Thanks again folks,
Sorry, I did get the "SpeedStep" soon after I complained, missed the small print note about having the "cpu ratio control to Auto" to bring it out. BUT must read the book again. At Toulouse a despairing instructor used to tell us "RTFS" read the f..... screen!

Will disabe all but PCIE, when armed for OC.

I do not intend now to go further than to experiment a bit till the upgrade.

This "....CPU STRAP .. ..." is not in the bios nor book.

Also I read else where on the Q6600 about "PCI Synchronisation 33.33mhz" but could not locate it.

EDIT:- just noticed that Asus's PC Probe2 shows +12 = 11.93v, but when I run about 10 error boxes appear to OK one after the other.

My Bios settings:-
Asus P5K Premium/WiFi-AP
AMI BIOS REV 0504

JumperFree Configuration Settings

AI Overclock Tuner:       (Manual)
CPU Ratio Settings:
FSB Srap to Northbridge:
FSB Frequency :
PCI-E Frequency :
DRAM Frequency:
Dram Command Rate
DRAM Timing Control   not in my bios only in the book                                  
DRAM Timings:             (Manual)
Note:- Grayed items as per scrn shot below
CAS# Latency:
RAS# to CAS# Delay:
RAS# Precharge:
RAS# to Cas# Delay:
REF Cycle Time:
Write Recovery Time:
Write to Read Delay:
Read to PRE Time:
DRAM Static Read Control:
Transaction Booster:
Relax Level :
CPU Volage:
CPU PLL Voltage:
FSB Termination Voltage:
DRAM Voltage:
N Bridge Voltage:
S Bridge Voltage:
Clock Over-Charging Mode:
CPU Spread Spectrum:
PCIE Spread Spectrum:
Load Line Calibration:
CPU GTL Voltage  Reference:
N.B GTL Voltage Reference:
CPU Clock Skew:
NB   Clock Skew:

Advance CPU Settings

CPU Ratio Settings:  
CPU Ratio Control   not in my bios only in the book
C1E Suppport:
Max CPUID Value Limit:
Vanderpool Technology:
CPU TM Function:
Execute Disable Bit:
PECI                         not in my bios only in the book
Intel Speedstep Tech:    (note:- this shows only if CPU Ratio Settings is AUTO)