Thursday, July 30th 2009

Latest 785G Motherboards Continue to Support Core Unlocking

When it first surfaced that some triple-core and dual-core AMD Phenom series processors could make their disabled cores available under special circumstances thanks to shoddy BIOS-coding associated with the Advanced Clock Calibration (ACC), the anomaly quickly transformed into a potential selling-point for AMD processors, that with the right motherboard, a cheaper AMD processor could be unlocked into a significantly powerful processor for the price. Although AMD made noise calling motherboard vendors to quickly isolate and fix the issue, months on, it hasn't been fixed even with AMD's newest desktop platform based on the AMD 785G+SB710 chipset. An almost deliberate precedent, one we can't have problem with.

Chinese website Coolaler.com has learned that MSI's newest AMD 785G motherboard, the 785GM-E65, can not only unlock the two disabled cores on the Phenom II X2 550, but also provide reasonable overclocking stability for the processor. Coolaler used a retail Phenom II X2 550 on the new motherboard, and simply set the ACC feature in the BIOS setup to "auto" (which enables it from the BIOS end). The system booted with all physical cores on the processor enabled, and allowed overclocking it to 3.609 GHz (18 x 200 MHz, 1.344 V). The chip was subjected to full-load using two instances of Orthos to test its stability, to which it emerged fairly stable.
Source: Coolaler
Add your own comment

26 Comments on Latest 785G Motherboards Continue to Support Core Unlocking

#1
DanishDevil
Board looks cool. Good use of ports, and sweet feature of unlocking cores! I wonder if AMD will start lasering the cores now :(

PS: Sweet new avvy ;)
Posted on Reply
#2
suraswami
what in the ? is that multi-colored PS2 port (for keyboard or mouse or both together)? and what is that black thing about the PS2 port?
Posted on Reply
#3
Easo
PS2 port colors makes me wanna get this lol.
Posted on Reply
#4
DanishDevil
Dual color means it will work with either mouse or keyboard.

Above appears to be a V.92 modem port.
Posted on Reply
#5
mamisano
DanishDevilAbove appears to be a V.92 modem port.
More likely optical audio (TOSLINK) out.
Posted on Reply
#6
mdm-adph
I still don't think this is accidental. It's too easy to restore those cores.
Posted on Reply
#7
MrAlex
mdm-adphI still don't think this is accidental. It's too easy to restore those cores.
An evil scheme by AMD so that Quad-Core secretly take over, then 1 day we discover they aren't faulty and AMD transmits a secret signal that unlocks all 4 cores and says BITCHES ITS 4+ FROM NOW ON!
Posted on Reply
#8
Unregistered
MrAlexAn evil scheme by AMD so that Quad-Core secretly take over, then 1 day we discover they aren't faulty and AMD transmits a secret signal that unlocks all 4 cores and says BITCHES ITS 4+ FROM NOW ON!
lol, wish it were so
Posted on Edit | Reply
#9
MrAlex
wolf2009lol, wish it were so
Or maybe people know there's a chance to unlock 4 cores so it increases sales? :p
Posted on Reply
#10
Easo
DanishDevilDual color means it will work with either mouse or keyboard.
I know :P :toast:
Posted on Reply
#11
nINJAkECIL
the disabled cores aren't 100% working....
strange things though...when doing the benchmark (3DMark, Cinebench, SuperPi, etc..) all 4 cores working smoothly, even when overclocking, but things turns ugly when doing just browsing...got random hangs...
maybe it's just the bios...dunno

1 thing for sure...you got another toy when buying X2 550 :D
Posted on Reply
#12
mtosev
why do they lock cores? if you can unlock them where is the point in locking them anyway?
Posted on Reply
#13
Kitkat
im building the 785 for my brother (gygabyte) i like building for ppl cause me gets to test it!
mtosevwhy do they lock cores? if can unlock them where is the point in locking them anyway?
the chip they sell is the one supported by amd at the price and at the cores they release it at. period and yes u can unlock them (mobo companies doing) they arnt nesssary "locking them"
Posted on Reply
#14
r9
If all dual cores were unlockable it would kill AMD. But allowing here and there. That is smart. Not killing the quad sales only improving the dual core ones.
Posted on Reply
#15
Kitkat
it hasnt killed anythinng if anything it made the chips more popular. There is no now and then, they know they can do it. Plus the new 95w are on the way. After phenom series im sure they wont alow it. People who want there max everything will still go for 955 and 965. being able to unclock lower chips will just be a bonus for those who couldnt. AMD didnt formaly ask them to stop anything especialy with the upcoming chipset. why would they? its helping. watchng the market latley?
Posted on Reply
#16
DanishDevil
mamisanoMore likely optical audio (TOSLINK) out.
I think you may be right. Either way, weird placement, though.
Posted on Reply
#17
tastegw
phenom x2 550 is one cheap quad! (j/k)
Posted on Reply
#18
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
looks like a nice little board - and yes, thats a phone jack for a modem. Its not optical TOSLINK. Being an AMD chipset, they'll do digital audio via the HDMI.
Posted on Reply
#19
Wile E
Power User
Musselslooks like a nice little board - and yes, thats a phone jack for a modem. Its not optical TOSLINK. Being an AMD chipset, they'll do digital audio via the HDMI.
Nope. It's a toslink port. www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=754
Posted on Reply
#20
inferKNOX
W00T! AMD, ATi & MSi are doing great!:rockout:
I see myself sticking with them for the foreseeable future!:D
Posted on Reply
#21
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
Wile ENope. It's a toslink port. www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=754
really?

It has no covery-flap thing.

edit: ah yeah, i can see it. its black, so it blends in. all the ones i've seen, we're grey (or detachable)
Posted on Reply
#22
Cheeseball
Not a Potato
The BIOSTAR 785G+710 combo can unlock cores to, and even support a 6GHz+ OC to boot, but I like the more extensive rear port layout of this MSI one.
Posted on Reply
#23
aj28
Looks good.

No, I don't think the core unlocking is an accident. Rather, I think it's a hole AMD is willing to leave open to attract enthusiasts and tweakers back to their crowd. Not something they'll advertise, for fear of misrepresentation, but definitely a quiet and purposeful gesture.

Also, no, I doubt they'll laser. Keep in mind that we don't know at what stage of production these things are diagnosed as being defective, not to mention the plausibility and more importantly the cost effectiveness of such a measure. Hell, AMD may not be cutting them simply to save a bit of cash on the process. They need to get rid of the defective cores one way or another anyway, so there's no point in intentionally crippling them any more than a fault in manufacturing already has.
Posted on Reply
#24
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
Id definitely grab this board if it allows unlocking and damn good oc's and stability.
Posted on Reply
#25
LittleLizard
wonder why it dont use a 8 pin connector :ohwell:
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
Apr 18th, 2024 21:17 EDT change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts