows 1066 for the FSB speed and up it in increments of five. (eg (starting from 1066) 1071, 1076, 1081, etc) The 3Ghz mark is 1333. In order to get to the 1333 FSB speed, you will have to make sure that your motherboard supports it. Which it should.

You are also going to want to up the voltage on the CPU and RAM. What is the default voltage for your RAM? I have my CPU voltage at around 1.3ish

I'm not sure about Asus's BIOS options, but with my board, there is an option to link the RAM with the CPU so as you are upping the FSB, the RAM goes right along with it. If you have that option, I would link them together.

I know this is a lot to take in, but once you start getting the hang of it, its quite easy.

On an Intel chipset... you would raise the FSB setting. Intel FSB default setting are 200mhz = 800fsb actual, 266mhz = 1066fsb actual, and 333mhz = 1333fsb actual. In your case with a Q6600, the FSB default setting should be at 266mhz. So what you would do is to raise the FSB setting, as Mark has mentioned, little bit at a time and then test for stability along the way. You will reach a point that it will become unstable and at which point you should take a step back (keep last known good setting)... From here you would start messing around with voltages for cpu, chipset, and or mem (any one or combination) to get the system to stable and further its OC'n. Even after this, you will reach a point that no matter what you do, there is a barrier you cant get past. By the way..... your OC'n limit will be the limitation of the lesser of your components (weakest link) i.e. cpu, memory, mb, the type of coolers installed, psu, etc...... I too will be getting a Q6600 myself and i'm gonna try at OC'n... but with my own goals/requirements, 3ghz will be enough for me. All I want to do is get a Q6600 up to the speeds of a E6850. Other folks have a little bit more ambitions when it comes to OC'n and have reached as far as 3.6ghz on air.

I got the ASUS Commando, I'll go thru it with you later if you like. Bit busy the now
tho. I'll post somin up for you laters

Take a look at this.... according to this customer, he got his Q6600 from 2.44ghz to 3.71ghz with 1.41v Vcore using a water cooling system called Waterkeg III - http://www.tankguys.com/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=1712&reviews_id=11&osCsid=d7f2c71fdbaceb2023b4a3625f349ba5

Waterkeg III -

http://www.externalpccooling.net/
http://www.petrastechshop.com/newaex.html

G. G. said:

wow...
2.4ghz to 3.71ghz
is there anything faster than 3.71ghz?
c2d Extreme?
that customer must've used hundreds of $$$ to water cool it, but it worth it...

so the risk....
my computer can literally explode/on fire if Im not carefull??

AL-CId D said:
Literally...no.

so my RAM must also support 1333??

so, if anything goes wrong....
my MoBo and my Q6600 might be mortally wounded (damaged)?

AL-CId D said:
In order to achieve the 1333 FSB for the CPU, you either need a really good pair of DDR2-800 RAM that will over clock to around DDR2-1000 (like I have), or just buy DDR2-1000 or better.

AL-CId D said:
Only in extreme cases. If you keep the OC reasonable, nothing should happen.

I need to buy new RAM then,any advice?? my current Ram is pc3200

GG that Q6600 is a G0. My mate got to 3.70GHz (1.425v) on AIR if it was a B3 Revision, at 3.70GHz at that voltage, the boot up wouldn't make it past post!

I was gutted ot say the least when he told me he got his G0 oc'd to that on air, and
here's me liquid cooled, and unstability at 3.60GHz!! He well rubbed this in!! Grrr

The G0 can be OC'd to 4GHz. The B3 is a pain even at 3.40GHz on water, the
volts up at 1.50+ and 3.60GHz on B3 (400MHz x 800MHz x9 Multi) 1600 FSB
i had to get the volts to 1.625v !!!!! Stability was like walking on egg shells man!

I've ordered my G0 and it's here tomo, and selling my B3 for 120 quid.
Thank god i'm getting rid of that furness!

Sorry guys who have the B3. But even on water, this fookin thing was giving out
some high temps.

Infact INTEL should recall those things and replace with the G0 and apologise
for knowingly selling that CPU when the G0 was on the drawing board. Well sneaky

Dude my Commando gave me 1700 FSB from my RAM (800Mhz) and i reckon i can push it further when i get my G0 (FINGERS CROSSED THO) lol

are all Q6600 G0? please explain, im in the dark here...

The older revisions are B3. That was the first Q6600's to come out.
But they are a killer for heat. The newer revision is the G0. 95w Energy efficient.
If you bought your CPU recently the it should be a G0. Use CPUZ to or Everest, etc
to check out your revision. If it's a G0 then you'll get way past 3GHz on air, but
ditch that heatsink that came with CPU it's useless for overclocking

yeah, thats why Im looking for a decent cooler...
are there any difference in the box somehow?

Where did you get your G0 Tam?

When did you buy your CPU??? No you need CPUZ to find this out

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

RE: Mark

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-161-IN

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(21806)Intel-CPU-Core-2-Quad-Pro-Q6600-95W-Energy.aspx

I got mines from OcUK

Oh and this bad boy's getting lapped! I got 1600 Grit waiting and itchy fingers!! lol

Damn.

If I can find a place in teh US that sells G0 and sell mine to someone for the same price as you sold yours off as, Id be in business.