What does unlocking an AMD FX 4170 do ?

[t1mone]

What does unlocking a processor do? As i have heard it being mentioned numerous times when people have talked about over clocking, but what does it actually do to the processor?

 

[Foo392]

AMD's FX series already have unlocked multipliers, it allows you to easily overclock your CPU.

If you are interested in overclocking, you may want to look at this: http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/amd-overdrive/pages/overview.aspx

Also, make sure you read up on overclocking your specific CPU BEFORE making ANY changes, or else you could easily damage your system stability.

 

[lazyboy947]

unlocking a cpu when the pc loads up and flashes the motherboard logo or something and says press "_" for core unlocking or bios etc, core unlocking was only in the Athlon and Phenom x2/x3/x4 cpus that had deactivated cores that could of been defective or disabled for harvesting a cpu to sell as a lower core cpu. example, most common unlocked cpu a phenom x4 960t which is based off thuban cores which is the six cores so its a four core with two cores disabled, either there unstable or defective or just deactivated so they can sell it as a quad core. The fx 4170 and the fx series do not have any hidden disabled cores if thats what ur talking about as in "unlocking".

Not all athlon/phenom cpus were able to do unlocking zosma are the quad core with 2 cores disabled from the x6, and heka and callisto being the x2 and x3 which were quad cores with 1 or 2 disabled - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Phenom_microprocessors#.22Thuban.22_.28E0.2C_45_nm.2C_Hexa-core.29. Every name says if there are any hidden cores but i mean u have an fx so no worry again if ur asking for "core unlocking" and not black edition unlocked as in the multiplier etc for overclocking

 

[t1mone]

Like you said in the bios it says unlock Core but the option in my Bios was already set to locked and i was wondering what it meant by it was locked and what i would be unlocking if i unlocked it as from what i gather from what you are saying it is the cores multiplier that would be unlocked not a core is this right or am i just being an idiot in not understandings?

 

[t1mone]

And thank you for the suggestion Foo392 but my motherboard is sadly not able to cope the with overclocking software you recommended