CPU core missing?

[Julius484848]

Hi,

I have a AMD Phenom II X4 970 processor, which I thought was a quad core (when I have googled for research).

However when I look at the number of cores when I set affinity in the task manager or in AMD overdrive, my system seems to think I only have 3 CPU cores.

Does my phenom only have 3 despite what everywhere seems to say about Phenom II X4s or has a core gone missing somehow?

Thanks for any help!

 

[clutchc]

The Phenom II X4 has 4 cores. Maybe one of your cores is dead? Or disabled in BIOS? Boot to BIOS and see what it reports.

 

[cmi86]

overdrive will show your first core as "0" then 1,2,3. A good easy way to check is to just pop open task manager and pull up the performance tab. With a quad core you should see 4 graphs showing the usage on each individual core.

 

[Julius484848]

Thanks for the speedy input.

I actually broke then fixed this one myself. Windows was definitely reporting I only had 3 CPU cores. While poking around I found that in the advanced options in the boot section of MSconfig I could change the number of cores Windows uses on start up (still only listed 3). I unchecked a box in this menu hoping that windows would have to detect the correct number. But instead in BSOD my PC on start up. GREAT.

It did lead me to this solution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKH0dGX4KeA

which I used to reset the number of cores windows thought I had, fix the BSOD issue and I know have 4 cores (and can play dragon age).