Unlocking Athlon II x3 445 (info, screenies etc)

Mussels · Jan 25, 2010

As the titles says, i got a new CPU to play with in my media PC. The results may help you choose between an Athlon II x2 or x3, depending how it all turns out.

Will be editing as i go along, please re-check the first post every now and then.

One thing you may ponder about: i'm not concerned with load temps or power usage, since this is a media PC. its hardly ever going to load, so this test is focused on power usage at idle. Its also kinda obvious that a triple/quad core is gunna use more power than a dual.

System setup:
Motherboard: GA MA785GPM-UD2H
Onboard radeon 4200IGP - 128MB Sideport ram + 256MB system ram
6GB DDR 800 CL5, 1.8V

Old CPU:

Athlon II x2 240 2.8GHz
Stock:1.35v
Undervolted: 1.1v (24 hour stable linpack, OCCT, etc. Never a single crash in 24/7 use for 3 months)

Coretemp idle: 23C

New CPU: Athlon II x3 435 2.9Ghz
ADX435WFK32GI
CADAC AD 0945EPFW

Stock Voltage: 1.40v

Undervolted: 1.15v in testing

4 cores enabled:
So far, with 4 cores enabled it 'unlocks' to a phenom II x4 B35. However its not stable at stock clocks. Am testing various combinations to see what it'll boot with.

Loosenut · Jan 25, 2010

Interesting project Mussels. I also had similar ideas for a media pc.

Good luck with this project, I'm sure to learn something new

Mussels · Jan 25, 2010

sadly, hit a dead end

4th core unlocks but the system wont boot.

no L3 cache to unlock, so tri core phenom is a no go as well

HalfAHertz · Jan 25, 2010

Is it a C3 stepping? Can we get a CPU-Z shot?

Mussels · Jan 25, 2010

HalfAHertz said:
Is it a C3 stepping? Can we get a CPU-Z shot?

That help?

HalfAHertz · Jan 25, 2010

It's a bit weird they went with a higher stock voltage. From what I've heard, the C3 should OC better due to less leakage, which also means better underclocking. Sorry about the 4th core. Looks good so far, best of luck with the undervolting.

Mussels · Jan 25, 2010

its stable at 1.15, leaving it there for the time being. sad no unlock

but hey, it was a free upgrade from my x2 240 (which also didn't unlock)

87dtna · Jan 27, 2010

Regor X2's don't have anything to unlock!

HossHuge · Jan 27, 2010

HalfAHertz said:
It's a bit weird they went with a higher stock voltage. From what I've heard, the C3 should OC better due to less leakage, which also means better underclocking. Sorry about the 4th core. Looks good so far, best of luck with the undervolting.

For some reason it has C2 stepping. I would have thought all their new cpu's would have the new C3 stepping.

Edit: I found out that the new C3 stepping is just for the Phenom II's

Mussels · Jan 27, 2010

atm i've got it set to 2.9Ghz 1.15v, and it idles at 800Mz 0.8v

works well, for me.

TheShad0W · Jan 28, 2010

I unlocked an X2 550 BE phenom for someone recently that took 1.42v to be stable on all four cores at stock speeds, could always give the voltage bump a go.

Mussels · Jan 28, 2010

TheShad0W said:
I unlocked an X2 550 BE phenom for someone recently that took 1.42v to be stable on all four cores at stock speeds, could always give the voltage bump a go.

i have weak cooling. I tried as high as 1.40v for quad core at 2GHz, no go. that was 60C at idle

JrRacinFan · Jan 28, 2010

Mussels said:
i have weak cooling. I tried as high as 1.40v for quad core at 2GHz, no go. that was 60C at idle

What about L3 cache unlock? You try just that yet?

Mussels · Jan 28, 2010

JrRacinFan said:
What about L3 cache unlock? You try just that yet?

i dont think it has any to unlock. I managed to unlock it to a phenom II dual core (odd, i know) but there was no cache present.

In the latest BETA bios i have "munaul" (lol) core control.

I have some weird options "disable core 2" "disable core 3"

Disabling core 2 makes it a dual core phenom. (but no L3 cache?)

testing other combination now, as the core 3 option wasn't there last time.

edit: ahah, this explains it. the per core ACC option forgets what its set to when i reboot the machine. buggy beta BIOS at fault here. Had to set some EC firmware setting to "hybrid" to make it remember the settings between reboots.

ACC on 2%, all cores: "core 2" + "core 3" disabled (CnQ is on)

Core 2 on, Core 3 off = no boot

Core 3 on, core 2 off = boot

the poor things having an identity crisis

System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

System Name	Loose nuts & bolts
Processor	FX-8350 - EK Supreme HF full nickel
Motherboard	ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R2.0
Cooling	Water EK goodness all around 2xBlack Ice X-280
Memory	2 x8G HyperX Fury 1600 @ 9-9-9-24-1T
Video Card(s)	2 x XFX RX 480 w/EK-FC RX 480 nickel+Acetal
Storage	Samsung 850 Evo + 2xWD Black 500GB in RAID0
Display(s)	Crossover 27" 2560x1440 110Hz OC
Case	Cooler Master HAF XB EVO
Audio Device(s)	on board
Power Supply	Corsair HX850
Software	Win 10 Enterprise x64

System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

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Processor	R7 5700G
Motherboard	Asrock B450M Pro4
Cooling	Some CM tower cooler that will fit my case
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Storage	ADATA SU800 512GB
Display(s)	27' LG
Case	Zalman
Audio Device(s)	stock
Power Supply	Seasonic SS-620GM
Software	win10

System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

Unlocking Athlon II x3 445 (info, screenies etc)

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Loosenut

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

HalfAHertz

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

HalfAHertz

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

87dtna

HossHuge

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

TheShad0W

New Member

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

JrRacinFan

Served 5k and counting ...

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

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Display(s)	23'' 1080p
Case	Cooler master
Power Supply	Antec HCP 850w
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