fx-6300 prosseser questions, legit 6 core???

[Pc6777]

well I have a few questions about my cpu... first of all does it have 6 legit cores??? is it 6x3.5 ghz??? also can it go into 3 core mode and have 3 strong cores??? I know it has 6 cores and 3 moldules... when I was playing minecraft my cpu usage was at 50ish percent some of the time... and minecraft only uses 1 core... so how did that happen??? also basically how does this cpu function in general, thank you!!!

 

[CTurbo]

Yes it's 6 cores. It does not have a 3 core mode. It's cores are weak, and overclocking helps a little, but they're always going to be weak.

 

[digitaldoc]

The FX series of processors are organized so that each pair of cores work together. Technically the FX6300 has 6 cores, but it performs more like a 3 core chip.

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/100583-analyzing-bulldozers-scaling-single-thread-performance

The cores will not be "stronger" but I believe that cores shut down, and can go faster in turbo mode to enhance performance in some situations.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2337270/fx6300-turbo-mode.html

 

[CTurbo]

The old Phenom x6 cpus were 6 individual cores and on some motherboards, you could disable cores completely which allowed for a higher maximum overclock on the remaining cores, but I don't think the FX chips work that way, or it's at least not effective.

 

[Pc6777]

so why does it say 50 percent usage in minecraft sometimes? because some of the cores auto oced and some shut off?

 

[Pc6777]

so it has 3x3.5 ghz.. so it does has 21 ghz total???

 

[TheFluffyDog]

so why does it say 50 percent usage in minecraft sometimes? because some of the cores auto oced and some shut off?

no, 50% just means what load out of the total load is being used. ITs not realtaed to any physical amount of working parts. Its like a big body builder only lifing half the weight, same muscles, just not pushing it,

 

[Pc6777]

so its 6 real cores that equals 21 ghz?

 

[Pc6777]

so its using 2 of its cores on minecraft?

 

[4745454b]

With this latest FX line AMD changed what is called a "core". When you do math there are two different types. INT math which uses whole Integer numbers (1 + 2 = 3) and FLT math which has a floating decimal point. (1.4 + 2.23 = 3.63) Prior to the FX, CPUs had a 1:1 ratio of Int and Flt engines per core. With the FX chips this changes as AMD doubled up the number of INT "cores" They also doubled the amount of decimal places the FLT cores could handle (I think going from 128 to 256) and the software needed to handle two 128 numbers at the same time. It's my personal belief that this is a problem for AMD and it's not working the way they want it and to much time is spent handling FLT the way it was before. But that's my own personal belief. If you count INT cores then yes. It's a 6 core chip. If you count FLT cores then no. It's a 3 core chip. You also can't add the GHz up together and get 21GHz. It doesn't work that way. (Think of a dully truck. Both sets of back tires are spinning at 60MPH on the highway. Are you going 60MPH, or 120MPH?)

If something loads your CPU only to 50% then it means whatever you are doing can't load as many cores as possible. Most games are coded to only use up to 3 or 4 cores max. If you are playing a game that can load 2 cores, and windows and other processes are using another, then you can load up to 3 cores. This is 50% of a 6 core chip. Try using something that can load all core.

 

[Pc6777]

what about in games that use 8 cores? will it unleash all 21 ghz?

 

[4745454b]

There is no 21GHz. See above.

 

[CTurbo]

what about in games that use 8 cores? will it unleash all 21 ghz?

It absolutely does not work this way.

 

[Pc6777]

I am still a little confused, bear with me please...

so how many ghz can it use in 1 core applications

2 core applications

4 core? applications

8 core? applications

 

[Pc6777]

I am still confused why it cant use all 21 ghz in applications that can use that many cores...

 

[CTurbo]

You can't add them up. Each core can do 3.5ghz. Even if you are using all 6 cores, they're still can only do 3.5ghz each. They don't combine to make one big 21ghz core.

 

[Pc6777]

I know that, I think you misunderstood my question... I will refraze it... can it use 21 ghz in 6 separate things... like if I play watch dogs which can use up to 8 cores, can my 6 cores all be used in different things in the game and my cpu be using 21 ghz? I was not asking about my cpu combing into a 21 ghz 1 core cpu that's ridiculous... so this cpu can use 6x3.5 ghz if its doing heavy multitasking and actually has 6 cores clocked at 3.5 ghz wich equals 21 ghz total and 21 ghz can be used if you are using all 6 cores? thank you

 

[Pc6777]

I am really confused if this is just a 3.5 ghz 3 core that's called 6 core or what? so it does has 6 cores that are 3.5 ghz?? and all can be used at once if the program can use them all? also can one of the 3 moldues act as 1 core and get 7 ghz?

 

[CTurbo]

It's 6 cores. It has a base clock speed of 3.5ghz and it has turbo boost which allows it to run up to 4.1ghz on one or two cores. All six cores can boost up to 3.8ghz at the same time if needed. The cores cannot combine powers to form more powerful cores.

 

[Pc6777]

ok thank you that's exactly what I needed answered...