AMD Phenom II X4 960T: I am confused

[mikeymikec]

Slightly long story (http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2207554&highlight=), but I put this processor into my machine (board: ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3, 2101 BIOS). The BIOS recognises it correctly, but Win7 detects it as an unknown AMD model. I then noticed that in Device Manager it comes up with 6 recognised processors rather than the expected 4. Core unlocking is disabled on this board.

CPU-Z recognises it as a "Phenom II X6 1605T" with 6 cores. Task Manager / Process Explorer shows 6 CPU graphs as well.

I'll double-check that core unlocking is disabled, but as I once had a run-in with "auto core activation" on my previous Athlon II X4 (where one core took a temporary holiday until I manually specified 4 cores), I'm pretty sure it is disabled.

Any ideas?

- edit -

Even though I am almost certain that I disabled core unlocking before starting Windows for the first time, the BIOS changed its mind and enabled all 6 cores. Now when I go into the BIOS, it also says "unknown AMD model". I guess I inadvertently ended up with a 6-core processor. Sweet!

Hopefully it'll be stable during testing

 

[RavenSEAL]

Lol, nice

Now OC that puppy!

 

[exar333]

:thumbsup:

 

[nenforcer]

Be sure to follow up with pics preferably!!!

 

[mikeymikec]

I won't be overclocking it, I stopped doing that about ten years ago I can post pics of CPU-Z/system properties if people are curious.

 

[jacktesterson]

I won't be overclocking it, I stopped doing that about ten years ago I can post pics of CPU-Z/system properties if people are curious.

Do we need to ask? Yes please.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Post pics.

 

[Kantastic]

It's widely known that the 960T is a Thuban with 2 cores disabled. No surprised that it was unlockable. The surprise here is that your motherboard unlocked it automatically.

 

[Puppies04]

Maybe if you buy an "8" core dulldozer it will unlock to 12 and you get your missing transistors back...

 

[mikeymikec]

I stressed the CPU and screencap'd this when turbo mode kicked in. I can do the system properties as well, but that didn't seem that interesting really. The processor line just says: "AMD Processor model unknown 3.00GHz", which IIRC is exactly what it says in the BIOS.

 

[ErickMaga]

It's working? You got 2extra cores without even trying, what you complaing about?

That cpu-z doesnt show the right name??? Please...............

 

[mikeymikec]

It's working? You got 2extra cores without even trying, what you complaing about?

That cpu-z doesnt show the right name??? Please...............

It helps to read the whole of the first post, let alone the rest of the thread.

 

[soccerballtux]

It's working? You got 2extra cores without even trying, what you complaing about?

That cpu-z doesnt show the right name??? Please...............

??? if you buy 4 should get you at least 8!!! intel does this! extra 4 are value added

 

[KingFatty]

The motherboard has a physical switch you can turn on, which will cause the computer to attempt to unlock all possible cores.

I bet you have that switch turned on, so now any CPU you put in the motherboard will be subjected to core unlocking, even if you don't specifically configure the bios settings for it and even if you reset the bios.

You can get more control if you turn off that physical switch on the motherboard, that way you can selectively unlock or lock individual cores.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Curious, what happens when you use v1.59 of CPU-z? My chip registers as an X6 1600T and reads "AMD Six-core Processor" under the specification line.

 

[ocre]

Curious, what happens when you use v1.59 of CPU-z? My chip registers as an X6 1600T and reads "AMD Six-core Processor" under the specification line.

his task manager show 6 cores so i am thinking he got himself a lucky one. its running 6cores

 

[chubbyfatazn]

his task manager show 6 cores so i am thinking he got himself a lucky one. its running 6cores

I'm aware of that. Mine unlocks too, I bought it so I could have both a four and six-core chip for cheap. I just wanted to see if this was a CPUz anomaly or something. I too don't understand the concern about two free cores, but meh.

 

[mikeymikec]

I've just updated CPU-Z to the latest version, and it still identifies my processor as a X6 1605T.

 

[KingFatty]

I have the same motherboard and tried out the Beta bios version. I think Asus updated the list of recognized CPUs in that bios, because it gave my core-unlocked CPU a different name under the beta bios compared to the previous stable bios. Have you tried the new bios yet? Will it give your core-unlocked processor a different name compared to your current bios?

 

[chubbyfatazn]

I've just updated CPU-Z to the latest version, and it still identifies my processor as a X6 1605T.

No issue there... if you google this everyone who's ever unlocked a 960T has an X6 1605T. I've never seen an unlocked processor that had the correct corresponding X3/X4/X6 part name in CPUz.

If it says "6 cores, 6 threads," you're good. It's just a name. I'm not sure why it really matters that much. If you got a good chip that unlocks, I'd be happy enough.

 

[IonusX]

welcome to the thuban bretheren TC !!

 

[mikeymikec]

I am absolutely not going to update my BIOS to see whether the number changes, sorry