Want to get a Phenom II X2 555...

[blyndy]

...I want to unlock the two disabled cores. Does anyone know the success rate for them, or specific batches?

Also what is a good matx mobo for unlocking/overclocking? I'd like an 890GX board (and use the 6gb/s SATA with the next release of Intel SSD) but that chipset dropped support for core unlocking, leaving it completely up to mobo manufacturers to implement. The MSI 890GXM-G65 is nice (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...I%20890GXM-G65). In this bios video I don't know if it has core unlocking, but it shows enable/disable options for four cores (http://www.guru3d.com/article/msi-890gxm-g65-review/3).

890FX would be good but I don't really want to be waiting for it to get released and available, haven't seen any m-atx versions anyway.

785G has many more options so more likely to end up being that chipset. Prolly just upgrade the board come the new year for a 890FX m-atx. Maybe even an X6 if the price is right .

Anyway back on point: whats is the unlock success rate for the X2 555 BE? I really hope its better than 50/50.

 

[fffblackmage]

I don't think there's a real number. Not everyone that unlocks successfully or unsuccessfully will post about it. Some argue failed attempts aren't likely to be posted.

At least from a prior thread that I can remember, several of us managed to unlock cores successfully for the 550BE, and one person wasn't successful. However, there are a few people that have started threads about having issues unlocking cores (instability issues, BSODs).

But 50/50 is your best bet probably. It either will unlock, or it won't.

 

[heyheybooboo]

My success rate has been much greater than 50%
(don't really want to say for fear of putting the whammy on myself - LOL)

ACC (Advanced Clock Calibration) in the BIOS of mobos with the sb710/750 is used for unlocking. ACC was developed to improve PLL timing and overclocking in the original Phenoms but turned out to have the ability to unlock cores in the PhIIs (that didn't really need the ACC capability, anyway).

The sb850 mobos do not have ACC in the BIOS, but one ASUS model (see Anand article) has a 'switch' which takes its place for core unlocking. It looks as if other vendors are taking the same strategy.

This subject might make a good sticky as folks sift out the new 890gx chipsets for core unlocking ...




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[busydude]

I couldn't unlock mine. I mean I did unlock, booted onto windows and CPU-Z even recognized it as a quad core. It was pretty unstable with 3D and sound issues. I ran OCCT test and found out that core 3 was defective but alas, I have a gigabyte motherboard which does not have the option to unlock each core separately.

 

[Markfw]

My 550 did not unlock at all. From what I have seen, its more like 50/50

 

[Eddie313]

Bought two phenom X2 550 Both Unlock and hit 3.6ghz with no problem.

 

[dcavici]

i suggest getting the phenom II x3 and try to unlock 1 core, that way even if it doesn't unlock you still have 3 cores to use

 

[Malfeas]

i suggest getting the phenom II x3 and try to unlock 1 core, that way even if it doesn't unlock you still have 3 cores to use

Yeah, I agree with him. On newegg the pII x3 720 BE is only five dollars more. Of course it is 3.2 ghz versus 2.8, but I'm sure the 720 can overclock fairly well too.

 

[blyndy]

I came across this unlocking thread http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1499697

It has 8 out of 10 X2-555s successfully unlocked. Thats good

 

[busydude]

I came across this unlocking thread http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1499697

It has 8 out of 10 X2-555s successfully unlocked. Thats good

That's because most of the people who unlocked extra cores will respond, mostly, for bragging rights. I say 50/50 for unlocking 2 cores and 70% to unlock 3rd core.

EDIT: Sure its lot of fun but overrated.

 

[heyheybooboo]

I came across this unlocking thread http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1499697

It has 8 out of 10 X2-555s successfully unlocked. Thats good

Here are 32 pages of the XtremeSystems Phenom 550BE unlocking. There are some 555BEs at the end.

I've unlocked 550BEs, 720BEs and Sempy 140s. I'm currently running an undervolted, unlocked quad 550BE that pulls 127w from the wall at 100% load.

It's worth it.





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[Lark888]

I have one of each (720 x3, 555 x2). Both unlocked on gigabyte MA790X-UD4P motherboard once I updated the bios. The x3 at four cores would overclock at 3400Mhz with a little voltage increase and run at 3600Mhz at about 1.45v but no go above 3600Mhz and it ran a little hot (48-52c) running Prime95 on all four cores. I don't remember trying to overclock on just three cores.

I moved the x3 to an ASUS board for my spouse and put in the 555BE. Unlocked to 4 cores with no problem and would run at 3700Mhz at stock (1.22v on this chip); 3900Mhz with additional 0.05v; 4000Mhz at 1.32v. At 4000Mhz, the temperature was 50c running Prime95 on all four. I am using an older Zalman 9500 HSF.

The 720BE x3 was OEM from new/egg about a month ago and the 555BE is a retail cpu from Microcenter purchased on 4/3.

The overclocking is just for fun. I would have used the CPUs at x3 or x2 if they did not overclock. HOWEVER - the 555BE is going to run 4 cores o/c......

 

[VirtualLarry]

I moved the x3 to an ASUS board for my spouse and put in the 555BE. Unlocked to 4 cores with no problem and would run at 3700Mhz at stock (1.22v on this chip); 3900Mhz with additional 0.05v; 4000Mhz at 1.32v. At 4000Mhz, the temperature was 50c running Prime95 on all four. I am using an older Zalman 9500 HSF.

How did you get temp readings with all four cores unlocked? I thought that the ACC unlock procedure rendered temperatures unreadable with normal tools?

 

[Lark888]

Larry - I'm sorry for my poor sentence structure. You are correct - I can only read the one indication for CPU temps when running all four cores. I meant to say that that single temperature indication reads about 50c when I run Prime95 in the unlocked configuration. :/

 

[deaner]

I have a X2 555 - which has been successfully unlocked and VERY stable on both the 750 & 890GX Chipset's. Have been running it as a BE X4 555 for the last 2 months, at 3.2ghz. About to step into overclocking, see what she can really do I have the Asus 890GX Pro - Has a switch on the motherboard for unlocking, very convenient I might add - compared to the 750.