Dual to Quad Core

[dwashy]

Currently I'm running a Phenom II x2 550 at 3.4GHz OC'd. I'm using it on a MA770T-UD3P board.

My board is neither the SB710 or SB750, but Gigabyte released new bios (FC2 I believe?) that I flashed and now have the ability to enable ACC to auto, all cores etc...

However, once set to "Auto" or "All Cores", my computer boots quite normally as a dual core.

Is it safe to say the other two cores are defective? (I've heard success stories using this same board, so I didn't think the SB710 or SB750 were required). If it doesn't work, I'm fine with the quickness of the dual cores. But if I can run quad, would make my setup somewhat futureproof (for a few months..)

Thanks in advance,
dwashy

 

[gkay09]

If am not wrong, MA770T-UD3P is an AM3 mobo and has SB710...What RAM do you use???
MA770T-UD3 is the AM2+ mobo with SB700...

 

[Helloworld_98]

@OP, my guess would be that your mobo has the ACC fix, you need the first BIOS release, if it supports your processor, to have a chance at the core unlock.

 

[dwashy]

Currently I have the MA770T-UD3P, AM3 motherboard running 1333mhz RAM. It does indeed have the SB710.

When you say "first", you mean the very first I can find available, earlier than the one that came with the stock mobo? I flashed it to the latest, which allows ACC (the stock bios did not), but I just dont get anything.

Ill take a look and see if I can find a previous version that supports ACC

 

[loneninja]

The only people I know who have unlocked that processors are using a buggy beta bios as the newer bios versions prevent unlocking the quad.

 

[jj463rd]

Here is what someone wrote over at newegg on their review.
"Just finished installing this on a Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P motherboard. Updated the bios to the latest version, F2C, from Gigabyte's website. Unlocking the extra two cores couldn't be easier - go into bios setup. Select the first option, "MB Intelligent Tweaker," then select "Advanced Clock Calibration," then change "EC Firmware Selection" to "Hybrid" and change "Advanced Clock Calibration" to "Auto." That's it. Save and exit.
When your system restarts, you should have a four core processor at your disposal. Rockstar."
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

If you get it working congratulations you've save a lot of money something between a
Phenom II 940 and 955 (closer to the $245 955) plus you got an inexpensive motherboard too.
Perhaps the best deal out there right now for around $100
If you do get all 4 cores working though you probably shouldn't try to overclock it but keep it at stock speeds.

 

[ahslan]

please let us know if you get this working.....im pretty interested to find out if you can get all four cores out of it...if you do, this is a great and cheap upgrade path...

 

[jj463rd]

Heck ya.It would make a kickass budget system.Only problem with the motherboard is that it doesn't support crossfire.If you want that option you will have to choose another motherboard.Otherwise when one gets it working it's perhaps the best choice out there for cost per performance for a system unless one opts for the higher end Core i7 920 CPU system in my opinion.You could probably make a nice potent lil gaming system (including the Windows OS) with this combo for under $650.
I also am highly tempted by this as well.I tempted to build 2 sets of these systems for myself.I may not do it but it's a consideration.
Here is how I would allocate such a budget
$80 Motherboard
$103 CPU
$70 Memory
$120 Graphics Card
$70 Power Supply & Case
$70 Hard Drive
$30 DVD Burner
$100 Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit
Total around $643

 

[ahslan]

Heck ya.It would make a kickass budget system.Only problem with the motherboard is that it doesn't support crossfire.If you want that option you will have to choose another motherboard.Otherwise when one gets it working it's perhaps the best choice out there for cost per performance for a system unless one opts for the higher end Core i7 920 CPU system in my opinion.You could probably make a nice potent lil gaming system (including the Windows OS) with this combo for under $650.
I also am highly tempted by this as well.I tempted to build 2 sets of these systems for myself.I may not do it but it's a consideration.
Here is how I would allocate such a budget
$80 Motherboard
$103 CPU
$70 Memory
$120 Graphics Card
$70 Power Supply & Case
$70 Hard Drive
$30 DVD Burner
$100 Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit
Total around $643

subtract $100 by using windows 7 RC... ...brings that beast down to $550...its amazing what you can get today with $550...

 

[jj463rd]

Also one could junk out an older obsolete system (Use the Case,Power Supply,DVD Burner) and save an extra $100 bringing it down to $450.Also if one got less memory say 2GB RAM and a $50 hard drive they could bring it down to $400.Perhaps with some deal codes over at newegg it would be under $400.Plus if one didn't need the $120 graphics card a $50 one would do and it's possible to make it closer to $300.

 

[ahslan]

^this is sorta what I did with my current build...I used my old dvd burner, an old hdd, and an old pci wireless card for my current rig and was able to bring the price to a tad over $400, but this was a year ago...