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K404
10-23-2005, 05:06 PM
Hi! I remember reading here about ppl finding that one core on their X2 would clock higher than the other. I got to the conclusion from this that one core could be disabled. Is it true? Can it be done from BIOS? The benfits of being able to run single-core would be good for SuperPi...higher clocks coz of lower heat output.

Cheers!

Kenny
Repoman
10-23-2005, 05:09 PM
Well, you could use old 310 BIOS if you have DFI which disables core 2..

I don't think there would be any real/convenient/worth it way to do it though
Mr_Slinky
10-23-2005, 05:14 PM
also doesn't disabling a core defeat the purpose of getting an X2
Vapor
10-23-2005, 05:15 PM
The second core will still have current running through it, even with 310, just it won't be recognized and therefore utilized in software. These are not the best single cores either so disabling the bad core wouldn't even be that beneficial.
njkid32
10-23-2005, 05:16 PM
Well you cant disable it in the bios but you can edit your boot.ini with /one cpu. But I am not to sure what core that it disables.
K404
10-23-2005, 05:22 PM
Hmmmm. Ok. Very true, it does defeat the point of buying an X2, but seeing as not all software is multithreaded, sometime having a higher clock speed is still the better option than having 2 at a lower speed.

I`m using Epox boards... I`m prob gonna get an X2 anyway, if I try a BIOS that doesnt support X2, i`ll either find myself with one core, or no boot at all.

@Vapor... would the cores pick up performance if there was less heat? Would the 2nd core still pull all the current it normally would for idle and load situatiions, even if it wasnt seen by software?

Cheers,

Kenny
Vapor
10-23-2005, 05:29 PM
There should be no gain.

The max OC on Core 1 for me does not change depending on whether or not I have load on Core 0 on my 4400+. My Core 0 is only ~50MHz better than Core 1, so it's really not worth it.

With 310, it will pull the exact same current it does at idle (because it is idle because there's no software to utilize it).

Also, there's no way to say which core to use if you use a BIOS that only supports one.
nn_step
10-23-2005, 05:32 PM
it would be cheaper just to buy two 3000+
and it would totally defeat the purpose...
K404
10-23-2005, 05:33 PM
OK. Thanks for the info :)

Was worth a go...

X2 or Opto....Decisions decisions......
nn_step
10-23-2005, 05:34 PM
Opteron if you have any goals of overclocking like a mofo...
ben805
10-23-2005, 05:50 PM
if you onlly need a high clock single core then get just that...a single core, no point in getting an X2 then handicaping it. :lol:
IvanAndreevich
10-23-2005, 06:52 PM
If you have an nVidia card, 2nd core benefits any 3d application by up to 20% in new drivers.

I got 32.8K in 3DMark2001 with the X2 @ 2.7 GHz whereas Venice @ 2.8 GHz got me around 30K before. Halleluja, 8x.xx drivers
don_vercetti
10-24-2005, 01:17 AM
yeh the new drivers are good, especially for anything cpu limited.
K404
10-24-2005, 08:47 AM
My Core 0 is only ~50MHz better than Core 1, so it's really not worth it.



Sorry to keep at ya Vapor...but how do you know theres a difference? That implies (to me) that the cores can be tested individually.

Why I`m asking about this anyway: NO, buying a dual-core then disabling one of the cores is not necessarily handicapping it... sometimes a program will benefit more from raw speed than 2 cores, especially at the moment while most software cant use the 2nd core. If there was a way to easily disable a core and clock the other one higher, then that would definately have its uses, but if the current runs through the idle core anyway, theres no real gain, as pointed out earlier.

Kenny
i found nemo
10-24-2005, 09:14 AM
also doesn't disabling a core defeat the purpose of getting an X2


lmao, classic !