AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black - Unlocking 2 extra cores

icetoken

Honorable
Dec 20, 2013
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10,510
Hi,

I'm very new to this but read somewhere I could unlock the other 2 cores on my CPU using my Bios. So I have a GA-MA785GM-US2H and in the Bios there is an option to enable/disable the 3rd and 4th core, which I did and saved it and rebooted it. Once I did that, the fan seems to be running super fast (made a louder spinning sound). I panicked, turned it all off and reverted it back.

Is there somewhere I can read about enabling these 2 cores that I'm missing? Do I need a better fan by doing this? Better power supply (currently have a 400watt one - I have a basic system). Will the temperature go up because it seemed to according to the bios reading.

Thanks. All the info I can find says how to do it but not what I'm supposed to do to make sure it doesn't go haywire.
 
Solution
Core unlocking is not a sure thing. One or both of the locked cores may actually be defective.
If you are able to enable them, your 80W CPU will effectively become a 95W or 125W CPU, and generate more heat. The fan will turn faster. One unfortunate side effect of unlocking cores is that some temperature-reading software will no longer work, so it's hard to judge how much hotter the CPU will get.
If you're still using the stock fan, an aftermarket cooler is probably a good idea. I use and recommend the Xigmatek Gaia over the more often parroted but slightly inferior Hyper212 EVO:
http://www.techreaction.net/2011/07/07/review-xigmatek-gaia-sd1283/7/
http://www.techreaction.net/2011/11/27/review-cooler-master-hyper-212-plus/4/

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Onus

Distinguished
Jan 27, 2006
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19,210
Core unlocking is not a sure thing. One or both of the locked cores may actually be defective.
If you are able to enable them, your 80W CPU will effectively become a 95W or 125W CPU, and generate more heat. The fan will turn faster. One unfortunate side effect of unlocking cores is that some temperature-reading software will no longer work, so it's hard to judge how much hotter the CPU will get.
If you're still using the stock fan, an aftermarket cooler is probably a good idea. I use and recommend the Xigmatek Gaia over the more often parroted but slightly inferior Hyper212 EVO:
http://www.techreaction.net/2011/07/07/review-xigmatek-gaia-sd1283/7/
http://www.techreaction.net/2011/11/27/review-cooler-master-hyper-212-plus/4/

Unlike the Hyper212 EVO (ignore the URL; it IS the EVO they tested), the Gaia never throttled, although it wasn't always the coolest depending on the fan used. Both got awards, but the Gaia is usually cheaper as well, making it the better choice. Actually right now the price of the Gaia has been jacked, but NZXT has a similar model that is notably cheaper. I'd probably get that one.
Your PSU is probably sufficient, assuming it is of reasonable quality. What brand and model is it, and what graphics card (if any) do you have?
 
Solution

dextermat

Distinguished
Sep 21, 2007
634
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19,010
Hi,

I Tried that a few times and it's a gamble. Sometimes it works, sometime it doesn't .

Usually the hack is done in BIOS like you did, but sometime some people uses a program within windows. But that depends on the motherboard.

When the fans where working super fast, did you see windows boot or just a blank screen.

Of course if you unlock the extra core, you will have a bit more heat, but it' shouldn't toast your cpu unless something is wrong.
Although do monitor your temperatures in case.

Good luck