Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition is a big surprise
THE PHENOM II X2 550 Black Edition chip is much more than a simple "low-end" Phenom II. First tests show that not only is it a joy to overclock, but if you hook it up to the right mainboard, you can activate all four cores on the processor.
Yes, that's right. The cheapest Phenom II around can have all four cores activated... for free. Using AMD's OverDrive we were able to switch on all four cores through the ACC. Unexpected to say the least.
This means four 3.1GHz cores, all with 512KB of active L2 cache and sharing 6MB of L3, just like a high end Phenom II X4 950.
Now, with four cores in hand we've set off to see precisely how far this can take us.
So far, we've had some trouble running 3D graphics benchmarks to the end, but pure arithmetical and multimedia benchmarks have run without a glitch, which leads us to believe our graphics card isn't quite up to spec. On the other hand, purely CPU benchmarks like Sandra CPU Arithmetic, Cinebench R10 and wPrime yielded almost linear gains with the two additional cores active.
Granted, your mileage may vary, but there is something uniquely rewarding about turning on the four cores with a simple "flip of the switch". That serious look on your face is followed by a narrowing of the eyes, and then you break out in a rather silly large grin.
We'll put up our benchmark results as soon as possible. µ
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wat?! O_o
Just smile, nod, and walk on ;-)
Where do I find the "vondrashek" translator? I can not understand a single post this bot/human makes!
INQ:
Please tell us what boards support this great unlocking potential, I want one, ermmm make that two :), thanks!
If it looks too good to be true... Will it play games and stuff without CTD or BSOD? Will it run memtest without making errors?
What's their angle, surely they disabled the cores for a reason, or are they trying to win back the enthusiast segment with a lottery binning?
PS. Drashek is Inq's very own stream of IT consciousness writer. Quite what the chemistry is behind the consciousness remains the subject of much controversy ;)
What vondrashek cannot see is that AMD is setting a standard like what they have done in the GPU department against Nvidia.
Intel has nothing like "Unlocking cores/free Quad as a dual core stuff" which is a big part and selling point of AMD/ATI. And it's overclockable too? No way!!!This is a "Pre" look of what's to come. To bad Intel cannot buy costumers no more.
AMD is just setting the bar for prices once again. Nice to see them back in the game.
This is just continuing with the genius idea behind the 3rd core unlocking. What they done is found away to offer a better processor than Intel. Every one know manufactures take a one processor and alter the clock speed, but they have taken it one further with core unlocking they will get a rep for being uber powerful for next to nothing. IF AMD never openly admitting that there is this ability then Intel will find it hard to start competing.
seems to grab material from other inq-stories, forum posts and news sites. vondrashek is learning at a geometric rate..just wait.
I always find that if you can wade through the mighty vondrasheks posts without your brain collapsing in on itself, he usually has a few pearls of wisdom and generally seems very on the ball.
The key is to disregard all that seems right about the English language.
What motherboard? DDR2 or 3 memory?
B
And of course the disabled one has just been disabled by AMD so you can have a nice little surprise later. Arent they darlings? Nothing to do with the hi probability that its disabled for a reason. AMD got some stock they need to get shot of?
The catch is you're only buying a dual core processor, so that's all you can expect.
These are made by disabling 2 of the 4 cores on a quad, as the X3s are 3 of 4 quad cores. If there are a large number of failed quad core parts where 2 or 3 cores work OK these will be used as the Phenom X2 chips. However, if the yields are good then you will find a lot of the X2 chips could function as quad cores quite happily.
As yields improve your chances of getting a 'good' X2 will increase. This is a lot like intel had with the core 2 quads, most of them were able to run 3GHz plus, so you could chance it, buy a 2.4g quad and run it much faster. (Mine's at 3.5 for well over a year now.)
Basically, it's a calculated risk, you might get lucky, you might not.
FWIW a friends X3 has been running as a quad for a good while now. :)
Well. The longer the x3's are out, the more they CANT be opened to a 4th core working. It is less and less now more than more and more.
I would guess amd will hobble the x2's soon like they did with x3.
Kinda dumb to allow them to work.
This would be really handy... except googling for phenom II 550 throws up nothing, there are no 550s on ebay, they seemingly dont exist anymore. So is this technique applicable to the newer x2s?
Hey all,
I was looking to get the Phenom II X3 720 BE.
But might as well go for this one.
Can someone please let me know that is it possible to Unlock all 4 cores on this motherboard -
GA-MA78GM-US2H - http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2995
With F2 Bios or F3 Bios. [I use F2 currently]
It would be greatly appreciated.
Please if anyone running that motherboard & have successfully unlocked cores of Phenom's on it via ACC.
Let me know pls. Thanks a Lot!
Anyway, I have found both processors in Australia at PC Case Gear in Melbourne, Phenom II 550 BE is AUD$155 and the Athlon II 250 is AUD$137 the store was a launch partner for AMD. I'm sure places like Newegg etc have them as well. Mind you, I don't know whether the store has the stock yet, but their website says they do. They even reference this article for a review...C'mon inq, give us the details, a few benchmarks with a 4670 and/or 4770 since these would be aimed at a mid range segment (is it me, or has the mid range become much cheaper recently?)
I tried 6 chips.
1 fully unlocked and got to 3.1 ghz
2 clocked nicely but no extra cores.
3 just plain bad bsod
Newegg.com has the chips, though I do not know if they are the same chips as post in this article.
Let me know if it's the same CPU.
would like to know what motherboards u can use to unlock to other 2 cores??
Ok I got the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition.
No problems so far runs like a champ.
A bit disappointed though...
It OC's to 3.5 GHz easy on stock heatsink but I get stabitlity issued after 1 hour...after testing...
Settled for 3.1 GHz with the stock heatsink.
I don't think it's the fault of the stock heatsink it's just my poor air-flow in my case. I just have 1 80mm exhaust fan that'a all.
So I guess it falls in place.
Other things...
I don't see any options for "ACC" in the BIOS of this Gigabyte motherboard anywhere. Maybe new BIOS has it but forget it 3 cores are good for now.
1 nice thing is that my DDR2 667MHz ram runs @ 800 MHz with a simple tweak in the Bios. That's nice. I can even go upto 1066 MHz but I'm happy with 800.
All in all a great purchase. I'm more than satisfied.
AMD, ATi & INQ rock on.