Australian $1200 build core-unlocking

[bombat1994]

Type of computer - Gaming, Video Editor and general computer use

Parts not need - Keyboard mouse and speakers

I might overclock when video editing but other wise not

i intend to unlock the dormant cores to make this a quad core. if the core unlocking fails i will just upgrade the processor once it becomes to slow.

all parts are from www.itestate.com.au

CPU - AMD Phenom II x2 550 $99

Motherboard - GA-MA77OT-U3P $109

Video Card - Gigabyte ati 5770 $199

RAM - 4GB DDR3 1600mhz G-Skill C9 $155

Hard Drive - WD 1TB 64mb 7200rpm caviar black $105

Case - Lancool PC K-56 Gaming Case $89

PSU - Hipro 680 watt PSU $99

Monitor - Samsung 23inch P2350 $209

OS - Win 7 Home premium 64 bit oem $115


the computer came to $1176 australian dollars which is

$1021 USD about what do u guys think

 

[bombat1994]

please help guise

 

[N.Broekhuijsen]

your probably not going to succeed in unlocking the cores.

If you have the right mobo, the cores will be unlocked, but the dual core model has a very high chance of having 1-2 bad cores.

usually more luck with the triple cores..

At a build of that price point I would spend 60 more US dollars and you get yourself a good quadcore from the phenom 2 series.


good??

 

[roversjoost]

I diagree. I did the exact same thing myself after reading up on it intensively. I read in a lot of places including http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3730 that there is a pretty decent chance the cores will unlock. The consensus seems to be that around 70% (give or take) will unlock all 4 cores.

I say go for it if you can accept there is a chance it wont work and you will only have a pretty decent dual core. Just make sure your motherboard has the bios settings to unlock. I have a Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P which worked like a charm.

I looked at your selected psu and maybe you should consider changing it to a decent 80+ certified one. I dont have the expertise myself to recommend one, but look around the forums, there are plenty posts discussing good psu's.

Good luck!

 

[erdinger]

I have a Phenom II 720 and it couldn't unlock the fourth core(gigabyte Ga-ma_790fxt), Roverjoost said that there's a 70% chance that you can unlock the 2 other cores I would say its less then 25% chance.

At that point the Phenom II 955BE really doesn't cost that much I'd just buy it an get a good quadcore without any risk and without voiding your warranty

 

[roversjoost]

My numbers (+/- 70% chance to unlock) are based on http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=227004.

 

[bombat1994]

i have read that with my motherboard combonation u have a good chance like 80 % the 955 is $100 dollars more and the 965 125w is $120 more

 

[bombat1994]

Best answer selected by bombat1994.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey