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Which amd processors can be unlocked. Increasing the performance of AMD processors by unlocking cores

Date of publication: 01.04.2015

We all know that hardware manufacturers put a lot of power into their hardware. But greedy marketers sell it in chunks, turning off many features and hiding blocks from use. Let's learn to include hidden opportunities.

ENABLE AMD PROCESSOR CORE

Many processors contain hidden cores

Almost all AMD processors, especially the Phenom II X6 and FX-series, are subject to this modification, since they have hidden cores.

As a rule, 1-2 hidden cores are turned on, and in the case of FHs, quad cores become FX-4300 => FX 6300 six cores, FX 6350 = FX 8320 eight cores, and FX 8350 => FX 9590 5GHz becomes a top processor !!! To do this, enable the UCC Unlocker function in the BIOS.

ENABLE INTEL PROCESSOR CORE

The same thing happens with INTEL processors, with the only difference that the L3 cache is often also enabled on lower processors. To activate, you need to update the BIOS to the unlocked Unlock intel BIOS and enable the corresponding checkbox.

CPU overclocking Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 without "K" multiplier


Alternative BIOS allows overclocking all Intel processors

Everyone also knows that Intel processors with an unlocked K multiplier are absolutely no different from those without a multiplier, except for an overpriced. However, they can be overclocked with the bus by increasing the base FSB from 100 MHz up to 200 MHz (i.e. 2 times!), Or open the multiplier by updating the BIOS with the same Unlock intel BIOS

INCREASE HDD CAPACITY

It's no secret that the platters for hard drives are made of STANDARD volume. Then WHETHER, you say, are multiple HDD capacities, say 750GB ???

That's right - the manufacturer simply blocks the volume on one or several plates hard disk, which you can and MUST unlock!

To unlock we need Acronis program.

1.) You should first change the type from MBR => GPT in the disk settings and make it dynamic so that hidden areas can be freely addressed by the operating system.

2.) You need to demagnetize your hard drive with a powerful magnet to erase the factory lock code.

3.) Using the Acronis utility, select any desired HDD size.

DISCONNECTING HDD BITBLOCKS


It's always nice to programmatically fix the hard drive

The same manipulation, only in reverse order, should be performed to block the broken areas. In this case, even a sprinkled hard drive will work like a new one. That being said, remember that it is easy to recover any lost data on the HDD, as it is always backed up to hidden factory partitions. To do this, again, you just need to enable them as described in the chapter above.

ENABLE ALL SHADERS ON THE RADEON VIDEO CARD

R9 290X unlocked from a simple Radeon HD 7730 1Gb

Radeon Graphics and GeForce, among other things, differ in that Nvidia is not lazy for every new graphics card to make a separate chip, but AMD usually simply turns off some of the shader units of older video cards to make the younger ones. Judge for yourself, video cards such as the Radeon HD 5850 and 5870 have the same chip, and the shaders are 1440 and 1600, respectively. The same goes for the R9 280-280X, etc.

To enable all Radeon shaders, you need to install the GeForce driver on it in safe mode as on a standard VGA device (overload by pressing F8).

Unlocking significantly increases the speed

ENABLE ALL CUDA Cores NVIDIA VIDEO CARD

Here it will be more difficult ... It is necessary to close the jumpers on the VGA port with penny resistors as shown in the figure.


This manipulation includes all blocks GeForce video cards

The resistor parameters do not matter. Also, this method makes professional TESLA series out of all video cards, and also fights artifacts.

INCREASE IN POWER SUPPLY POWER


High voltage can KILL! Don't do this))

Almost all Chinese power supplies differ only in the size of the cooling radiators. Therefore, it is enough to simply open the lid and install another fan on the power supply unit, and you can even hang the SLI GeForce 780Ti or lower-end video cards unlocked before it on a 400W power supply unit.

Do not forget that the article was written exclusively as an April Fool's joke 🙂 and we are not chasing the ball. It should be noted that in skillful hands, some things really do succeed. But there is much more benefit if you correctly configure the configuration and select the components specifically for your task.

Spring mood for you!

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Increasing the performance of AMD processors by unlocking cores

If you have a computer equipped with a modern processor manufactured by AMD, then this means that you have a chance to significantly increase the performance of your PC without spending a single penny on this purpose. This is a technology called “unlocking the cores of AMD processors”. This technology allows you to increase the number of available to the system processor cores - usually from two to four or three.

Of course, such an operation is very tempting. Indeed, as tests show, in some cases, the performance of the updated processor almost doubles. Moreover, for the successful implementation of this operation, you only need a little knowledge of the BIOS options, and, by the way, a little luck.

The principle of the method

First of all, let's try to understand the question of why AMD needed to “hide” the processor cores from the user at all. The fact is that each processor manufacturer within a certain line has several models that differ both in price and in capabilities. Naturally, cheaper processor models have fewer cores than more expensive ones. However, in many cases it is irrational to specifically develop models with fewer cores, so many manufacturers, in this case, AMD, do it easier - they simply turn off unnecessary processor cores.

In addition, many AMD processors may have defective cores with a number of drawbacks. Such processors are also not thrown away, and after turning off unnecessary cores, they are sold under the guise of cheaper varieties of processors. However, the discovered disadvantages of disabled kernels may not be critical for their functioning. For example, if the processor core has a slightly increased heat dissipation compared to the standard, then the use of a processor with such a core is quite possible.

It should be said right away that the success of the core unlocking operation largely depends not only on the AMD processor line and its model, but also on a specific series of processors. In many series, only the cores in individual processors can be unlocked, while in other series, almost all processors can be unlocked. In some cases, it is possible to unlock not the kernel itself, but only the cache associated with it.

AMD's unlockable processors are from the Athlon, Phenom and Sempron lines. Usually unlocking is possible for cores # 3 and 4 out of four available cores. In some cases, you can unlock the second core in a dual-core processor, and in some cases, 5 and 6 cores in a quad-core processor.

Features of unlocking various series of processors

Here are some examples of AMD unlockable series of processors and their specific features. this process:

  • Athlon X2 5000+ - cores # 3 and 4 (individual copies)
  • Athlon II X3 series 4хх (Deneb / Rana type core) - core # 4 and cache memory
  • Athlon II X3 series 4xx (Propus-type core) - core # 4
  • Athlon II X4 6xx series (Deneb / Rana core) - only L3 cache
  • Phenom II X2 5xx series - cores # 3 and 4
  • Phenom II X3 7xx series - core # 4
  • Phenom II X4 8xx Series - Only 2MB L3 cache can be unlocked
  • Phenom II X4 650T, 840T, 960T and 970 Black Edition - cores # 5 and 6 (individual copies)
  • Sempron 140/145 - core # 2

Which chipsets support unlocking processor cores?

It should be noted that not all motherboards support the ability to unlock AMD processor cores. You will only be able to unlock kernels if your BIOS supports Advanced Clock Calibration (ACC) or similar technology.

ACC technology is used in the following chipsets:

  • GeForce 8200
  • GeForce 8300
  • nForce 720D
  • nForce 980
  • Chipsets with south bridge type SB710
  • Chipsets with south bridge type SB750

There are also several AMD chipsets that do not support ACC technology, but instead support similar technologies. These chipsets include chipsets with south bridges of the type:

The methodology for unlocking cores on these chipsets varies by manufacturer. motherboard

Unblocking technique

To unlock cores, the user needs to contact BIOS tools... In case of support motherboard ACC technology, in most cases, it is enough to find the Advanced Clock Calibration parameter in the BIOS and set it to Auto.

In the case of motherboards from certain manufacturers, some additional steps may also be required. On ASUS motherboards, in addition to ACC, you must enable the Unleashed mode option, on MSI boards - the Unlock CPU Core option, on NVIDIA boards - the Core Calibration option. On Gigabyte boards, find the EC Firmware Selection option and set it to Hybrid.

On those chipsets that do not support ACC technology, the unlocking method depends on the specific manufacturer. Let's briefly list the options that must be used in the case of each specific manufacturer:

  • ASUS - ASUS Core Unlocker
  • Gigabyte - CPU Unlock
  • Biostar - BIO-unlocKING
  • ASRock - ASRock UCC
  • MSI - Unlock CPU Core

Unlock check and core testing

In order to make sure that the unlocked cores of AMD processors really work, it is best to use information utilities such as CPU-Z. However, even if you make sure that the unlocking was successful, this does not mean that the unlocked kernels will work without problems. In order to fully check their performance, it is recommended to thoroughly test all processor parameters. Also, the failure of the unlocking process may be indicated by malfunctions in the computer, and sometimes the inability to boot it. In the latter case, you will have to resort to clearing the BIOS memory and resetting it to the factory default state (we described how to carry out this process in a separate article).

In the event of a malfunction of the new cores, the user can disable them at any time using the BIOS options. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the operation of unlocking processor cores only works at the BIOS level, and not at the level of the processors themselves. In the event that you put a processor with unlocked cores on another motherboard, they will still be locked.

And I would like to note one more point. While unlocking the processor is not equivalent to overclocking it, increasing the number of working cores in your processor will automatically increase the heat dissipation of the processor die. Therefore, perhaps, in this case, it makes sense to think about upgrading the processor-cooling cooler.

Conclusion

Unlocking the cores of AMD processors is a simple step that can nevertheless help the user to realize the full potential of their computing equipment. This operation is carried out by enabling the necessary BIOS options. Although unlocking the cores is not always guaranteed to lead to success, nevertheless, it is not associated, like overclocking, with significant risk, and can be tried out in practice by any user.

  1. General information.
  2. What is ACC? What is NCC?
  3. Requirements for the motherboard. BIOS setup motherboard.
  4. A small list of the most common questions and answers.
  5. Related news, articles and polls
  6. List of motherboards on which the unlocking capability is confirmed for a specific bios version

general information

Attention! The main condition for the normal operation of the system as a result of unlocking the processor is a normal power supply unit with "honest" 350-400W of power at least, which it really does (and not a "veteran" of the times of Socket 754). With questions like "Is this PSU enough for me?" we turn to the corresponding forum "Cases, power supplies, modding".

Often, companies do not release new revisions of boards / microchips for the release of cut-down / lower-end models of their products, but use rejection that has not passed tests to work with the characteristics of older models. However, the rejection rate (which also decreases as production matures) is lower than sales of cut products. As a result, completely full-fledged products fall under the knife. Sometimes, by means of certain manipulations, you can activate the 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.

On this moment, for the release of all processors 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 cache L3) Propus and dual-core Regor (i.e. all Semprons are originally based on a dual-core crystal, just one core is disabled).

The older Athlon X2 7750 BE can sometimes be unlocked, but in general, it is no longer relevant as outdated (the AMD Athlon X2 7750 BE can include two more cores), based on the K10 architecture.

General characteristics (with the exception of Thuban, about them - below in the text):

Addition:

  1. Phenom II X4 920 and 940, Athlon X2 5000+:
    Connector: AM2 / AM2 + only
    Memory support: DDR2 533/667/800/1066 only
  2. The Regor core has been slightly improved compared to Deneb: added hardware support for C1E, L2 cache has become 1024Kb per core (Deneb - 512Kb)
  3. Athlon II X2 215/220 have only 512KB L2 cache.

It should also be noted that, as you can see from the above characteristics, Athlon II X4 / X3 processors can be based on both the Deneb core and the Propus core.

Previously, it was possible to distinguish which core got into a particular processor by the CPUID of the processor: in the case of Deneb, the processor has a CPUID of 00100F42h, in the case of Propus - CPUID of 00100F52h. The CPUID can be seen when the system boots up on the POST screen. Also this information can also be seen from the OS environment: in Windows environment- in CPU-Z on the "CPU" tab - the "Model" column ("4" in the first case, "5" - in the second); in Linux - by the output of the cat / proc / cpuinfo command (the model line, similarly - "4" in the first case, "5" - in the second). By release dates: 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 perfectly expandable 6MB L3 cache.

Only by marking the processor on the lid can you determine if 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 is 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-die): ** B ** series: ACBBE, CCBBE, etc.

The list is incomplete (AMD is constantly releasing new ones), so let the author know if you have information about new ones.

From the above, you can see what can be unlocked on a particular processor model:

  • Phenom II X4 8хх - 2 Mb L3 cache;
  • Phenom II X3 7xx - fourth core;
  • Phenom II X2 5xx - 3rd and 4th cores;
  • Athlon II X4 - L3 cache in case of Deneb core;
  • Athlon II X3 - the fourth core + in the case of the Deneb core - L3 cache;
  • Athlon II X2 - there is nothing to unlock(only the model with the index 220 can be found on the four-core Deneb - see the markings on the lid).
  • Sempron 140/145 - second core.

The list of such motherboards is given below.

The availability of the ability to control the unlocking function itself must be clarified either according to the manual for the motherboard, or read the FAQ and user messages in the thread on the corresponding motherboard in the Motherboards section. Studying branches with reviews is more preferable: not all manufacturers update the instructions for the motherboard (and they do not always advertise this possibility), there are also features of the implementation of this function on specific motherboards.

Settings in the bios of motherboards:

AsRock


Advanced -> Chipset Configuration -> Advanced Clock Calibration or (different bios models / versions)
OC Tweaker -> Advanced Clock Calibration.


Activate Advanced Clock Calibration, then reboot. After that, various options for activating kernels 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 control: CPU Active Core Control.

Asus

On the south bridges AMD SB710, SB750
Advanced -> CPU Configuration -> Advanced Clock Calibration from Disabled to the desired position. After that, the Unleashing Mode option appears. Setting this option to Enabled activates the unlock.

On the south bridges AMD SB810, SB850
Advanced -> ASUS Core Unlocker and CPU Core Activation.

On the nVidia chipset
Advanced -> JumperFree Configuration -> NVIDIA Core Calibration

Biostar

On the south bridges AMD SB710, SB750
I warn you right away: for the motherboards of this company, for successful unlocking, sometimes you have to underestimate the HyperTransport frequency even at nominal frequencies (HT is configured here: Performance Menu -> Hyper Transport Configuration -> HT Link Speed)
Advanced -> Advanced Clock Calibration.

On the south bridges AMD SB810, SB850
Advanced -> BIO-unlocKING
When the system starts up, 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 the offer (the system does not ask for confirmation, but simply starts further), everything is automatically unlocked.

Diamond Flower Inc (DFI)

On the south bridges AMD SB710, SB750
Genue BIOS Setting -> CPU Feature -> Advanced Clock Calibration.

On the south bridges AMD SB810, SB850
No data. Let the author know if you have them!

Foxconn

On the south bridges AMD SB710, SB750
Fox Central Control Unit -> Fox Intelligent Stepping -> Advanced Clock Calibration.

On the south bridges AMD SB810, SB850
No data. Let the author of the FAQ know if you have them!

Gigabyte

On the south bridges AMD SB710, SB750
MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) -> Advanced Clock Calibration -> Advanced Clock Calibration - to Auto or another value as needed, reboot the system, then, in the same place, set EC Firmware Selection to the Hybrid position.

On the south bridges AMD SB810, SB850
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 limited processors (some of the cores are broken), a combination of these parameters should be used. There is no option responsible for unlocking a separate L3 cache, it is always unlocked when the CPU Unlock option is activated.

MicroStar (MSI)

On the south bridges AMD SB710, SB750
On AMD chipset: Cell Menu -> Unlock CPU Core and Advanced Clock Calibration set to Enabled.
After that, appear additional settings allowing you to selectively enable / disable processor cores.
Detailed instructions with pictures + a list of motherboards with support for this function) is available on the official MicroStar website: MSI "s Unlock CPU Core Technology Introduction (in Russian) (be careful - traffic due to screenshots).

On the south bridges AMD SB810, SB850
No data. Let the author know if you have them!

On the nVidia chipset
Cell Menu -> Set Nvidia Core Calibration to Enabled.

Zotac, Sapphire, Jetway

No data on unlocking has been reported. Let the author know if you have them!

ECS (EliteGroup)

On September 8, 2009, official technical support announced that unlock support would not be implemented. However, then the policy changed.

On the south bridges AMD SB710, SB750
M.I.B. II (MB Intellegent BIOS II) -> Advanced Clock Calibration.

On the south bridges AMD SB810, SB850
No data. Let the author know if you have them!

Some tricks when unlocking.

1. Try to vary the values ​​of ACC percentages (on chipsets where ACC support is initially not supported and it is implemented separately by the motherboard manufacturer, these parameters are not available):

We started to move the ACC setting to other modes besides "Auto", using the "All Cores" option for all cores. By changing it in 2% increments, we were able to bring the fourth core back at -6%. And while the system was previously unable to pass the Prime95 test at all, in this case it worked normally for an hour without errors before we turned off the computer. It looks like a more aggressive ACC setting can stabilize the unlocking of the fourth core.

2. Increase or decrease the voltage at the processor and / or the built-in memory controller (NB Core).

3. Understate the frequency of Hyper Transport and / or RAM.

If suddenly you, after unlocking the processor cores, observe that the processor was detected as unlocked in the bios (kernels, cache were displayed on the POST screen, as well as in the characteristics in the bios), but after booting into Windows the number of processor cores remained unchanged (in the CPU- Z, for example), then follow the simple procedure below.

  1. if the "Number of processors" checkbox is checked, uncheck it.
  2. 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 that, all kernels should be displayed.

Unlocked processor testing.

Processor tests

Prime95:
Free. English only interface.


Why hasn't this topic been raised at Tom's Hardware yet? In fact, back in April 2009 we published an article on converting Phenom II X3 720 to 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 buying 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 AMD midrange and upper levels usually $ 100 or less. With such a modest price difference, we just recommend getting the processor you need, rather than hoping for an unlocking option that you might not get lucky with.

In fact, the reasons why AMD is blocking cores in the CPU can be completely different. For example, a lock may be related to a manufacturing defect that causes the kernel to not work properly - then it makes sense to disable this kernel and sell the processor as a tri- or dual-core model so as not to throw the die in the trash can. 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 extra performance than traditional overclocking. No guarantees can be given in this case, and the performance gain will be felt only in multithreaded applications or in multitasking environments. Finding a chip that you can unlock is like a lottery in which you win your $ 20. But be prepared to lose more often than to win.

Six cores are more expensive

But with Thuban's design announcement, the flagship six-core model has gained over $ 100 over the previous four-core leader, from $ 185 to $ 295. If you can turn a quad-core processor into a six-core processor, you will save a lot more money.

The problem, of course, is that AMD is not yet selling quad-core Thuban processors. But that should change in the coming months when Zosma-based processors hit the market. Derived from Thuban, the Zosma design is a six-core processor with two cores disabled for the reasons we 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 ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 motherboard, which many budget enthusiasts can choose as soon as new CPUs become available.

Preliminary information on Zosma is still scarce, and since given processor we did not receive from AMD, pricing information is also not available. What we can say for sure: the Phenom II X4 960T is clocked at 3 GHz and supports Turbo CORE technology. Thermal package is 95W TDP, which is lower 125W for AMD flagship 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 find the core unlock feature "dead" as AMD removed ACC support from the SB850 southbridge. And for a while, it looked like the major motherboard makers would not provide this feature in their 8-series chipsets. Asus was the first manufacturer to add this feature, followed by other companies providing core unlocking in various ways.


Click on the picture to enlarge.

On ASRock 890FX Deluxe3, you can enable overclocking / unlocking of cores through the BIOS switch called ASRock UCC or simply by pressing the "x" key during the boot POST screen (respectively, pressing "d" will disable UCC). Our Phenom II X4 960T sample was naturally chosen for its ability to unlock securely. But temper your ardor. Our sources at ASRock said that of the 16 samples the company tested, only six were able to unlock all six cores. That is, with a given set of samples, the corresponding chance was 37%.

Does unlocking cores prevent overclocking?

If we take into account the low percentage of the possibility of unlocking additional cores in comparison with the four cores that AMD left active, then we can assume that turning on the cores will lead to an increased risk of system instability, to an increase in power consumption, and will certainly make you moderate your appetites for overclocking.

We ran some tests with our Phenom II X4 960T sample and found that 3.9 GHz is quite achievable for a 3 GHz processor with a BIOS voltage of 1.425 V. The inclusion of two additional cores forced us to lower the frequency to 3.6 GHz to avoid collapse during Windows boot, and the high heat dissipation forced the voltage to be reduced to 1.4 V.


Click on the picture to enlarge.

The conclusions will be the following (which is not surprising): enabling locked cores will limit overclocking possibilities with conventional air cooling, even if these cores are "good". The pros and cons of increasing the number of cores running in parallel or increasing the frequency depend on software which you are using. The additional 900 MHz from the quad-core 3 GHz processor is impressive. Such overclocking is quite expected from Intel processors Core i5 or i7, so it's nice to see AMD's improved 45nm process technology add more scalability.

Test configuration

To provide as much data for comparison as possible, we conducted quite a few tests from our suite on the Phenom II X4 960T, and also took the results from our review Phenom II X6 1090T... Therefore, the diagrams 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) 3.33GHz, LGA 1366, 12MB L3 Cache, Hyper-Threading Technology Active, Power Saving Features Enabled
Intel Core i7-975 Extreme (Bloomfield) 3.33GHz, LGA 1366, 8MB L3 Cache, Hyper-Threading Technology Active, Power Saving Features Enabled
Intel Core i7-930 (Bloomfield) 2.8GHz, LGA 1366, 8MB L3 Cache, Hyper-Threading Technology Active, Power Saving Enabled
Intel Core i7-920 (Bloomfield) 2.66GHz, LGA 1366, 8MB L3 Cache, Hyper-Threading Technology Active, Power Saving Features Enabled
Intel Core i5-750 (Lynnfield) 2.66 GHz, LGA 1156, 8MB 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 3Gb / s
Intel SSDSA2MH080G1GN 80GB SATA 3Gb / s
Video card Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1 GB
Power Supply 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
MainConcept 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 benchmark is not optimized for multithreading, we did not expect to get any advantage from the six-core Phenom II X4 960T over the four-core version of the CPU. And so it happened. And the relatively low clock speed of the 960T put the processor in last place. With that said, this CPU supports Turbo CORE. Although we don't know what the official frequency limit will be (3.3 or 3.4 GHz), our sample went up to 3.4 GHz in tests with a 17x multiplier. Obviously, if you don't plan on overclocking, the 960T will not perform well in single threaded applications.

The MainConcept utility is much better for additional cores. Here we see that with last place After unlocking the cores, the X4 960T managed to rise above the Core i7-930. In this case, the 3GHz unlocked CPU is slightly worse than the 3.2GHz Phenom II X6 1090T.

In the HandBrake utility, we again observe that the transition from four cores to six makes a significant difference in video transcoding applications. While the AMD 1090T processor outperforms the $ 1,000 Intel Core i7-975 Extreme, the six-core 960T is one notch behind the i7-975.


The 3ds Max benchmark is optimized for multithreading, so the transition from four cores to six 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 put a lot of effort into translating our 2010 test suite to multithreaded applications as 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. And although the design of Zosma did not lead to the transition of the processor to the leaders, 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 processors are at the bottom of the WinRAR benchmark, the addition of two cores was enough for our Phenom II X4 960T to move up from last place to the Deneb X4 965 Black Edition.

The latest app benchmark demonstrates that our six-core sample once again outperformed the AMD Phenom II X4 965 after unlocking the cores, delivering 7-Zip scores on the same level as the Core i7-920 and 930.

The purpose of our review was to look into the future and assess the potential for unlocking the cores of the upcoming AMD Phenom II X4 960T processor, but the results were much more interesting.

In light of the fact that pricing information for future AMD quad-core processors is not yet available, we can only speculate. It is likely that the X4 960T will cost less than the previous flagship processor X4 965 Black Edition, which costs $ 185 () at Newegg. The X4 955 processor sells for $ 159 (). We assume AMD will sell the new X4 960T based on the Zosma design at a price somewhere between the two mentioned models.

At this price, and after a bit of overclocking, the unlocked 960T would be a pretty good option compared to the $ 310 Phenom II X6 1090T (). Just remember that if you plan on unlocking cores, you will need a motherboard that supports this feature, such as the ASRock 890FX Deluxe3. Since the SB850 southbridge does not support ACC, today it is up to the motherboard manufacturer to support the core unlock function.

As we said before, AMD is unlikely to be pleased with the fact that experienced users can include back-unlocked kernels. But one cannot ignore the fact that unlocked cores, unlocked CPU multiplier, aggressive memory profiles with overclocked northbridge and low prices increase the company's popularity among enthusiasts, despite the fact that Intel sells faster CPUs.

Sure, you can buy the 960T with the core unlock option, 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 do not want to risk and buy a quad-core processor with the probability of unlocking two cores, then buying and overclocking AMD Phenom II X6 1055T.

Update: We just talked with AMD about the upcoming processor. Chances are high that the Phenom II X4 960T won't hit the market at all. This already happened not too long ago with a processor called the Phenom II X3 740; AMD simply decided that this processor would not fit into the existing product range. And, in truth, it makes sense. Today AMD has attractive quad-core CPUs in its portfolio, so why launch a new quad-core processor (derived from a six-core) to compete with them? "To sell Thuban crystals with two defective cores," you might say. But it remains to be seen if AMD will have enough of these crystals to introduce a new processor.

In the end, it may be that the Phenom II X4 960T appears as an OEM component. But at the moment it turns out that the processor may not get into retail.

AMD processors. We will also consider software tools with which this rather complex operation can be performed. In addition to this, practical advice as to which of them in each situation is most optimal to apply. In addition to this, a list of CPUs relevant to the given manipulation will also be provided.

Which CPU models are suitable?

Before we learn how to unlock the cores of AMD processors, let's take a look at the CPU models that are suitable for this manipulation. This list includes such families of chips from this eminent manufacturer. computer technology:

  1. Septron microprocessors can be converted from single-core to dual-core. This allows you to increase, albeit slightly, the speed of work. personal computer.
  2. The Athlon II line of computing devices in 2- and 3-module versions can be converted into a quad-core CPU. In turn, some models of this family of microprocessors can be turned into a similar chip of the Phenom II series with a three-level cache memory system. Accordingly, the speed of the computer will also increase.
  3. Younger Phenom II chips can be transformed from dual- and triple-core models into four-block ones, just like the previously reviewed Athlon II chips. 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 tools. This operation can be implemented in two ways. One of them is using the BIOS. This method can be used only on newer versions of motherboards, in which an option has been added to the ACC / UCC menu. The second option for enabling unused hardware resources is reduced to using special utilities. This method of activating kernels is available on any motherboard.

BIOS. Algorithm of use

Now let's figure out how to unlock the cores of AMD Athlon processors and other chips within the AM3 socket using the BIOS. Again, this method applicable only to those motherboards that were released in 2012 or later. A special ACC item (for AMD chipsets) or UCC (in the case of using a system logic set from NVidia) has been added to the BIOS menu in each of them.

In both the first and second cases, the implementation algorithm is as follows:

  1. 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.
  2. Next, you need using navigation keys go to the menu item called Advanced and open it using the "Enter" key.
  3. At the next stage, we find the ACC / UCC sub-item, translate the pointer to it using all the same navigation keys.
  4. Then, using the PgUp and PgDn buttons, set it to the Enabled state.
  5. We save the changes. To do this, just press F10. Next, you will be prompted to save the changes. We answer positively to it.
  6. After that, a reboot will occur. Next, you need to check the stability of the PC after the manipulations performed according to the method that will be described later.

If the computer is unstable, then using the JP1 microswitch on the motherboard, we return BIOS settings to its original state.

Specialized software

This method is most often used on older versions of motherboards. But it also applies to their newer modifications. That is, it is quite versatile. 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 this purpose. For example, Gigabyte recommended using the CPU Unlock program. It could be found on the CD motherboard manufacturer of the same name.

Functional check

This review has covered how to unlock AMD Phenom processor cores and more. After performing this operation, it is highly recommended to check the stability and reliability of your computer.

To do this, at the first stage, you need to install a specialized program CPU-Z. Then run it and check in detail the parameters of the microprocessor.

Next, you need to install the specialized utility AIDA64 and use it to carry out a comprehensive check of the PC. If the computer starts to work unstable, then we reset the BIOS settings to their original state using the same JP1 switch. You can also try to return the system software to initial state with an integrated program operating system.

Relevance of the operation

V this review the main ways of how to unlock the cores of AMD processors were described in detail. The FX - 4300 and other newer CPUs designed to be installed in the AM3 + socket no longer allowed such an operation. That is, only within the framework of a computer platform, this practice has become most widespread.

Again, these microprocessor models were relevant in 2010 - 2013. Now this platform is outdated. Therefore, a radical improvement in performance due to the activation of additional cores will definitely not be achieved.

Conclusion

This review article was devoted to how to unlock the cores of AMD processors within the AM3 computing platform. At the time of the appearance of such chips, this operation contributed to the growth of sales of the previously reviewed CPU modifications. Now it is outdated and is not suitable for the implementation of high-performance computers.

The most rational way to activate disabled resources is to use special utilities. But it is easier to do this using the BIOS. Therefore, if possible, use last way... If the computer has old version motherboard, you can use a more complex method, which is based on specialized software.

The article will discuss the possibility of including the third and fourth cores, and also the practical results of such an action will be given - that is, tests. After all, it is very tempting to get a platform with a top-end processor for a hundred dollars.

Regarding, but one of the main consequences of AMD's "poverty" is RATIONAL use of the crystal area.

AMD much earlier than Intel, and even on the old technical process, still managed to create the first quad-core processor on one die (Intel made its quads by soldering two dual-core processors).

So - the processor is made, but the marriage is still present from time to time even in a rich intel (fresh news - ). So AMD, for example, has suspicions that one core is not working. It is simply blocked and you buy some kind of three or even dual-core processor AMD Phenom II 560 X2 Socket AM3 3.3GHz 7MB 80W box or Athlon II X3 445. But physically - it is FOUR-CORE!

How do I unlock / enable AMD processor cores?

Save changes and reboot - if everything goes smoothly, then the first step will pass. But only the FIRST.

Do not forget that the nuclei for Athlones and Phenomas are blocked for a reason and they can be malfunctioning. Next, you MUST test ALL processor cores for stability, for example, as described in the article.

PRACTICE

An Athlon II X3 425 processor was taken and with the help of a penny motherboard option AsRock boards- Bios Unlock CPU Core, fourth core included.

This is how the processor looked BEFORE unlocking:

As you can see, the CPU-Z utility determines that the processor has three active cores and each has half a megabyte of L2 cache.

Now we turn on the fourth core ...

Disappointment awaited. The very first test revealed the inoperability of the included kernel. It was functioning, but under load it failed. Looking closely at the picture, you will also see artifacts of the desktop image. But something else is noteworthy - the Athlon II X3 processor has turned not into a quad-core Athlon, but into Phenom II X4 !!!

The screenshot clearly shows from the utility readings that not only the kernel was turned on, but also the extra 6MB of L3 cache.

I decided not to give up and go all the way. Through trial and error, it was revealed that the PHYSICALLY malfunctioning locked core is the second in a row. What if the L3 cache is perfectly functional? To verify this claim, the processor was unlocked again, but the second core was disabled from the application manager.

We are passing the test ...

The test worked flawlessly. And at the same time, we also figured out the practical benefits of a large cache. In the 3D Mark 2006 test, its presence, other things being equal, in some places added + 10%. This is certainly not an extra core, but still an increase. Smart motherboard manufacturers, even specifically for such cases, provide for the associated shutdown of faulty cores.

That is, first we will forcibly unblock everything that can be unblocked, and then we block what is inoperable)))))))))))))))

There is still a fly in the ointment in all this. Even in spite of the fact that the cache and cores are inactive, such processors still have a large die size and noticeably heat up. Consider this.

WHICH PROCESSORS ARE SUITABLE FOR UNLOCKING?

Three-core Athlones and two-three-core Athlon-II-X3 and Phenom-II-X2-3 are suitable. There is also a rumor that some quad-core models are unlocked into six-cores, but there is no such experience yet. Then look for the Phenomes on the Thuban core and it is quite possible that you will be lucky.

OUTPUT
In general, in this case, I was not lucky, because I could get a 100% working copy. In that case, I would get a $ 150 quad-core Phenom II X4 out of a $ 65 processor. Agree - this lottery is worth it. And it is especially pleasing that even penny motherboards can do this.