Unlocking only 1 additional core on Phenom II 550 BE?
Anyone know if it's possible to unlock only 1 of 2 locked cores on a 550BE? I think that it might be a good idea because a quad is useless and unstable, tripe might be useful and stable on a higher clock setting. This way I might be able to obtain a more stable cpu with higher oc, and an additional free core.
I read a bit about ACC and it seems that it's a mystery. I did however learn that it could improve overclocking BUT thats for the x4 CPUs as I for example with it disabled my cpu is normal but I cannot take advantage of the options. If I enable the ACC, I will have 2 extra cores and the options which will probably be worse even if I try to adjust them...so basically ACC is something that only quads can really take advantage off...as for duals..I don't know if even with them there is a way to achieve the overclock that would be achievable with 2 cores.
Anyway. Back to the matter at hand. Is it possible to unlock only 1 of 2 extra cores on a Phenom II 550 Black Edition Processor?
X2 550 BE, MSI 790FX-GD70, Bios 1.7B7 (Downloaded at Tony's OCZ MSI official page)
Previously I had use the same CPU on a Asus M4A78-E (DDR2) and Asus M4785TD, both also capable of allowing to switch on or off the unlock cores... Even I can off which ever cores I want, such as my cpu currently have 1 cores unwilling to be stable at 4000mhz so I shut it off... Its core 2 by the way and core 0,1 and 3 works fine at 4000mhz....
Ok cool...how did you unlock 1 core? That is what I wanna know lol. What did u change/add or whatever in the bios?
Also I am quite interested in your configuration. What voltage is ur ram at? Also what's ur nb frq. and voltage?
First off the usual ACC set per core option. Then put all at -6 and then I rebooted...then its the unleashing mode (I forgot MSI name for it LOL ) an then there is something called Core Control which basically allows the cores to be turned off or on in the Cell Menu...The only core that can;t be turned off is core 0....
My config is simple really... X3, Micron OEM rams 2gb per module stick, running at 1600mhz@Cas7 and 1.67v...My CPU VDD is 1.525v and the CPU-NB is 1.3v...the CPU-NB is running at 2200mhz currently but will change it to 2600 after rebooting the PC...CPU temps idle (right now is 5.35am and it is around 29c) is 39c...Load will rise up to 57c...Cooler is CCF with Thermaltake Bigwater Rad fan....
It seems I can infact make it a tri core cpu, but when posting it shows that it's a x4, then in cpuz it shows 3 cores. So it doesn't really become a tricore cpu. When I made the test, the name changed to an Athlon II...something I forgot. It would bsod quickly no matter what I do so I think that my 2 extra cores are both defective.
The way to make it a tri or quad core: MOBO DFI m3h5.
In the CPU features, you enable ACC...to either auto or whatever. Then "AMD Family 10h Down core" will give you 4 some new options to chose from: Auto, Single core, Dual core, Tri Core, Quad core. Depending on what you chose it will change accordingly but will show that it's a B50 quad, but in cpuz it will be whatever u chose it to be.
Now that I know this won't work for me (although I was hoping for so much) I will check out the % stuff and the CPU stepping which are supposed to improve overclocking. My current settings are: ACC: Per core , AMD Family 10h Down core: Dual Core. Lets see if this thing will do something for me.
EDIT: I'm sorry to say that there is nowhere else to go on this cpu. It will simply not go more than 3.9Ghz...no matter what I do....nothing will make it boot on 4.0GHZ... ACC...I think it makes things worse. As I am not able to even post. All I can do is maybe tighten the ram timings a little more...and increase the nb frq, but thats about it.
I did hear though that if I hit an end like this I have to do something with the ram timings and it would let me OC more...I'm not sure if it was increase or decrease.
I'm actually trying the same stint like you as well, as I can't get my 550 BE running at four cores, but trying for a three. Try using Prime95 Multithread if you're able to boot into your OS with a tri or quad core, then by looking at which worker fails, you can find out which cores are defective.
I have a Biostar TA790GXE 128M board which allows me to downcore my 550 BE, but not selectively. Unfortunately for me, when ACC is enabled I'm able to boot Windows with four cores, but with the 2nd core faulty. It's funny though as the 2nd core should be stable, but who knows what ACC does. Setting it to run tri-core still leaves the 2nd core running which BSODs the PC whenever anything is run on that particular core.
From what I know, the boards that support selective core activation modify the K10 registers, which means not all is lost for those boards which can't do so as you can manually change the registers yourself. The only problem is which one.
Both my extra cores are worthless. I don't think they are defective as I could probably run a quad 550 with an oc of 3.3Ghz but thats way bellow what I want so I'm not gonna bother. Instead I'll leave it at 3.9Ghz.
I also can't go over 3.9Ghz with 2 cores. And I don't know why. I don't know if it's the cpu or the motherboard or the ram. It's like no matter what I change...and I mean ANYTHING I change...I can't get into windows. It always boots fine...then gets to the Windows screen where the little bar moves across a couple of times, and the restarts...and it's like a loop so Debug LED doesn't say anything, and I can't figure out what is causing the CPU to not go above 3.9Ghz. Any other way to figure out what could be causing it...? I mean...if I add too much of something then I know that thats the problem because I get bsod or whatever...but when I do everything as it should be, and try for 4.0Ghz it doesn't do anything except loop the boot so I don't know what could be the cause of this. I've tried adding as much as 200.0mV to the CPU and absolutely the same as if it's any other way.
It seems I can infact make it a tri core cpu, but when posting it shows that it's a x4, then in cpuz it shows 3 cores. So it doesn't really become a tricore cpu. When I made the test, the name changed to an Athlon II...something I forgot. It would bsod quickly no matter what I do so I think that my 2 extra cores are both defective.
The way to make it a tri or quad core: MOBO DFI m3h5.
In the CPU features, you enable ACC...to either auto or whatever. Then "AMD Family 10h Down core" will give you 4 some new options to chose from: Auto, Single core, Dual core, Tri Core, Quad core. Depending on what you chose it will change accordingly but will show that it's a B50 quad, but in cpuz it will be whatever u chose it to be.
Now that I know this won't work for me (although I was hoping for so much) I will check out the % stuff and the CPU stepping which are supposed to improve overclocking. My current settings are: ACC: Per core , AMD Family 10h Down core: Dual Core. Lets see if this thing will do something for me.
EDIT: I'm sorry to say that there is nowhere else to go on this cpu. It will simply not go more than 3.9Ghz...no matter what I do....nothing will make it boot on 4.0GHZ... ACC...I think it makes things worse. As I am not able to even post. All I can do is maybe tighten the ram timings a little more...and increase the nb frq, but thats about it.
I did hear though that if I hit an end like this I have to do something with the ram timings and it would let me OC more...I'm not sure if it was increase or decrease.
experience told me not all x2 550be are unlockable, sometimes even decent batch like 0922 will have bad apples.
force tri-core = AMD Family 10h Down core @ Tri Core, but there are chances that d worst core will be choosen since no option to chose which core to be enabled like what asus have.
acc doesn't always guarantee better mileage, u need to set correct value for each core if u wanna get d best outta each & it take me lotsa times for that. it's more useful when there is core unlocking to be done.
my attempts on several x2 550be on different boards:
Ok I think my mobo is causing me not be able to oc to 4.0Ghz I don't mind a dual core... although quad would have been better for benchies. Anyway. I can't get it to 4.0Ghz no matter what I do. I've tried everything and all I get is a boot loop with no cause to be seen...it just won't work with 4.0Ghz. I don't know if it really can't oc because of a part in my build or am I doing something wrong...any idea?
I got a tip that to oc to 4.0Ghz I had to raise the NB voltage, SB voltage, HTT voltage, and NB VID up a bit, but I don't really know what they are called in my bios lol. Any help?
Here is bios:
MCT Memory Timing >>>>>>>>>> Manual
2T Mode >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Disabled though doesn't matter, it goes to 2T because if ganged mode.
CAS Latency Time >>>>>>>>>>> 7 CLK
Precharge Delay (tRAS) >>>>> 24 CLK
DRAM RAS# Precharge >>>>>>>> 7 CLK
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay >>>> 7 CLK
Bank to Bank CMD (tRRD) >>>> 4 CLK
TRC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
TRTP >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
Write Recovery (tWR( >>>>>>> AUTO
Write-Read Command (tWTR) >> AUTO
TRFC0 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
TRFC1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
TRFC2 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
TRFC3 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
Trdrd >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
TrwtTO >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AUTO
Twrrd >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AUTO
Twrwr >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AUTO
Bank Swizzle Mode >>>>>>>>>> Enabled
Auto Tweak Performance >>>>> Disabled
Optimal Performance Mode >>> Disabled
HT Link Control NOT ADJUSTED
CPU Feature NOT ADJUSTED
PWM Setting
PWM Control >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Enabled
CPU VID Special Add >>>>>>>> +125.0 mV
CPU NB VID Special Add >>>>>> Auto
DRAM Voltage Control >>>>>>>> 1.702 V
SB PLL 1.2V Voltage >>>>>>>>> 1.20 V
NB Core Voltage >>>>>>>>>>>>> 1.250 V
NB PCIE Voltage >>>>>>>>>>>>> 1.120 V
NB HT Voltage >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1.270 V
Memory Current Value >>>>>>>> DDR 1333
Timing Mode >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Manual
Memory Clock Value or Limit > DDR3 1333
AMD K8 Cool&Quiet Control >>> Disabled
CPU Clock Ratio >>>>>>>>>>>>> 19.5
CPU-NB Voltage >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1.3500 V
CPU-NB Clock Ratio >>>>>>>>>> x12
HT Link Frequency >>>>>>>>>>> 2 Ghz
O.C. Fail Retry Counter >>>>> 1
O.C. FAil CMOS Reload >>>>>>> Disabled
Spread Spectrum >>>>>>>>>>>>> Disabled
CPU Host/HTT Boot Up Clock >> 200 Mhz
CPU Host/HTT Clock >>>>>>>>>> 200 Mhz
CPU Host/HTT Adjust Gap >>>>> 5 Mhz
PCIE Clock >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 100 Mhz
i wouldn't say 4.0GHz is not achievable but overclockability varies from chip to chip. it's not so easy to get a c2 chip capable of 4.0GHz on 24/7 config.
i think raising HTT voltage, NB VID a 'lil will help (provided u overclock HTT & NB freq) but not so sure bout NB & SB voltage will do stability any good.
imc a.k.a cpu-nb voltage = CPU NB VID Special Add (in hex)
Does anyone have a way to disable a specific core, other than bios (my ma790xt-ud4p doesn't have this option)? I'm running XP btw.
My 550 unlocks to 4 cores, and is stable below around 3600. When I bump the cpu voltage and frequency, core 1 becomes unstable. Even if I use AOD to underclock core 1 as low as it will go, it still experiences occasional instability when I push the other cores. ACC doesn't help either.
If only I could disable core 1...
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AMD Phenom II X4 965BE C3
Gigabyte MA790XT-UD4P F6 BIOS
G.Skill F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH Ripjaws 1600 777-21 1T (240@1333 divider)
ATI Radeon 4850@680
Swiftech 3/8 ID water: MCP655|MCW6000-A|MCW50|MCR220(4X120mm 2200rpm push/pull)|Micro Res
OCZ Powerstream 520
XP Pro SP3
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream
My last intel cpu was a celeron 300a. My first computer was a TI-99/4!
Does anyone have a way to disable a specific core, other than bios (my ma790xt-ud4p doesn't have this option)? I'm running XP btw.
My 550 unlocks to 4 cores, and is stable below around 3600. When I bump the cpu voltage and frequency, core 1 becomes unstable. Even if I use AOD to underclock core 1 as low as it will go, it still experiences occasional instability when I push the other cores. ACC doesn't help either.
If only I could disable core 1...
u can disable core(s) by using msconfig but not specifically the core u wish to disable.
Ok someone told me that I gotta look at something called gtl reference voltages ... I don't think I have those on my dfi board. Also I have the feeling that this is some quad core stuff, not dual and is for intel not amd.
Also I have the feeling that this is some quad core stuff, not dual and is for intel not amd.
Yah it is Intel, I believe you could adjust it on duals as well (just wouldn't be 67% 0/2 63% 1/3 or whatever at stock been a while since I ran 775)
ACC auto
followed by
Hybridmode/Unleashed
Or on the new MSI board "core Unlocking"
there are some other tricks if you do not have Unleashing/Hybrid mode option on your motherboard, such as setting specific ACC +/- numbers or using AOD, but I had no luck with them. Getting a board with the bios option just worked
Yah it is Intel, I believe you could adjust it on duals as well (just wouldn't be 67% 0/2 63% 1/3 or whatever at stock been a while since I ran 775)
ACC auto
followed by
Hybridmode/Unleashed
Or on the new MSI board "core Unlocking"
there are some other tricks if you do not have Unleashing/Hybrid mode option on your motherboard, such as setting specific ACC +/- numbers or using AOD, but I had no luck with them. Getting a board with the bios option just worked
d board is proven to be able to unlock core(s), if core(s) can't be unlocked/ stable, pretty much it is d fault of d chip (unhealthy locked cores). changing board is not a good option. be it Hybrid/Unleased or whatever they call it, as long as d microcode is included in d bios there shouldn't be any problem to unlock core(s). biostar boards don't come with fancy naming, just plain ACC only.
core(s) will be unlocked as long as d board is loaded w/ core(s) unlockin bios, stable or not depend on how healthy are those locked core(s), thou ACC mite help a 'lil.
)
) an then there is something called Core Control which basically allows the cores to be turned off or on in the Cell Menu...The only core that can;t be turned off is core 0....
Linear Mode
