Athlon II X2 Core Unlocking

[bullet90]

Hello All.
I have been researching unlocking cores of the Athlon II and Athlon X2 5000+ (L3 Also) and I have been finding some very conflicting answers. I have been a system builder for 14 years and have found many tricks and tweaks. Now, I want to play around with unlocking cores of the Athlon and Athlon II X2. I don't want to spend a lot, of course, since this is just a project and learning experience. First, I need a capable MB. I am looking either at the Asrock N68-S UCC or the Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H. Both MBs have good reviews but I am leaning toward the AS Rock.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=MB-N68SUCC&c=pw&hash=c089N4LsLV5uJ4pudfQSYTibngCi2kZiJC3e5nwKsPXvuK0okRoAfuCbk7THFDpPxkuN6sudihICg%2F%2Bw6DsW6I3coStf3Gq%2Be4aYqbVRJ82GAtfinPDvNexF6TY

For the CPU, I have read both that the Athlon II are native dual cores and can't be unlocked and that they can, most notably, the 240 and 220. The 240 article here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=231697
And the 220 here: http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/805541-amd-x2-220-a.html

It seems the 220 should have stepping CACAC AC.

As far as the Athlon X2 5000+ goes, there have been a lot of reports of unlocking 2 cores and L3 cache resulting in a Phenom FX-5000 which is seen here: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1498317

This is the best Forum on the Net, IMO, and would appreciate any input or experiences with unlocking cores.

Thanks All!

 

[adriabb]

Hello All.
I have been researching unlocking cores of the Athlon II and Athlon X2 5000+ (L3 Also) and I have been finding some very conflicting answers. I have been a system builder for 14 years and have found many tricks and tweaks. Now, I want to play around with unlocking cores of the Athlon and Athlon II X2. I don't want to spend a lot, of course, since this is just a project and learning experience. First, I need a capable MB. I am looking either at the Asrock N68-S UCC or the Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H. Both MBs have good reviews but I am leaning toward the AS Rock.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=MB-N68SUCC&c=pw&hash=c089N4LsLV5uJ4pudfQSYTibngCi2kZiJC3e5nwKsPXvuK0okRoAfuCbk7THFDpPxkuN6sudihICg%2F%2Bw6DsW6I3coStf3Gq%2Be4aYqbVRJ82GAtfinPDvNexF6TY

For the CPU, I have read both that the Athlon II are native dual cores and can't be unlocked and that they can, most notably, the 240 and 220. The 240 article here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=231697
And the 220 here: http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/805541-amd-x2-220-a.html

It seems the 220 should have stepping CACAC AC.

As far as the Athlon X2 5000+ goes, there have been a lot of reports of unlocking 2 cores and L3 cache resulting in a Phenom FX-5000 which is seen here: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1498317

This is the best Forum on the Net, IMO, and would appreciate any input or experiences with unlocking cores.

Thanks All!

Hi. I've got an old Athlon X2 3200+. When I bought it, the 5000+ was the top of the line (well, if I remember correctly there was an Athlon FX that was even better) and there were not any three core CPU's yet. That makes me think that they're impossible to unlock as a physical third core might not exist.

I have to say that I'm a completly noob about this... If you finally discern whether they can be unlocked or not, please let me know. Good luck!

 

[loneninja]

The majority of the Athlon X2 line up is composed of native dual core processors, the one exception was an Athlon X2 5000 45nm 2.2Ghz dual core that could unlock into a quad. It is also the only Athlon X2 processor built upon 45nm that wasn't named Athlon II X2.

As far as the Athlon II X2 line is considered, they're all native dual cores, and if you notice they have more L2 cache per core than any other current AMD product, they can't unlock into a quad. That link to the 240 turned it into a dual core opteron and unlocked the multiplier for overclocking, it is interesting, but has no effect on performance as the hardware is still the same. The link to the 220 seems to be a bunch of rumor filled talking, no one seems to agree on anything and there is no actual evidence to show an unlock.

 

[bullet90]

Hello
Thanks for responding. The older 5000+ ,I believe, was 2.6GHz and based on the older 65nm technology and had a 2000MHz FSB and AM2. The one in question is 2.2GHz, 45nm, 3200 FSB and AM2+. Just newer technology for the 2.2. They are supposedly unlocking it to a Phenom FX-5000, whatever that is. Here is a thread:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=236217

 

[bullet90]

Thanks Loneninja.
I must have been replying the same time you were. Yes, it being misleading was the main reason for my post. Anyways, I am now thinking the 45nm 5000+ may be a good bet considering cores, multiplier and L3 have been supposedly unlocked with ACC or UCC function. What kind of wattage would I be looking at if I did unlock ALL and was able to OC to say 2.8GHz? How do the 2.2 and the 2.6 BE 5000s compare performance wise? Links would be great for Athlon OCs and Benchmarks.

Thanks Again.

 

[adriabb]

Thanks for the information. I knew it was a silly question...

Anyway, good luck!