X2 550 Unlocking & Overclocking Consolidated

[mäggäri]

Greetings from Finland. And that 3960 on air is not it all ... more to come.

[diddi35]

With bios 1602 Unleashing mode FAILED .. just reboot the box.. also I tryed updating the bios to 2101 and the pc turn on .. I use windows fine with 4 cores.. but at 2 minutes (or less) on Prime95 automatically restart.

Any tips or help that you can tell me??

Use bios 2206. Earlier versions can't unlock any Phenom II X2 or X3 as X4 100% stable. 2206 should work better

[Dolk]

Could use some help here, got a 0924BPMW on a UD5P. Tried Bios F5, F6, and F6a, none have worked. I can load past BIOS, but after that its a black screen. Any pointers here?


EDIT

To anyone that has not seen this yet:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardwar...re-unlocking/1

[ReKcOlNu]

Could use some help here, got a 0924BPMW on a UD5P. Tried Bios F5, F6, and F6a, none have worked. I can load past BIOS, but after that its a black screen. Any pointers here?

If you have a board + Bios known to unlock cores and it doesn't work for you then most likely the extra cores on your CPU really are bad and were disabled for a good reason. I've yet to see anyone post any actual fixes around that with the exception of lowering the ram speed and/or raising the CPU voltages to make the extra cores more stable, Well maybe that does help but to me that just means the extra cores really do have some sort of problems and plus slowing other parts of the system down to get around that seems somewhat silly to me, but each to their own I guess.

CPU Stepping really doesn't mean anything unless you knew for a fact that a certain stepping were actually perfectly working X4s and AMD only disabled cores to fill market demand for the X3/X2, Other then that it is all luck of the draw. I was one of the lucky ones, I'm not really into OCing so I just have my X2-550 running as a stock X4-965, all I had to do was unlock it to a X4 and set the CPU multiplier, it was actually too easy!

[Dolk]

Yeah thats what I've been thinking, is that this CPU is actually just a bust. But this is the second one that I have gotten from Newegg that is of the same stepping. I guess I keep ordering until I get one that works, or find someone that has one...

Reason for all of this is to do some ACC tests for my research. You can read more about it @ ocf.

--Dolk

[memel]

Next OC.

PII545 @ X4 3,5Ghz 1,37V real.
AC Freezer64 Pro
Biostar TA785GE
G.Skill 2x1GB 8500 DDR2 @ 936 4-4-4-12 2,15V





*************


PII545 @ X4 3,4Ghz 1,34V real.
AC Freezer64 Pro
Biostar TA785GE
G.Skill 2x1GB 8500 DDR2 @ 908 4-4-4-12 2,00V

[Dansh0]

I can confirm an unlock on 0922MPMW.

Mobo is a GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+
memory is G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB

The board was put in a Lian Li HTPC case I had sitting unused with a good power supply. Total cost of the build was under 330 bucks, which also included a 1TB 7200.12.
I had been leaning towards the propus until I stumbled across this thread and boy am I ever glad I did. It was a gamble not knowing if I was going to be able to unlock or not and I was kind of regretting not going for the "sure thing" until I got the board installed, did the hybrid setting change and posted successfully. I installed Windows XP onto a old raptor 74GB I had laying around and so far this thing is rock solid. The only other setting change I've made from AUTO in the bios is DTC to enable dual channel, which is still running at 800.


I feel like this is the best bang for the buck build I've ever done. I need to validate with stress testing tomorrow that everything is stable, but so far its up and running like a champ in XP, without any signs of instability. Kudos to AMD for leaving the heat sink layout unchanged for so long too. I had an old opteron heat pipe cooler that dropped right in place so I could avoid using that crap stock cooler. That's going to have to be replaced before any overclocking but I was happy I was able to use it.

My other rig right now is an E8650 OCd to 4.0 and this thing feels just as quick jumping around in windows. I can't know for sure which will be faster until I OC and benchmark, but for the 330 bucks this entire thing cost me it's a no brainer performance \ price wise. I can't be happier.

[I.nfraR.ed]

0924BPMW - I.nfraR.ed - Asus M3A78-T - 1304/1403/1504 - Fail - Link



I couldn't manage to overclock with raising FSB, it freezes randomly and I can't get my ram to work at high frequency, because I don't have such multi in bios "1200". It did 3.8@1.35V, just ran quick 10min prime, was stable.
4GHz@1.5152V, I think it's stable, no matter that i ran prime only for 4 min and wprime 1024M. Probably could get 4.1+ stable with higher voltage, even though it gets worse after 1.55V
I will try to find 0922 or 0929.

Update: No luck with unlocking, but I've managed to run the memory at high frequencies with 1403 bios. The cpu made 4.140GHz with 1.55V, but not stable. Increasing voltage make things worse. 4.06 are stable with 1.525V. 3.8 - stock voltage and 3.93 - 1.45V, but didn't try lower. Overclocks good, imo. The only bad thing is that it's unlockable. Played enough with that chip, soon I will sell it (:

[breakfromyou]

I have a Phenom II X2 550be, 0928BPMW, and with my Gigabyte MA-785GM-US2H, it won't unlock

would setting the ACC levels manually help any?

EDIT: I'm a moron. With everything set to auto, it booted up just fine. 1.4v, http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=790291. F4 BIOS that is.

[typerice]

With Biostar TA790GX 128M I unlocked all cores and is stable at 3.6 ghz at 1.36 volt.

[Mithral]

AMD 550 BE Unlocking:

0928BPMW - GA MA790XT UD4P - F4 - Fail
0928BPMW - GA MA790XT UD4P - F5 - Fail
0928BPMW - GA MA790XT UD4P - F7 - Fail

AMD 550 BE Overclocking:

Rock Solid at 200 x 19 @ 3.8Ghz, 1.4v.

Tried various combinations of FSB x Multi but can't get to 3.9 fully stable. Hit 3.88 by lowering RAM speeds and upping FSB with lower Multipliers, but alwasy toped out about 3.88Ghz.

So best option for me seems to be 200x19, with DDR3 running at 1600.

Right now I'll take a cheap 3.8 Ghz 2xcore CPU over a slower 4xcore, because I don't really need more than 2 cores right now.

AMD Overdrive:

AMD Overdrive selected 203 x 19 for this chip. Don't see any point to the extra 3 FSB for my normal running settings.

[Grinder]

0926GPMW - Grinder - Gigabyte MA790XT-UD4P - F6 - Success

Not the greatest overclocker: needs 1.425 to hit 3675. CPUNB is good to 2600 at ~3.2 gig cpu, but was a little unstable when I ramped up the cpu. Currently 2450. I can boot at 3.8/3.9 and run a quick game or bench, but not completely stable there.

[memel]

Phenom II 545 X2 @ X4 @ X3 (Athlon II X3 445 Rana)

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...5&postcount=40

[Jethro]

Successfull 545 unlock!

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=797475

[SnakePriest]

I unlocked Phenom II 550 into quad but fourth core is unstable so i locked fourth core and left third core unlocked and its full stable.now CPU-Z shows me that my CPU is Athlon II X3 450


http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=800234

[richierich]

I unlocked Phenom II 550 into quad but fourth core is unstable so i locked fourth core and left third core unlocked and its full stable.now CPU-Z shows me that my CPU is Athlon II X3 450


http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=800234

And codename Rana! Nice. How did you test stability on each core?

[memel]

Yes, stable.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5947/35x3z.jpg 1,38V X3 3,6Ghz

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3071/97282790.jpg 1,30V X3 3,4Ghz

[CZ_the_DAY]

0921APAW - CZ_the_DAY - GA-MA790XT-UD4P - F4 - SUCCESS
As I am just reporting the unlocking aspect, I won't dwell on the overclocking results...
I realize there are a myriad of reasons why AMD sabotages any x4 but my anecdotal conclusion shows that my extra cores are generating more thermal W/clock (esp#3) than the original two. This appears to limit overclocking results so my 'solution' was to use the PhenomMsrTweaker utility to mix and match multipliers. It's primary purpose however was to provide CnQ-like CPU power management lost by unlocking in the first place.

Thanks to Xtremesystems (et al) for promoting this 'unlocking for dummies' trick

attn Grinder; we have same mobo/ram but you achieved specified ram timings&Mhz...could it be bios F4 vs F6 or your Vram > 1.65v ( or countless variables in between ) ? TIA

_______________________________
PII x2 550BE (now B50); 0921APAW @ 3.7/3.7/3.2/3.2 1.38v
GA-MA790XT-UD4P w/shipped F4 bios ; EC=Hybrid & ACC=auto
Gskill F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH (2Gx2 'for I**L P55 chipset') 7-7-7-21@1466
Thermaltake V1 (lapped, big time)
Diamond HD4650 (minus loud HSF)
350W (name withheld) PS

[mäggäri]

Now let's see how this finally goes, when Mugen2 lapped and CPU too + Liquid Pro.

Photo taken @ 4,29GHz on air at post screen as a dual, 1.6V. Now testing as X4 max speed.

[Grinder]

Hi CZ,

I found that I needed 1.65 vdimm. I've tried as high as 1.7, but it only helps a tiny bit, so I left it at 1.65. Sometimes +.1 nb helps mem stability. I had to back off just slightly for 24/7 to 1600, running cpunb @2400 with 1.225 volts. I'm using the 1333 mem divider (looks like you are too) @240 ref clock. With the 1600 divider, it won't even post @c7. Luckily, I'm able to achieve tight timings, but your mileage may vary. Currently 777 21 1t and tight on the subtimings too. Wish I had a nicer cpu.

I didn't notice any real difference with the newer bios, but I've been changing a lot of variables. It's worth a shot. They all kinda blur together after a while, even with notes.

[Grinder]

Maggari, I read way back in this thread that you had a 0926gpmw, but it wasn't a great overclocker (like mine). Just curious what you were able to achieve with it.

CZ, what about heat? Not sure if it's an issue, but I'm using a waterblock on my cpu and gpu, with an external rad, so no big hsf next to ram... Also read somewhere that one should check that the ripjaws ramsinks are properly affixed, i.e. not loose or pulling away.

[mäggäri]

Maggari, I read way back in this thread that you had a 0926gpmw, but it wasn't a great overclocker (like mine). Just curious what you were able to achieve with it.

3800MHz X4 1.4V on very cheap aircooling, 22euros Revoltec PipeTower Pro. Maybe it could have gone it with even less voltage... but I'm kinda guy who maxes out voltage and then we go =D

I remember even 1.6V it wasn't stable at 3,9GHz X4. But this "gem" I just lapped, goes around 1.48V 3919 (BEFORE sandings). I guess I will have time on this evening to test this. But I must say, this M4A79XTD bios sucks a lot when comparing to M4A785TD-V's bios... like where da f00k is LLC adjustment and NB 2000MHz has to be set manually, this does NOT adjust NB divider automatically or sth like that messed up.

[CZ_the_DAY]

Hi CZ,

I found that I needed 1.65 vdimm.....[ snipped, see earlier posts ].....I've been changing a lot of variables. It's worth a shot. They all kinda blur together after a while, even with notes.

Thanks Grinder for replying! ( missed it until now )...I chose these made-for-i5 sticks because the price was right and I like a challenge - didn't know if it could play well w/PhII until seeing your post.

Hot? I spotted and 'corrected' the ramsink separation upon unpackaging. My Thermaltake HSF is pulling 'fresh' air across ram - hopefully ideal.
Voltage? due to that 'blur' effect, i can't recall how much i boosted nb / vdimm...will follow your recommendation
Multiplier? Ok, it's not just me; will cease further '1600'multiplier attempts ( can we can agree that intel chipset voodoo is required to run as advertised ? ) - which brings me to...
Subtimings? looking at the 'memory timings and configuration' page in the AMD overdrive utility...no help from the 'black edition memory profile' yet - i'm assuming AMD has to have qualified this specific ram (?)
Bios? now i know not to fear F6 breaking anything...no miracles either

Edit; have since successfully tested - abiet not exhaustively - the Ram in a 7-7-7-21-1T@1600(240HTx6.666) Vdimm=1.65 nbVid=1.15 nbCore=1.2 config. I managed to forget this CPU natively supports 1333 - so 1600(x8div.) shouldn't be expected. Cudos to Grinder!

_______________________________
PII x2 550BE (now B50); 0921APAW @ 3.7/3.7/3.2/3.2 1.38v
GA-MA790XT-UD4P w/shipped F4 bios ; EC=Hybrid & ACC=auto
Gskill F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH (2Gx2 'for I**L P55 chipset') 7-7-7-21@1466
Thermaltake V1 (lapped, big time)
Diamond HD4650 (minus loud HSF)
350W (name withheld) PS

[I.nfraR.ed]

0925APMW - I.nfraR.ed - Asus M3A78-T - 1403 - Success - Link

Hi again, guys. My second 550 unlocked just fine. It seems that all 4 cores are healthy and it's stable on default. Didn't wait it more than 15 minutes Prime95.

Now trying to get it stable at 4114MHz. I think it could handle 4GHz+ for 24/7, so probably I will let my 940BE rest for a while

The other 550 needs lower voltage, but this one unlocks



I think it's goot that someone updates the first post...I know it would cost some time, but...

[Grinder]

Thanks for the update Maggari. Sound like your 0926gpmw was better than mine, much less your "gem". It would be interesting to know the difference you observed before and after lapping. Have fun!

CZ, you could try posting to the gskill forum, but they will likely suggest 2t and other looser timings:
http://www.gskill.us/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2

Also, I can't say if it would be a problem, but 350w ps sounds marginal. Also, make sure it is the ram, i.e. I was blaming the ram for a problem I was having, but it turned out that it was the cpunb. I was fine at 2600 and 3.2 gig, but had to drop it as I ramped cpu.

To focus more on the 550be overclocking aspect of this thread, it would be nice to hear how you identified, tweaked, and tested your less capable unlocked cores. Or we can find a more appropriate thread. I think I saw one for an overdrive tutorial.