AMD Phenom II X3 -> X4 users, Unite!

[soonerproud]

ASRock A790GXH/128M, X3 710 4 cores @2.6. I can't remember the exact number on the CPU, but it was a 904 model.

 

[konakona]

heh, if unknown batch counts, here is mine after a bit more tweaking:
x3 710@ 3.263 (13x251) 1.520v, NB/HT 2510/2008 Biostar TA790GX 128M

 

[shaolin95]

Anyone here using the Gigabyte ud5p(am3) can confirm if the latest bios F5C is able to unlock the 4th core.
So far only one bios does.

 

[cafeda]

I have samething Keysplayr had > Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-UD4H rev 1.0 BIOS ver. F1 . X3 720.
I set auto acc in amd overdrive and restart , post boots but then fozen at windows start up , hit reset button and went to bios to disable acc and reboot again , windows start ok , open amd overdrive , only 1 time it supprise me , it show 4 core with same speed and temp ( I was disable in bios already , this case don't make sense ? ) . But just about less than 5 min the screen frozen , and i have to restart again . This time everything back to normal 3 core , 2800.. and I can't make it show 4 core again Do you guy have any other trick to show me ? please !

 

[HeavyD]

Updating from the wrong thread: PII X3 720 unlocked fourth core. Ran OCCT for one hour at 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2 on stock cooler. I'm an overclocking noob so forgive me if I make some mistakes. Will stop here for now until I get better cooling. Also have the no POST cold boot bug when ACC is set to auto.

Very happy with the results so far. Went into this knowing I might not get an extra stable core out of this.

Date Code: 0904

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: cafeda
I have samething Keysplayr had > Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-UD4H rev 1.0 BIOS ver. F1 . X3 720.
I set auto acc in amd overdrive and restart , post boots but then fozen at windows start up , hit reset button and went to bios to disable acc and reboot again , windows start ok , open amd overdrive , only 1 time it supprise me , it show 4 core with same speed and temp ( I was disable in bios already , this case don't make sense ? ) . But just about less than 5 min the screen frozen , and i have to restart again . This time everything back to normal 3 core , 2800.. and I can't make it show 4 core again Do you guy have any other trick to show me ? please !

There is no trick to it. If the X3 you purchased happened to have a faulty core then no amount of tweaking is going to bring it to life. You most likely have a dead fourth core and got what you paid for, a X3 which is still a incredible deal when you start comparing benchies.

Smile, you still got a good deal especially if you over clock the sucker.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: cafeda
I have samething Keysplayr had > Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-UD4H rev 1.0 BIOS ver. F1 . X3 720.
I set auto acc in amd overdrive and restart , post boots but then fozen at windows start up , hit reset button and went to bios to disable acc and reboot again , windows start ok , open amd overdrive , only 1 time it supprise me , it show 4 core with same speed and temp ( I was disable in bios already , this case don't make sense ? ) . But just about less than 5 min the screen frozen , and i have to restart again . This time everything back to normal 3 core , 2800.. and I can't make it show 4 core again Do you guy have any other trick to show me ? please !

There is no trick to it. If the X3 you purchased happened to have a faulty core then no amount of tweaking is going to bring it to life. You most likely have a dead fourth core and got what you paid for, a X3 which is still a incredible deal when you start comparing benchies.

Smile, you still got a good deal especially if you over clock the sucker.

Yeah, I kind of explained the same thing to this person. It either does, or doesn't work.
Still end up with a pretty good 3 core CPU though.

So it doesn't look like there is any rhyme or reason, or distinct pattern for successful/unsuccessful unlocks. I'm gonna say at this point, it's the luck of the draw.

 

[Prince of Persia]

BIOSTAR TA790GX 128M
X3 720BE -> Set to Auto CC -> Post -> Ran Prime95 for about 4 hours and Played Left 4 Dead about 1 hr

CPU Temp was around 42 C when running Prime.

So far so good.

My fan on my stock cooling seems to be making a clipping noise as if its hitting the heatsink? Any idea if there's a quick fix or should I just buy a new fan? (I don't want to RMA the processor!)

If I need to get a new fan, any recommendations on a good silent fan for the stock heatsink?

 

[bfdd]

Ok this is pretty cool, I might have to build one, but now that the new X2 which is a Phenom with 2 cores disabled... maybe we can get that to a quad? Anyone try this yet?

 

[pwdbyhonda]

Originally posted by: Keysplayr

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: cafeda
I have samething Keysplayr had > Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-UD4H rev 1.0 BIOS ver. F1 . X3 720.
I set auto acc in amd overdrive and restart , post boots but then fozen at windows start up , hit reset button and went to bios to disable acc and reboot again , windows start ok , open amd overdrive , only 1 time it supprise me , it show 4 core with same speed and temp ( I was disable in bios already , this case don't make sense ? ) . But just about less than 5 min the screen frozen , and i have to restart again . This time everything back to normal 3 core , 2800.. and I can't make it show 4 core again Do you guy have any other trick to show me ? please !

There is no trick to it. If the X3 you purchased happened to have a faulty core then no amount of tweaking is going to bring it to life. You most likely have a dead fourth core and got what you paid for, a X3 which is still a incredible deal when you start comparing benchies.

Smile, you still got a good deal especially if you over clock the sucker.

Yeah, I kind of explained the same thing to this person. It either does, or doesn't work.
Still end up with a pretty good 3 core CPU though.

So it doesn't look like there is any rhyme or reason, or distinct pattern for successful/unsuccessful unlocks. I'm gonna say at this point, it's the luck of the draw.

Has it been confirmed that only 0904 batches can be unlocked? Does that imply that other batches are floating around? Has anyone recently bought one that worked from Newegg? Where do I find the batch number on the processor?

 

[kipliq]

My Gigabyte MA790X-UD4P did not work. I have the F4 bios installed, the F3 bios did not work also. Anyone know if the F2B bios worked to unlock? Where would I find a working F2B or F2 bios?

 

[Munky]

With my Asus m4a78t-e was able to unlock the 4th core after I downgraded the bios to a modded 082 version I found on XS. FYI, to downgrade a bios I had to use an 'engineering version' of AFUDOS (found via google). Too bad my 4th core wasn't stable even though I had a 0904 cpu, but for anyone else is using this mobo, that's how you can unlock the 4th core.

 

[blackrain]

I just installed a 720BE with 0906 on the chip and was able to unlock the 4th core with the Biostar 790GX. I ran Prime95 for 7 hours last night on "Blend" and everything passed. So I guess its not just 0904 batches that work.

 

[manimal]

0906 PHII 710 in a GA 790X UD4P shipping bios F2

Enabling ACC reboots but does not report 4th core at startup or in windows.

unsuccessful for now.....

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: blackrain
I just installed a 720BE with 0906 on the chip and was able to unlock the 4th core with the Biostar 790GX. I ran Prime95 for 7 hours last night on "Blend" and everything passed. So I guess its not just 0904 batches that work.

OH? I was kinda wondering how come all 720BE's seemed to be 0904's. I thought AMD somehow had messed up their production line on that week. You're the first one with non-0904 720BE with unlock-able 4th core. (at least for me) Very interesting.

 

[Stoneburner]

I was surprised. I stuck my 710 in an asus m4a78-e with bios version 1101 and it unlocked the fourth core successfully.

 

[Alienwho]

Can you guys see your temps with coretemp when you unlock the 4th core? When I unlock my 4th core I can't see any temps. I have an ASROCK 790GXH. I also blue screen frequently and lock up. Looks like no 4th core for me.

 

[Alienwho]

Maybe my 4th core isn't completely broken. Today I was able to unlock it and set the OC to 3.2Ghz using 1.4v. It seems stable and prime95 doesn't kill it. The only problem is when I completely shut down and start a cold boot, I won't get video. If I hit reset though after I start the cold boot then I will get video but it will only display 2.8Ghz in the BIOS splash screen, but when I enter the BIOS it will have my same settings for 3.2Ghz. So I simply ctrl-alt-del out without saving and I will get my 3.2Ghz stable quad.

I've also noticed when I OC the 3 cores I can't get past 3.4, and I have to boost my vcore up to 1.45 to achieve that. Strange thing is that my temps idle at 25c and load at 35c, so it seems I have tons of room. Should I be doing something special with the north bridge vcore?

 

[deimos3428]

Nope. Unlocking the core disables the on-chip temperature sensors for the cores. You can try upping your NB volts a bit for stability, but not more than +100mV should be required. (1.300V)

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: deimos3428
Nope. Unlocking the core disables the on-chip temperature sensors for the cores. You can try upping your NB volts a bit for stability, but not more than +100mV should be required. (1.300V)

Use Speedfan, on my motherboard Temp2 on IT8720F is my CPU temperature and works fine with my 4th core unlocked.

Batch CACZC AC 0905FPMW, unlocked.
Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P with BIOS F5/F5A (they are the same).

Going to give another try at OC'ing this, didn't know you can go up to 71C on thermal specs on these AM3's. Before I thought I had to stay below 63C.

I got up to 3.6Ghz stable on 1.475v and 2.6CPU-NB on 1.375v but I think now I'll push for 3.7.
Currently running 3.4Ghz @ 1.375 to keep it quiet, same CPU-NB speed and voltage.

edit: OK, 3.7Ghz @ 1.52v & 2.6GhzCPU-NB @ 1.4v
http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=597407

 

[deimos3428]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Use Speedfan, on my motherboard Temp2 on IT8720F is my CPU temperature and works fine with my 4th core unlocked.

The CPU Temp, or the individual Core temps? I haven't heard of anyone getting the core temps after unlocking.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: deimos3428

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Use Speedfan, on my motherboard Temp2 on IT8720F is my CPU temperature and works fine with my 4th core unlocked.

The CPU Temp, or the individual Core temps? I haven't heard of anyone getting the core temps after unlocking.

It's not the individual cores, just, I guess as you call it, the "CPU Temp". What more do we need?

 

[Juncar]

I have the 4th core unlocked for Gigabyte's MA790XT-UD4P. Bios version is F4G. Can't check for batch # atm, but I bought this at the end of May.

First Setting @ 1.475 v

Second Setting @ 1.425 v

Both OC settings passed 2 hours of OCCT.

 

[soccerballtux]

Batch number is something lik CACZC AC 0905FPMW (that's me)
http://i1.sinaimg.cn/IT/cr/2009/0227/1360297326.jpg

 

[Juncar]

Oh I see, I thought I read somewhere that you can find it on the box that it came in as well.