Thread: [X3 Athlon 435] Unlocking the fourth core

Owner of an Athlon 435 and a 3x Asus M487TD EVO (870 Chipset so), I wanted (well I still want to) try to unlock the 4th core (damaged or name, the tests will tell me) from my Athlon so it goes Phenom x4.

After reading various articles, reviews, etc.. I tried, in doing so: in the BIOS, I enabled "Asus Core Unlocker" to "Enabled", and I left the choice of Cores to "Auto".

Here my PC restarts, only CPU-Z I detect a Phenom x4 but with 3 cores, hence my concern.

Trying to enter Manual for selection of cores in the BIOS, 2/3/5/6 were on "Enabled", 4 on DISABLED.

By activating the 2/3/4, the PC refused to boot and force me to change the BIOS settings.

Hi,
Tension is a bit high I think it should be around 1.3v
(1.34 home)

Downloads the latest cpu-z 1.56 and Windows Task Manager, like 3 hearts?

May be needed down the cpu frequency, and change the voltage to successfully make stable the last heart.

Think well to the latest bios (Me it worked less well on the release of core 8xx chipset with a bios not updated), I had a Phenom X2 550be II released in x4. After maybe you're out of luck.

On asus there is also a button "core unlocker" on the motherboard I believe.

Hello and thank you for your reply. For power, the value is automatic, I did not touch anything, try lowering the voltage a bit and putting it in Manual. All the same, 3 hearts everywhere, and exit the bios on POST Screen, down, I get a "3 cores are activated!" when I turn on Core Unlocker. A BIOS update was made before the maneuver.

I do not have a chance is one thing, but it is not surprising that he refuses to turn me on the 4th heart, too unstable to be there? On the button on the motherboard, I'm not home to check before a big week unfortunately.

In my opinion if it sells AMD processor X3 and X4 is not that the 4th core is not usable because defective. I see no reason why they bridle a processor like this without reason.

I agree, the basic objective is to sell as scrap. However, this type of approach, like the Radeon 9800 is their time, because the products "sold off" sell more, in fact it must then supply the market with proc which could be sold in x4, 'cause it is always better than not sell at all!

In short, AMD is a victim of its success in certain series of proc.