Free cheese - unlocking cores for AMD processors. Increasing the performance of AMD processors by unlocking cores Unlocking AMD cores
- General information.
- What is ACC? What is NCC?
- Motherboard requirements. Setting up the motherboard BIOS.
- A small list of the most common questions and answers.
- News, articles and polls on the topic
- List of motherboards that have been confirmed to be unlockable with a specific bios version
general information
Attention! The main condition for normal operation of the system as a result of unlocking the processor is a normal power supply with at least an “honest” 350-400W of power, which it actually produces (and not a “veteran” from the times of Socket 754). With questions like “Will this power supply be enough for me?” contact the corresponding forum "Cases, power supplies, modding".
Often, to release cut-down/low-end models of their products, companies do not release new revisions of boards/microchips, but use rejects that have not passed tests to work with the characteristics of older models. However, the level of rejection (which, moreover, decreases as production develops) is lower than the sales of cut-down products. As a result, completely nutritious products end up under the knife. Sometimes, through certain manipulations, you can activate what is disabled.
Processors of the K8/K9 generation (Windsor/Orleans/Lima/Brisbane, etc.) and older ones are not discussed here: there is simply nothing to unlock.
At the moment, to release all processors based on the K10.5 architecture (these are Phenom II and Athlon II, as well as Sempron 140/145 and Athlon X2 5000+), AMD uses only four types of crystals: six-core Thuban, four-core Deneb, its stripped-down version (without L3 cache) Propus and dual-core Regor (i.e. all Semprons are initially based on a dual-core die, just one core is disabled).
Sometimes the older Athlon X2 7750 BE can be unlocked, but in general, it is no longer relevant as outdated (AMD Athlon X2 7750 BE can include two more cores), based on the K10 architecture.
General characteristics (with the exception of Thuban, more about them below):
Addition:
- Phenom II X4 920 and 940, Athlon X2 5000+:
Connector: AM2/AM2+ only
Memory support: DDR2 533/667/800/1066 only - The Regor core has been slightly improved compared to Deneb: hardware support for C1E has been added, the L2 cache has become 1024Kb per core (Deneb - 512Kb)
- Athlon II X2 215/220 have only 512KB L2 cache.
It should also be noted that, as can be seen from the above characteristics, processors of the Athlon II X4/X3 family can be based on either the Deneb core or the Propus core.
Previously, it was possible to distinguish which core was included in a particular processor by the CPUID of the processor: in the case of Deneb, the processor has CPUID 00100F42h, in the case of Propus - CPUID 00100F52h. The CPUID can be seen when the system boots on the POST screen. This information can also be seen from the OS environment: in the Windows environment - in CPU-Z on the "CPU" tab - the "Model" column ("4" in the first case, "5" in the second); in the Linux environment - the output of the command cat /proc/cpuinfo (model line, similarly - “4” in the first case, “5” in the second). By release date: from the 33rd to the 39th week of 2009, almost all processors are based on the Deneb core, later - Propus with rare exceptions. However, some processors of the latest batches with CPUID 00100F52h now also have a third-level cache that can be easily unlocked to a full 6MB.
Only by the processor marking on the cover can you determine whether there is a chance of unlocking the L3 cache:
- Regor/Sargas (2 cores, no physical L3 cache): **E** series: AAEEC, CAEEC, AAEGC, NAE1C, etc.
- Propus (4 cores without L3 cache physically): **D** series: CADAC, CADHC, AADAC, NADHC, NADIC, AADHC, etc.
- Deneb (4 cores, L3 cache physically present on the chip): **C** series: CACYC, CACUC, CACVC, CACZC, CACAC, CACEC, CACDC, AACYC, AACSC, AACTC, AACZC, AACAC, etc.
- Thuban (6 cores, L3 cache physically present on the chip): **B** series: ACBBE, CCBBE, etc.
The list is not complete (AMD is constantly releasing new ones), so let the author know if you have information about new ones.
From the above we can see what can be unlocked on a particular processor model:
- Phenom II X4 8xx - 2 Mb L3 cache;
- Phenom II X3 7xx - fourth core;
- Phenom II X2 5xx - 3rd and 4th cores;
- Athlon II X4 - L3 cache in the case of the Deneb core;
- Athlon II X3 - fourth core + in the case of the Deneb core - L3 cache;
- Athlon II X2 - nothing to unlock(only a model with index 220 can be found on a quad-core Deneb - look at the markings on the cover).
- Sempron 140/145 is the second core.
A list of such motherboards is given below.
The availability of the ability to control the unlocking function itself must be clarified either in the manual for the motherboard, or by reading the FAQ and user messages in the thread for the corresponding motherboard in the Motherboards section. Studying threads with reviews is preferable: not all manufacturers update instructions for motherboards (and they do not always advertise this possibility), and there are also features of implementing this function on specific motherboards.
Settings in bios of motherboards:
AsRock
Advanced -> Chipset Configuration -> Advanced Clock Calibration or (different models/bios versions vary)
OC Tweaker -> Advanced Clock Calibration.
Activate Advanced Clock Calibration, then reboot. After this, various options for activating cores will become available.
On nVidia chipsets with NCC support
Advanced -> NVIDIA Core Calibration
Core management: Active Core Setup.
L3 cache management: L3 Cache Allocation.
On motherboards supporting UCC technology
OC Tweaker -> ASRock UCC
Core management: CPU Active Core Control.
Asus
On AMD SB710, SB750 south bridges
Advanced -> CPU Configuration -> Advanced Clock Calibration from Disabled is changed to the desired position. After this, the Unleashing Mode option appears. Setting this option to Enabled activates unlocking.
On AMD SB810, SB850 southbridges
Advanced -> ASUS Core Unlocker and CPU Core Activation.
On nVidia chipset
Advanced -> JumperFree Configuration -> NVIDIA Core Calibration
Biostar
On AMD SB710, SB750 south bridges
I’ll warn you right away: for motherboards from this company, in order to successfully unlock, sometimes you have to lower the HyperTransport frequency even when working at nominal frequencies (HT is configured here: Performance Menu -> Hyper Transport Configuration -> HT Link Speed)
Advanced -> Advanced Clock Calibration.
On AMD SB810, SB850 southbridges
Advanced -> BIO-unlocKING
When the system starts, the POST screen prompts you to press F2 to activate two cores, F3 to activate three cores, or F4 to activate four. Depending on the processor. If you skip a sentence (the system does not ask for confirmation, but simply starts further), everything is automatically unlocked.
Diamond Flower Inc (DFI)
On AMD SB710, SB750 south bridges
Genue BIOS Setting -> CPU Feature -> Advanced Clock Calibration.
On AMD SB810, SB850 southbridges
No data. Let the author know if you have them!
Foxconn
On AMD SB710, SB750 south bridges
Fox Central Control Unit -> Fox Intelligent Stepping -> Advanced Clock Calibration.
On AMD SB810, SB850 southbridges
No data. Let the author of the FAQ know if you have them!
Gigabyte
On AMD SB710, SB750 south bridges
MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) -> Advanced Clock Calibration -> Advanced Clock Calibration - to Auto or another value as necessary, reboot the system, then, in the same place, set EC Firmware Selection to the Hybrid position.
On AMD SB810, SB850 southbridges
Advanced BIOS Features -> CPU Unlock
The CPU Unlock option, which is responsible for unlocking, works independently of the CPU core Control option and has only two positions - Enabled and Disabled. Obviously, with processors that can be patched to a limited extent (some of the cores are broken), a combination of these parameters should be used. There is no option responsible for unlocking the L3 cache separately; it is always unlocked when the CPU Unlock option is activated.
MicroStar (MSI)
On AMD SB710, SB750 south bridges
On an AMD chipset: Cell Menu -> Unlock CPU Core and Advanced Clock Calibration set to Enabled.
After this, additional settings appear that allow you to selectively enable/disable processor cores.
Detailed instructions with pictures + a list of motherboards that support this function) are available on the official MicroStar website: MSI's Unlock CPU Core Technology Introduction (in Russian) (beware - traffic due to screenshots).
On AMD SB810, SB850 southbridges
No data. Let the author know if you have them!
On nVidia chipset
Cell Menu -> Nvidia Core Calibration set to Enabled.
Zotac, Sapphire, Jetway
There was no data about unlocking. Let the author know if you have them!
ECS (EliteGroup)
On September 8, 2009, official technical support announced that unlocking support would not be implemented. However, then the policy changed.
On AMD SB710, SB750 south bridges
M.I.B. II (MB Intellegent BIOS II) -> Advanced Clock Calibration.
On AMD SB810, SB850 southbridges
No data. Let the author know if you have them!
Some tricks for unlocking.
1. Try varying the ACC percentage values (on chipsets that initially do not support ACC and it is implemented separately by the motherboard manufacturer, these parameters are not available):
We have started to change the ACC setting to other modes besides "Auto" while using the "All Cores" option. By changing it in 2% increments, we were able to get the fourth core back at a -6% setting. And while previously the system could not pass the Prime95 test at all, in this case it worked fine for an hour without errors before we turned off the computer. It seems that a more aggressive ACC setting will stabilize the unlocking of the fourth core.
2. Increase or decrease the voltage on the processor and/or built-in memory controller (NB Core).
3. Reduce the frequency of Hyper Transport and/or RAM.
If suddenly, after unlocking the processor cores, you observe that in the bios the processor is identified as unlocked (the cores and cache are displayed on the POST screen, as well as in the characteristics in the bios), but after loading into Windows the number of processor cores remains unchanged (in the CPU- Z, for example), then follow the following simple procedure.
- If the "Number of processors" checkbox is checked, then uncheck it.
- If the "Number of processors" checkbox is not checked, check it and specify the number of cores in the drop-down menu.
Save changes and reboot.
After this, all kernels should be displayed.
Testing an unlocked processor.
CPU tests
Prime95:
Free. Only English interface.
Introduction
History is forced to repeat itself often: manufacturer X, known for its flagship product Y, recently began releasing a mid-level product Z, which is built on a silicon crystal that for some reason does not reach Y. But instead of throwing away the crystal, X disables it a certain part, after which it sells it as Z - at a lower price.
Typically, in most cases (but we don't know how big that majority is), it's because the kernel actually has a defect. But sometimes a manufacturer just needs to release processors at a certain price level that are in short supply. ATI Radeon HD 4830, nVidia GeForce GTX 260, AMD Phenom II X3 700 and 800 lines are all examples of products based on more expensive components.
AMD Phenom II
For testing, we bought a retail version of the X3 processor. Click on the picture to enlarge.
A couple of months ago from Korea information has arrived, which stated that you can simply unlock the fourth core on the Phenom II X3 processor by enabling the Advanced Clock Calibration feature on some motherboards, which turns the $135 Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition (from 6 thousand rubles in Russia) into a Phenom II processor X4 920 (Black Edition) for $190 (from 6.9 thousand rubles in Russia) by changing the option in the BIOS. For now, we'll ignore the question of whether it's worth saving to get a potentially unstable system.
As you remember from our article dedicated to the launch of the Phenom II, AMD stated that ACC technology does not change anything technically for the Phenom II, since it is already integrated into the Phenom II. The same ACC technology allowed the Phenom to reach higher frequencies after overclocking. Now, this feature of the SB750 southbridge appears to have affected the Phenom II in a different way.
How it all works remains a mystery to us. Two motherboard manufacturers, ASRock and Biostar, have said they support the ability to unlock X3 processors, but neither company has explained how this happens. To be fair, this is unlikely to be due to any trickery on the part of the companies, and something similar is probably happening: ACC can change the process of checking the CPU for errors, increasing error tolerance and reducing the chance of failure under certain conditions. In this case, increasing the error tolerance of ACC made it possible to “revive” the disconnected section of silicon.
We also bought a retail version of the X4 processor. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Biostar's product manager said that any board with SB750 southbridge can achieve the same unlocking effect. ASRock confirmed this, and also provided us with its own test data on a certain number of processors, where there is a fairly even distribution of chips that are unlocked and work stably; chips that can be unlocked but are unstable; chips that are not unlocked at all.
And here's what's interesting. AMD says the ACC/Phenom II X3 hype has boosted sales of a product line that we thought was underperforming. After all, after the X3 first came out, many applications simply didn't know what to do with three cores. And the company says it has no plans to stop enthusiasts from unlocking the X3's fourth core by enabling ACC on the SB750.
But one motherboard manufacturer told us that AMD plans to end ACC support in the SB750 southbridge this month. Another manufacturer reported that AMD is putting pressure on it to update the firmware of the integrated ACC controller and publish an "updated" BIOS version. And if the first is an assumption, then the second seems to be true. Indeed, free cheese only comes in a mousetrap. Proof? A little lower.
Cores and cache
It looks like the X3s aren't the only models that can do more. AMD's Phenom II X4 800 line of chips (those with 4MB of L3 cache instead of the full 6MB) can also be unlocked using the ACC trick, although the benefit in this case seems dubious. The Phenom II X4 810 processor cost $167 (6.8 thousand rubles in Russia) on Newegg.com at the time of publication of the article. The Phenom II X4 920, operating at 200 MHz faster, cost $189 (6.9 thousand rubles in Russia). Of course, the 810 belongs to the Socket AM3 generation, and the 900 line is currently limited to AM2+, but AMD will update the Socket AM3 line with top-end models in the near future, so it hardly makes sense to limit yourself to AM2+ today, especially if you plan to switch to DDR3 in the future.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
But let's get down to the real hardware and see if we can get a stable system after unlocking less expensive processors. Of course, it hardly needs repeating once again that even at standard clock frequencies here we have the same consequences as after overclocking. That is, no one will provide technical support for this step, except for the community of enthusiasts.
Not all motherboards are suitable
First, we decided to choose a platform suitable for testing on Socket AM3. We already knew that ASRock and Biostar are the two manufacturers that initially supported this idea. And in our Expert Club, readers asked to conduct similar tests.
We started by testing the Asus M4A79T Deluxe, which, judging by other sites, must work. But nothing worked out. The board worked well with ACC disabled. As soon as we enabled this feature, our Phenom II X3 720 (which we knew would unlock successfully) began to constantly show a blue screen. We were using the latest BIOS from Asus, so we took another motherboard with an older BIOS.
Next up was the Gigabyte MA790XT-UD4P motherboard. We received this board with BIOS F2 dated January 16, 2009. However, this did not help to unlock our “successful” copy of Phenom II X3. On March 10, Gigabyte released BIOS version F2B, which was supposed to update the ACC code for Phenom X3 processors. We updated the BIOS to the latest version F3, but that didn't help either.
We contacted Gigabyte to find out what is meant by "ACC code update". According to the company, all manufacturers developing new BIOSes with the latest AMD microcode must disable the core/cache unlock feature, which at least explains why ASUS and Gigabyte motherboards with the latest BIOS versions refused to cooperate with us. Why not use the old microcode? The latest firmware fixes many other issues, including the random reboot issue. From a motherboard manufacturer's perspective, releasing a more stable BIOS version is still preferable to leaving behind an unsupported and potentially problematic hack feature. In general, if you want to keep your hacked Phenom II, you need to stick to the BIOS version before the fix.
The ASRock M3A790GXH/128M is the only board in our lab that was still able to unlock all Phenoms. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Finally, we took a board that should be guaranteed to work: ASRock M3A790GXH/128M. What's strange is that even with the ACC function set to Auto, the board enabled the fourth core of the Phenom II X3 720 under Windows. ASRock has only released one BIOS version for this motherboard - the original one. Perhaps a BIOS update will be released after a while and the board will lose unlocking functions?
ASRock representatives told us that the company is in no rush to include the latest microcode fixes. If AMD releases new processors or fixes bugs that it deems critical to firmware updates, then two BIOS versions will be presented to the consumer, and enthusiasts will be able to choose one or the other.
And not all processors either
We ended up testing three Phenom II X4 810 processors and three Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition processors. One processor was received from AMD as samples. We received one processor each from ASRock - these were guaranteed unlock models, which we used to test whether we could unlock processors on other motherboards. Finally, we bought the last pair on Newegg to get an idea of the possibility of unlocking retail versions of the processors.
Of course, we successfully unlocked two processors from ASRock. The Phenom II X4 810 from AMD also worked. But we were unable to unlock the Phenom II X3 720 BE from AMD. We successfully unlocked the Phenom II X4 810, purchased on Newegg. But the Phenom II X3 720 couldn’t.
The processors that we were able to unlock normally had the ACC function set to "Auto" in the BIOS of the ASRock motherboard. The X3 720 sample we received from ASRock passed all of our tests with this setup, showing the performance benefit of including the fourth core. We then ran the Prime95 test to check stability. After just a few minutes, the platform froze, and after a reset, it started reporting only three cores - even with ACC enabled.
We have already read about similar behavior when unlocking the processor “does not take root.” Fortunately, this allowed us to find a way to get the unlocking back, even if it fails.
X3 720 unlocked, ACC enabled.
Regular X3 720, ACC disabled.
We have started to change the ACC setting to other modes besides "Auto" while using the "All Cores" option. By changing it in 2% increments, we were able to get the fourth core back at a -6% setting. And while previously the system could not pass the Prime95 test at all, in this case it worked fine for an hour without errors before we turned off the computer. It seems that a more aggressive ACC setting will stabilize the unlocking of the fourth core.
However, the ACC doesn't work miracles. On our two Phenom II X3 720s, which had the core unlocked and in the "Auto" position, we changed the ACC setting from +12% to -12%, and still did not find any sign of the fourth core.
X4 810 unlocked, ACC enabled.
Regular X4 810, ACC disabled.
Processor results
| CPU | Model number # | Week and stepping | Possibility of unlocking |
| Phenom II X4 810 from AMD | HDX810WFK4FGI | 0849 CPBW | Yes |
| Phenom II X4 810 from ASRock | HDX810WFK4FGI | 0848 DPM | Yes |
| Phenom II X4 810 from Newegg | HDX810WFK4FGI | 0903 CPAW | Yes |
| Phenom II X3 720 from AMD | HDZ720WFK3DGI | 0849 CPMW | No |
| Phenom II X3 720 from ASRock | HDZ720WFK3DGI | 0849 CPMW | Yes |
| Phenom II X3 720 from Newegg | HDZ720WFK3DGI | 0904 EPMW | No |
The results look best for the AMD Phenom II X4 810, regardless of when this processor was produced or what stepping it might have. In all three cases, we were able to unlock and add 2MB of L3 cache on the ASRock motherboard.
AMD processors. Software tools that can be used to perform this rather complex operation will also be considered. In addition to this, practical advice will be given as to which of them is most optimal to apply in each situation. In addition to this, a list of CPUs relevant for this manipulation will also be provided.
What CPU models are suitable?
Before we learn how to unlock AMD processor cores, let's look at CPU models suitable for this manipulation. This list includes the following families of chips from this eminent computer equipment manufacturer:
- Septron microprocessors can be converted from single-core to dual-core. This allows you to increase, albeit slightly, the speed of your personal computer.
- The 2- and 3-module Athlon II line of computing devices can be converted to a quad-core CPU. In turn, some models of microprocessors of this family can be converted into a similar Phenom II series chip with a three-level cache memory system. Accordingly, the speed of the computer will also increase.
- Low-end Phenom II chips, with a successful set of circumstances, like the previously reviewed chips from the Athlon II line, can be converted from dual- and triple-core models to quad-block ones. Again, the speed of work increases due to the increase in code processing modules.
All previously stated transformations are relevant for the AM3 platform. Later AMD sockets no longer support this operation.
Implementation methods
Now let's figure out how to unlock AMD processor cores using software. This operation can be implemented in two ways. One of them is using the BIOS system. This method can only be used on new versions of motherboards in which the option was added to the ACC/UCC menu. The second option for enabling unused hardware resources comes down to using special utilities. This method of activating cores is available on any motherboard.
BIOS. Usage algorithm
Now let's figure out how to unlock the cores of AMD Athlon processors and other chips within the AM3 socket using the BIOS system. Again, this method is only applicable to those motherboards that were released in 2012 or later. A special ACC item (for AMD chipsets) or UCC (in case of using a system logic set from NVidia) was added to the BIOS system menu in each of them.
In both the first and second cases, the implementation algorithm is as follows:
- When you turn on the computer system, you need to press the F2 button when the test window appears in order to enter the BIOS.
- Next, you need to use the navigation keys to go to the menu item called Advanced and open it using the “Enter” key.
- At the next stage, we find the sub-item ACC / UCC, move the pointer to it using the same navigation keys.
- Then using the PgUp and PgDn buttons we set it to the Enabled state.
- Save the changes. To do this, just press F10. Next, you will be asked to save the changes. We respond positively to it.
- After this, a reboot will occur. Next, you need to check the stability of the PC after the manipulations performed using a method that will be described later.
If the computer is operating unstable, then using microswitch JP1 on the motherboard we return the BIOS parameters to their original state.
Specialized software
This method is most often used on older versions of motherboards. But it is also applicable to their newer modifications. That is, it is quite universal. Like the previous method, this method allows you to turn a low-performance Athlon II series chip into a high-performance AMD Phenom 2 X2 processor, for example.
Each motherboard manufacturer offered its own utility for these purposes. For example, Gigabyte recommended using the CPU Unlock program. It could be found on the motherboard CD of the same manufacturer.
Functionality check
This review described how to unlock AMD Phenom processor cores and more. After performing this operation, it is strongly recommended to check the stability and reliability of the computer.
To do this, at the first stage you need to install the specialized program CPU-Z. Then run it and check the microprocessor parameters in detail.
Next, you need to install the specialized AIDA64 utility and use it to carry out a comprehensive scan of your PC. If the computer starts to become unstable, then reset the BIOS settings to their original state using the same JP1 switch. You can also try to return the system software to its original state using the integrated operating system program.
Relevance of the operation
This review described in detail the main ways to unlock AMD processor cores. FX - 4300 and other newer CPUs intended for installation in the AM3+ socket no longer allowed such an operation. That is, it is only within the computer platform that this practice has become most widespread.
Again, these microprocessor models were relevant in 2010 - 2013. Now this platform is outdated. Therefore, it will definitely not be possible to achieve a radical improvement in performance by activating additional cores.
Conclusion
This review article was devoted to how to unlock AMD processor cores within the AM3 computing platform. At the time of the appearance of such chips, this operation contributed to the growth in sales of previously discussed CPU modifications. Now it is outdated and not suitable for the implementation of high-performance computers.
The most efficient way to activate disabled resources is to use special utilities. But it is easier to do this using the BIOS system. Therefore, if possible, we use the latter method. If the computer has an older version of the motherboard installed, then you can use a more complex method, which is based on specialized software.
The central processing unit (processor core, CPU) is a device for processing the program code of all processes that run on the computer. The processor is an integrated circuit for manipulating logical tasks and working with complex computer programs.
The main processor meets the following standards and properties:
- Performance (processor processing speed)
- Clock frequency (quantitative characteristic of the output of processor cycles per unit of time)
- Architecture (some properties and quality characteristics of the equipment, for example, internal processor layout, features of working with graphics)
- Energy consumption
The processor is the “brain” of your computer. The essence of the operation of this device lies in the simple mathematical operations of addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. But in combination with your software, the processor, using system commands or microcommands written in it, connects the entire computer device into a single whole.
To know how to unlock a processor, you first need to understand that not every processor needs to be unlocked. After all, there are different processors, but the main suppliers are such giant companies as Intel and AMD. The share of their developments in the microprocessor technology market is almost equal. The constant war for customers gives users new processors, upgrades to them, of course, not without sins.
Unlocking the processor is used only in some AMD models (AMD Phenom II, Athlon II, also cores marked X2 and X3). The essence of the problem is that unlocking the processor cores is a manipulation of the crystal. That is, AMD, in order to save money and therefore release its product faster, replaces the core crystals of its processor with lower quality ones with defects. These “defective” crystals are blocked due to the fact that they simply cannot withstand high frequencies and the influence of high temperatures. But in order to unlock the cores of AMD processors, you don’t need to, as they say, “dance with tambourines” over it, because the structure of the crystal itself can easily be unlocked or “unlocked.”
And so, to know how to unlock the processor core, you need to perform the following actions:
- You must understand that removing the unlock leads to an increase in the temperature of the central processor, which means you will need to install additional or more powerful cooling for your core. Because when overclocking the processor it can burn out.
- The unlocking itself does not require the installation of any programs or applications. You just need to go into the BIOS shell. Different motherboards have different shell launch buttons (for example: at the bottom of the screen, when you turn on the computer, you will see: “Press DEL to run Setup”)
- If you have an Asus motherboard, then unlock using the F4 button. If it's Gigabyte, you'll see an IGX Configuration tab in the BIOS menu. Next, when you press “Enter”, you will see two items “Enabled” and “Disabled”. Select the second one and enable “unlock”.
- By pressing the F10 key, you save the settings and reboot the system. The operating system, after this manipulation, may display a blue screen, which is “deadly” for Windows. This means that the processor core is still defective and you need to return all the parameters back.
- If you do not see a blue screen, you still need to check the system for errors.
Note: Unlocking the core of AMD processors is a lottery for users. Because only the third/fourth processor can be unlocked. There is also a problem with not all processor cores being unlocked. That is, for example, one core works normally, but the second only works at half its capacity. If, thanks to the instructions, you were unable to unlock the processor yourself, contact a service center or specialists.
Why hasn't this topic been brought up at Tom's Hardware yet? In fact, back in April 2009 we published an article dedicated to turning Phenom II X3 720 into Phenom II X4 920. But then our enthusiasm cooled somewhat for the following reasons.
- Unlocking cores is a matter of chance. We do not know how to determine when purchasing a processor with the ability to unlock cores, and the chances of this, according to the information we have, do not exceed 50%.
- The price difference between mid- and high-end AMD processors is typically $100 or less. With such a modest price difference, we simply recommend getting the processor you need rather than hoping for an unlocking option that you may not be lucky with.
In fact, the reasons why AMD blocks cores in the CPU can be completely different. For example, the blockage could be due to a manufacturing defect that prevents the core from working properly - then it makes sense to disable that core and sell the processor as a three- or dual-core model so as not to throw the die in the trash. Or the company simply took a working quad-core processor and disabled the core to meet demand for less expensive products.
After all, unlocking cores is a less reliable mechanism for gaining additional performance than traditional overclocking. No guarantees can be given in this case, and the performance gain will only be felt in multi-threaded applications or in multi-tasking environments. Finding a chip to unlock is a kind of lottery in which you win your $20. But be prepared to lose more often than you win.
Six cores are more expensive
But with the announcement of the Thuban design, the flagship six-core model received a price increase of more than $100 compared to the previous quad-core leader - from $185 to $295. If you can turn a quad-core processor into a six-core processor, you will save a more significant amount.
The problem, of course, is that AMD doesn't yet sell quad-core Thuban-based processors. But the situation should change in the coming months, when processors based on the Zosma design will hit the market. Being a derivative of Thuban, the Zosma design is a hexa-core processor with two cores disabled for the reasons we have described above.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
We managed to get our hands on the first Zosma-based processors, namely the Phenom II X4 960T. We used the ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 motherboard, which may be the choice of many enthusiasts on a budget once the new CPUs become available.
Preliminary information about Zosma is still sparse, and since we didn't get this processor from AMD, pricing information isn't available either. What we can say for sure is that the Phenom II X4 960T runs at 3 GHz and supports Turbo CORE technology. The thermal package is 95 W TDP, which is lower 125 W for the flagship AMD Phenom II X6 1090T processor(it is clear that the thermal package will be different if you are going to unlock the cores, overclock or increase the voltage).
Some users may consider the core unlock feature to be dead since AMD has removed ACC support from the SB850 southbridge. And for a while, it looked like the major motherboard manufacturers wouldn't provide this feature on their 8-series chipset models. Asus was the first manufacturer to add the feature, and other companies followed, providing core unlocking in a variety of ways.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
On the ASRock 890FX Deluxe3, you can enable core overclocking/unlocking via a BIOS switch called ASRock UCC or by simply pressing the "x" key during the boot POST screen (hence pressing "d" disables UCC). Our Phenom II X4 960T sample was, quite naturally, chosen for its ability to reliably unlock. But moderate your ardor. Our sources at ASRock said that out of the 16 samples the company tested, only six were able to unlock all six cores. That is, for this set of samples, the corresponding chance was 37%.
Does unlocking cores interfere with overclocking?
If we take into account the low percentage of the possibility of unlocking additional cores compared to the four cores that AMD left active, then we can assume that enabling the cores will lead to an increased risk of unstable system operation, an increase in power consumption, and will certainly force us to curb our appetite for overclocking.
We ran some benchmarks with our Phenom II X4 960T sample and found that 3.9 GHz was perfectly achievable on a 3 GHz processor at 1.425 V BIOS. Including two additional cores forced us to lower the frequency to 3.6 GHz to avoid crash during Windows boot, and high heat generation forced the voltage to be reduced to 1.4 V.
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The conclusions will be the following (unsurprisingly): enabling locked cores will limit overclocking capabilities with conventional air cooling, even if these cores are “good”. The pros and cons of increasing the number of parallel cores or increasing the frequency depend on the software you use. The extra 900 MHz from the quad-core 3 GHz processor is impressive. This kind of overclocking is to be expected from an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, so it's nice to see that AMD's improved 45nm process provides additional scalability.
Test configuration
To have as much data for comparison as possible, we ran quite a lot of tests from our package on the Phenom II X4 960T, and also took results from our Phenom II X6 1090T review. So the charts you'll see below look very familiar, with the addition of the Phenom II X4 960T's results at stock clock speeds and after unlocking the cores.
| Test configuration | |
| Processors | AMD Phenom II X4 960T (Zosma) 3.0 GHz, Socket AM3, 4 GT/s HyperTransport, 6 MB L3 cache, power saving features enabled AMD Phenom II X6 1090T (Thuban) 3.2 GHz, Socket AM3, 4 GT/s HyperTransport, 6 MB L3 cache, power saving features enabled Intel Core i7-980X (Gulftown) 3.33 GHz, LGA 1366, 12 MB L3 cache, Hyper-Threading enabled, power saving features enabled Intel Core i7-975 Extreme (Bloomfield) 3.33 GHz, LGA 1366, 8 MB L3 cache, Hyper-Threading enabled, power saving features enabled Intel Core i7-930 (Bloomfield) 2.8 GHz, LGA 1366, 8 MB L3 cache, Hyper-Threading enabled, power saving features enabled Intel Core i7-920 (Bloomfield) 2.66 GHz, LGA 1366, 8 MB L3 cache, Hyper-Threading enabled, power saving features enabled Intel Core i5-750 (Lynnfield) 2.66 GHz, LGA 1156, 8 MB L3 cache, power saving features enabled AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE (Deneb) 3.4 GHz, Socket AM3, 4 GT/s HyperTransport, 6 MB L3 cache, power saving features enabled |
| motherboards | ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 (Socket AM3) 890FX/SB850 MSI 890FXA-GD70 (Socket AM3) 890FX/SB850, BIOS A7640AMS Gigabyte X58A-UD5 (LGA 1366) X58 Express, BIOS F4 Gigabyte P55A-UD7 (LGA 1156) P55 Express, BIOS F4 Asus M4A79T Deluxe (Socket AM3) 790FX/SB750, BIOS 2304 |
| Memory | Corsair 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 7-7-7-20 @ DDR3-1333 Corsair 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 7-7-7-20 @ DDR3-1333 |
| HDD | Intel SSDSA2M160G2GC 160GB SATA 3 Gb/s Intel SSDSA2MH080G1GN 80GB SATA 3 Gb/s |
| Video card | Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1 GB |
| power unit | Cooler Master UCP 1100W |
| Heatsink | Intel DBX-B Thermal Solution |
| System software and drivers | |
| operating system | Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit |
| DirectX | DirectX 11 |
| Platform Driver | Intel INF Chipset Update Utility 9.1.1.1015 |
| Graphics driver | Catalyst 10.2 |
Tests and settings
| Tests and settings | |
| Audio encoding | |
| iTunes | Version: 9.0.2.25 (64-bit), Audio CD ("Terminator II" SE), 53 min., Default format AAC |
| Video encoding | |
| Main Concept Reference 1.6.1 | MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264), MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec, 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2), Audio: MPEG2 (44.1 KHz, 2 Channel, 16-Bit, 224 Kb/s), Mode: PAL (25 FPS), Profile: Tom's Hardware Settings for Qct-Core |
| HandBrake 0.9.4 | Version 0.9.4, convert first .vob file from The Last Samurai to .mp4, High Profile |
| Applications | |
| Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 (64-bit) | Version: 2009 Service Pack 1, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV) |
| WinRAR 3.90 | Version 3.90 (64-bit), Benchmark: THG-Workload (334 MB) |
| 7-Zip | Version 4.65, Built-in Benchmark |
| Adobe Photoshop CS4 | Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates filters |
Test results
Since the iTunes test is not optimized for multi-threading, we did not expect to get any advantage from the six-core Phenom II X4 960T over the quad-core version of the CPU. And so it happened. And the relatively low clock speed of the 960T led to the processor taking last place. With that said, this CPU supports Turbo CORE. And while we don't know what the official frequency limit will be (3.3 or 3.4 GHz), our sample tested up to 3.4 GHz with a 17x multiplier. It's pretty clear that unless you plan on overclocking, the 960T won't perform very well in single-threaded applications.
The MainConcept utility treats additional kernels much better. Here we see that from last place, the X4 960T managed to rise above the Core i7-930 after unlocking the cores. In this case, the 3 GHz unlocked CPU gives performance slightly worse than the 3.2 GHz Phenom II X6 1090T.
In the HandBrake utility, we again see that the transition from four to six cores makes a serious difference in video transcoding applications. While the AMD 1090T beats the $1,000 Intel Core i7-975 Extreme, the six-core 960T is one notch behind the i7-975.
The 3ds Max test is optimized for multi-threading, so switching from four to six cores gives a very significant acceleration in rendering performance. The performance gain here is not as pronounced as in the transcoding tests, but still sufficient for the six-core Phenom II X4 960T to outperform the Intel Core i5-750.
We've put a lot of effort into porting our 2010 benchmark suite to multi-threaded applications because single-core CPUs and single-threaded programs should be a thing of the past. Photoshop's multi-threaded filters prove the value of six-core CPUs. While the Zosma design didn't take the processor to the forefront, the difference between four and six cores at stock clock speeds is enough to convince Photoshop users to either buy six-core processors or unlock the cores.
Although AMD's processors bring up the rear in the WinRAR test, the addition of two cores was enough to move our Phenom II X4 960T from last place to a position ahead of the Deneb-based X4 965 Black Edition.
The latest application test shows that our six-core sample, after unlocking the cores, again beat the AMD Phenom II X4 965, providing 7-Zip results on par with the Core i7-920 and 930.
The purpose of our review was to look into the future and evaluate the core unlocking potential of the upcoming AMD Phenom II X4 960T processor, but the results were much more interesting.
In light of the fact that price information for future quad-core AMD processors is not yet available, we can only speculate. It is likely that the X4 960T will cost less than the previous flagship processor, the X4 965 Black Edition, which costs $185 on Newegg (). The X4 955 processor retails for $159 (). We're guessing AMD will be selling the new Zosma-designed X4 960T at a price somewhere between the two mentioned models.
At that price, and after a bit of overclocking, the unlocked 960T is a pretty good deal compared to the $310 Phenom II X6 1090T (). Just remember that if you plan to perform core unlocking, you will need a motherboard that supports this feature - such as the ASRock 890FX Deluxe3. Since the SB850 southbridge does not support ACC, it is currently up to the motherboard manufacturer to support the core unlock feature.
As we said earlier, AMD is unlikely to be happy with the fact that advanced users can turn back unlocked cores. But we can't ignore that unlocked cores, unlocked CPU multipliers, aggressive memory profiles with overclocked northbridge, and low prices are increasing the company's popularity among enthusiasts, despite the fact that Intel sells faster CPUs.
Of course, you can buy a 960T with the ability to unlock cores, but at the moment the chances of such luck are less than 50%. With all that said, it's hard to ignore the Phenom II X6 1055T processor, priced at $205 (), which consistently outperforms the Intel Core i5-750 in multi-threaded workloads. If you don’t want to take risks and buy a quad-core processor with the possibility of unlocking two cores, then purchasing and overclocking an AMD Phenom II X6 1055T is a completely reliable option.
Update: We just spoke with AMD about the upcoming processor. There is a high probability that the Phenom II X4 960T will not hit the market at all. This already happened not long ago with a processor called the Phenom II X3 740; AMD simply decided that this processor would not fit into its existing product line. And, to be honest, it makes sense. AMD has attractive quad-core CPUs in its lineup today, so why release a new quad-core processor (derived from a six-core processor) to compete with them? “To sell Thuban crystals with two defective cores,” you will probably say. But we have yet to see whether AMD will have enough of these dies to introduce a new processor.
Eventually, it may happen that the Phenom II X4 960T will appear as an OEM component. But at the moment it turns out that the processor may not be available at retail.