Athlon II X2 220 AM3 Propus X4 cores...65W or 95W?

[waltchan]

I'm working on a $8.99 Athlon II X2 220 AM3 2.8GHz dual-core I picked up that is based on the 95W Propus X4 cores but with two cores disabled (won't unlock at all). This one is supposed to rate 65W as stated by AMD for all the Regors, but for some reason, the stock voltage is set at 1.40V, which I think is too high for a 65W.

A 1.40V, I was able to bus-overclock it up to 3.90 GHz max on stock voltage from 2.80 GHz, to my amazing surprise. Only 95W AM3 can do that, so I get the impression this dual-core might be 95W rated as opposed to 65W. At 3.90 GHz, it runs just as hot and identical to 125W FX-4130 that I have.

So, is it possible that AMD secretly sold some Athlon 220 Propus 65W that was supposed to be 95W, or is it always 65W regardless of what stock voltage it is as long as it's not overclocked?

 

[waltchan]

It appears to run just as fast as FX-8300 in terms of single-thread performance, but priced 98% less. I received around 1320 single-thread score if overclocking it at 3.90 GHz.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I received around 1320 single-thread score if overclocking it at 3.90 GHz.

Interestingly, an A4-6300 has a base clock of 3.7Ghz, and a turbo clock of 3.9Ghz, and scores around that number in Passmark ST score.

 

[waltchan]

Interestingly, an A4-6300 has a base clock of 3.7Ghz, and a turbo clock of 3.9Ghz, and scores around that number in Passmark ST score.

Yep, that's correct. But it cost around $35 as used, out of my price range. You can't go wrong with a $8.99 CPU that I originally thought I can unlock it to a quad-core, plus the free (and obsolete) Radeon HD3000 integrated GPU in selected AM3 boards.

 

[Hi-Fi Man]

TDP has nothing to do directly with overclocking. AMD CPUs have historically (since K8 I think) usually ran at a much higher voltage than necessary. At 2.8GHz that CPU could probably run with 1.2v maybe lower.

 

[cbn]

What motherboard and cooler do you use for that unlock and overclock?

 

[cbn]

It appears to run just as fast as FX-8300 in terms of single-thread performance, but priced 98% less. I received around 1320 single-thread score if overclocking it at 3.90 GHz.

Multi-thread score?

 

[waltchan]

What motherboard and cooler do you use for that unlock and overclock?

The famous Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 board where I do all the core unlocking verification (it failed), so I transferred it to the Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX board + Radeon HD5450 graphics card that doesn't support core unlocking. Will get back you on your PM.

 

[waltchan]

Multi-thread score?

No, I'm measuring single-thread performance, which are both almost the same. Multi-thread score in the FXs are 4-8 times higher than this Athlon.

 

[cbn]

That is a cheap price for that chip, I wonder what percentage can be expected to unlock to a triple or quad core?

 

[waltchan]

That is a cheap price for that chip, I wonder what percentage can be expected to unlock to a triple or quad core?

The Athlon II X2 220 2.80 GHz dual-cores are now selling for $8-$15 shipped on eBay, with average prices around $12 shipped. It's the cheapest and fastest Athlon dual-core you can find with two other cores disabled, but only 10% were made. The rest of other Athlon X2 models are based on Regor dual-cores, with no additional cores.

I do have another Athlon 220 around (paid $10.99 shipped) that can unlock successfully to quad-core known as Phenom X4 920 and is defect-free and genuine 65W. I'm saving and preserving that one later. But it's a little weaker one that can be overclocked up to 3.50 GHz max due to a slightly lower 1.32V it defaulted vs. 1.40V in the damaged two other cores I'm using now.

 

[cbn]

Do any of the 970 boards have the ability to unlock cores?

EDIT: Nvm --> http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2010/04/13/amd-removed-core-unlocking/1

 

[SPBHM]

the TDP is 65W because it's a dual core at 2.8GHz, even with that voltage and so on, the same die if it had all the cores actives could probably be sold as a 95 or 125W CPU, maybe even 45W, who knows, depending on the clock/voltage/cores they used...

 

[waltchan]

Do any of the 970 boards have the ability to unlock cores?

EDIT: Nvm --> http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2010/04/13/amd-removed-core-unlocking/1

Only the 760G chipset has unlocking capability. The 970, unfortunately, was eliminated. And the 760G is cheaper to buy too.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Only the 760G chipset has unlocking capability. The 970, unfortunately, was eliminated. And the 760G is cheaper to buy too.

I thought that it was specifically the SB710 or SB750 southbridge (or maybe both). Not particularly the 760G. Although, that is most often paired up with the SB710 or SB750. The 970 is most often paired with the SB950 (which has SATA6G support).

 

[SPBHM]

I thought that it was specifically the SB710 or SB750 southbridge (or maybe both). Not particularly the 760G. Although, that is most often paired up with the SB710 or SB750. The 970 is most often paired with the SB950 (which has SATA6G support).

the SB950 is a rebranded SB850 as far as I know, and some boards with 9xx chipsets advertise the core unlock function like:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970 Pro3/?cat=Specifications

I found this post from 2010 talking about AMD attempting to remove the option but the mobo manufactures finding workarounds
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2010/04/13/amd-removed-core-unlocking/1

but I remember when this was a new thing it didn't work on SB700 and required SB710 or newer, while I also remember some Nvidia chipsets (like the 7025-630, a refreshed 6100-430) also being able to unlock cores, on the asrock boards at least

 

[cbn]

the SB950 is a rebranded SB850 as far as I know, and some boards with 9xx chipsets advertise the core unlock function like:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970 Pro3/?cat=Specificationst

Here is another ASRock 970 board (the uATX Pro 3) that advertises core unlock:

http://asrock.com/mb/AMD/970M Pro3/?cat=Specifications

This one also has it:

http://asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty 970 Performance3.1/?cat=Specifications

 

[cbn]

ASRock 990FX Extreme 4 also advertises core unlock:

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/990FX Extreme4/?cat=Specifications

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if all the 9 series ASRock boards had core unlock.

 

[SPBHM]

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if all the 9 series ASRock boards had core unlock.

yes, and if other companies don't do the same, I think it's mostly because they don't see the marketing benefit of having it, since it only works for AM3 CPUs while the boards are mostly sold for AM3+ use, and not due to any technical limitation.

 

[waltchan]

Here is another ASRock 970 board (the uATX Pro 3) that advertises core unlock:

http://asrock.com/mb/AMD/970M Pro3/?cat=Specifications

This one also has it:

http://asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty 970 Performance3.1/?cat=Specifications

Hmmm, I guess ASRock supports UCC unlock more famously than Asus.

 

[cbn]

The Athlon II X2 220 2.80 GHz dual-cores are now selling for $8-$15 shipped on eBay, with average prices around $12 shipped. It's the cheapest and fastest Athlon dual-core you can find with two other cores disabled, but only 10% were made. The rest of other Athlon X2 models are based on Regor dual-cores, with no additional cores.

I do have another Athlon 220 around (paid $10.99 shipped) that can unlock successfully to quad-core known as Phenom X4 920 and is defect-free and genuine 65W. I'm saving and preserving that one later. But it's a little weaker one that can be overclocked up to 3.50 GHz max due to a slightly lower 1.32V it defaulted vs. 1.40V in the damaged two other cores I'm using now.

3.5 Ghz for four cores is pretty good.

Look how a Phenom II x 4 965 (3.4 Ghz) did in 2013 Tom's hardware gaming comparison test:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/piledriver-k10-cpu-overclocking,3584-19.html

I reckon such an unlocked and overclocked chip would make a good dedicated budget gaming machine.

The major question is what percentage of Athlon II x 2 220s can a person expect to unlock to Phenom II level quad core?

 

[cbn]

Right now I am thinking a new DIY AM3+ build using ASRock 970 board makes a good comparison to a used/refurbed Windows 7 licensed LGA 1155 Pre-built.

The maximum upgrade for both platforms (FX-8370 and i7-2600) have passmark scores of 9075 and 8269 respectively.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+FX-8370+Eight-Core

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-2600+@+3.40GHz

Of course, the i7-2600 in the Windows 7 Pre-built would have higher single thread. The LGA 1155 Pre-built should also have lower idle power consumption. However, the LGA 1155 Pre-built would need a PSU upgrade if a powerful video card was used (possible exception would be certain workstation LGA 1155 Tower, but I need to research more). A typical LGA 1155 Tower enclosure will probably also have less ventilation than a typical DIY Tower case.

Total price difference (between DIY AM3+ and refurbed LGA 1155) is going to depend on how the AM3+ is set-up vs. the sale price of the Windows 7 LGA 1155 Pre-built (along with what processor is used).

 

[cbn]

I do have another Athlon 220 around (paid $10.99 shipped) that can unlock successfully to quad-core known as Phenom X4 920 and is defect-free and genuine 65W. I'm saving and preserving that one later. But it's a little weaker one that can be overclocked up to 3.50 GHz max due to a slightly lower 1.32V it defaulted vs. 1.40V in the damaged two other cores I'm using now.

Walt, for your Athlon II x2 220 that unlocked to Phenom II x4....what stepping did it have?

 

[cbn]

Some other ebay "buy it now" listing prices:


Athlon II x3 435 (2.9 Ghz), (United States seller) starting at $24.00 shipped
Athlon II x4 640 (2.6 Ghz), (United States seller) starting at $34.50 shipped
Phenom II x3 710 (2.6 Ghz), (United States seller) starting at $25 shipped.
Phenom II x 3 720 BE (2.8 Ghz), (United States seller) starting at $30 shipped.
Phenom II x 4 910 (2.6 Ghz), (United States seller) starting at $45 shipped.


Athlon II x3 435 (2.9 Ghz) Passmark: 2496 CPU marks http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Athlon+II+X3+435&id=156

Athlon II x4 640 (2.6 Ghz) Passmark: 3354 CPU marks http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Athlon+II+X4+640&id=171

Phenom II x3 710 (2.6 Ghz) Passmark: 2496 CPU marks http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X3+710&id=341

Penom II x 3 720 BE (2.8 Ghz) Passmark: 2698 CPU marks http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X3+720

Phenom II x 4 910 (2.6 Ghz) Passmark: 3329 CPU marks http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X4+910

 

[mikeymikec]

I'm confused, how can an Athlon II unlock to anything Phenom II-ish? The latter has L3 cache, the former doesn't.