[SOLVED] My CPU only shows 1 Core 2 threads

[Bavardgaming]

Hi! I bought a computer with an i3 3220 which is supposed to be a two core, fourth thread CPU. I have already tried to go into msconfig and change it, to no avail. My motherboard is a Foxconn 2ABF and from what I cant tell has no bios. Would it fix itself if I buy a new CPU or would the M/b still limit it? Is there a fix for this? Thanks in advance!

 

[Bavardgaming]

I've asked for others to chime in here.

Alright thanks. I really just wanted to see if there was a fix or if I bought a new CPU would I loose as much performance as I am now.

 

[Barty1884]

Foxconn 2ABF and from what I cant tell has no bios.

The board will have a BIOS, it has to have a BIOS.

Appears that board came out of an HP system.

First of all, I'd look to clear the CMOS. If you cannot access the BIOS (likely F10 for an HP OEM system), then you could remove the CMOS battery for 10mins. Looks like it's located to the top-right of the motherboard.

Some (most?) BIOS have an option to disable cores. Whether you have the option on that board and exactly where you'd find it in the BIOS, I'm not sure - and it may even vary by BIOS version, but it would make sense that somehow a core has been disabled.

Clearing the CMOS or "loading optimized defaults" in the BIOS should achieve the result without having to go hunting for the option.

 

[Bavardgaming]

The board will have a BIOS, it has to have a BIOS.

Appears that board came out of an HP system.

First of all, I'd look to clear the CMOS. If you cannot access the BIOS (likely F10 for an HP OEM system), then you could remove the CMOS battery for 10mins. Looks like it's located to the top-right of the motherboard.

Some (most?) BIOS have an option to disable cores. Whether you have the option on that board and exactly where you'd find it in the BIOS, I'm not sure - and it may even vary by BIOS version, but it would make sense that somehow a core has been disabled.

Clearing the CMOS or "loading optimized defaults" in the BIOS should achieve the result without having to go hunting for the option.

Alright let me take a pic of the bios real quick so you can see what I need to do.

 

[Bavardgaming]

The board will have a BIOS, it has to have a BIOS.

Appears that board came out of an HP system.

First of all, I'd look to clear the CMOS. If you cannot access the BIOS (likely F10 for an HP OEM system), then you could remove the CMOS battery for 10mins. Looks like it's located to the top-right of the motherboard.

Some (most?) BIOS have an option to disable cores. Whether you have the option on that board and exactly where you'd find it in the BIOS, I'm not sure - and it may even vary by BIOS version, but it would make sense that somehow a core has been disabled.

Clearing the CMOS or "loading optimized defaults" in the BIOS should achieve the result without having to go hunting for the option.

https://imgur.com/a/6fb6IPE

View: https://imgur.com/a/6fb6IPE

This is all I see in terms of BIOS.

 

[Barty1884]

https://imgur.com/a/6fb6IPE

View: https://imgur.com/a/6fb6IPE

This is all I see in terms of BIOS.

"Run UEFI Application" should take you into the BIOS with all the options, however limited they may be

 

[Bavardgaming]

The board will have a BIOS, it has to have a BIOS.

Appears that board came out of an HP system.

First of all, I'd look to clear the CMOS. If you cannot access the BIOS (likely F10 for an HP OEM system), then you could remove the CMOS battery for 10mins. Looks like it's located to the top-right of the motherboard.

Some (most?) BIOS have an option to disable cores. Whether you have the option on that board and exactly where you'd find it in the BIOS, I'm not sure - and it may even vary by BIOS version, but it would make sense that somehow a core has been disabled.

Clearing the CMOS or "loading optimized defaults" in the BIOS should achieve the result without having to go hunting for the option.

Is removing the battery dangerous? Any tips?

 

[Bavardgaming]

"Run UEFI Application" should take you into the BIOS with all the options, however limited they may be

Upon trying to run it, it does absolutely nothing.

 

[kanewolf]

Do you think if i bought a new CPU that that would fix it or...?

Is it possible this OS install started with a single core CPU? In other words has this OS install been used with different motherboards or multiple CPU swaps already ?

 

[Barty1884]

Upon trying to run it, it does absolutely nothing.

Well that is strange.

Is removing the battery dangerous? Any tips?

It's not dangerous, no.

Turn off the power supply (or disconnect from the wall). Hold the power button down for a few seconds to drain an residual power still in the board. Then remove the CMOS battery (has a little spring/latch on one side, it'll pop right out). Wait 10 minutes to be sure, reinstall the battery, turn the PSU back on (or plug back in) and proceed as normal.

 

[Bavardgaming]

Is it possible this OS install started with a single core CPU? In other words has this OS install been used with different motherboards or multiple CPU swaps already ?

Yes it is possible but I don't know. I just bought it from lytetechnology.com. (For what seems to be $300 more than its worth.)

 

[USAFRet]

Yes it is possible but I don't know. I just bought it from lytetechnology.com. (For what seems to be $300 more than its worth.)

When did you buy this?
And dare I ask...how much?

 

[Bavardgaming]

What will clearing the CMOS do?

 

[Bavardgaming]

When did you buy this?
And dare I ask...how much?

July of this year for around $430. They promised that it would work amazingly.

 

[kanewolf]

Yes it is possible but I don't know. I just bought it from lytetechnology.com. (For what seems to be $300 more than its worth.)

With the odd symptoms you are having, I am thinking that booting a Linux from USB and checking would be a good idea. That will eliminate any Windows issues.

 

[USAFRet]

Performance Computers – Lyte Gaming PCs

lytetechnology.com

Those are some SERIOUSLY wrong prices.
'wrong', as in shady.

 

[Bavardgaming]

With the odd symptoms you are having, I am thinking that booting a Linux from USB and checking would be a good idea. That will eliminate any Windows issues.

Ok. I would like to try to leave that as a last resort, as I don't have a USB and every time I've tried to install an OS I end up bricking something.

 

[Barty1884]

What will clearing the CMOS do?

It will load default settings within the BIOS. So, if there's a core disabled, it will revert to default which = all cores active.

There may be settings tweaked that will prevent you from entering Windows without updating them again, but with a board of this era and limited functionality, it's almost certainly just stock.

With the odd symptoms you are having, I am thinking that booting a Linux from USB and checking would be a good idea. That will eliminate any Windows issues.

This is a good call OP. If you can rule Windows in/out, you can then determine if you're looking at a software or a hardware/BIOS issue.

 

[Bavardgaming]

Performance Computers – Lyte Gaming PCs

lytetechnology.com

Those are some SERIOUSLY wrong prices.
'wrong', as in shady.

Yeah I am just realizing that.

 

[Bavardgaming]

It will load default settings within the BIOS. So, if there's a core disabled, it will revert to default which = all cores active.

There may be settings tweaked that will prevent you from entering Windows without updating them again, but with a board of this era and limited functionality, it's almost certainly just stock.



This is a good call OP. If you can rule Windows in/out, you can then determine if you're looking at a software or a hardware/BIOS issue.

Alright Ill try to do that. According to a friend on discord, this has been updated to support third gen CPU's, will that mess that up.

 

[Colif]

wonder if running this would shed light on number of cores - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool

 

[Bavardgaming]

wonder if running this would shed light on number of cores - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool

Alright will do.

 

[Barty1884]

Alright Ill try to do that. According to a friend on discord, this has been updated to support third gen CPU's, will that mess that up.

No, it won't any BIOS version etc, it'll just load the default settings within the current BIOS version installed.

wonder if running this would shed light on number of cores - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool

That might, and is a good option before you reset the BIOS, OP. I'm not convinced the BIOS will let a piece of software 'see' the cores if they're disabled, but it's worth a shot.

 

[Bavardgaming]

No, it won't any BIOS version etc, it'll just load the default settings within the current BIOS version installed.



That might, and is a good option before you reset the BIOS, OP. I'm not convinced the BIOS will let a piece of software 'see' the cores if they're disabled, but it's worth a shot.

Alright I'm gonna see about that and post it here and then I will clear the CMOS.

 

[Colif]

the thread moving so fast your suggestion about cmos happened while I was looking for the link. I don't know if Intel has any magic in that program that lets it see disabled cores, I know AMD Master can see the actual speed of my CPU whereas Windows thinks I am always running at 4.2ghz

 

[Bavardgaming]

wonder if running this would shed light on number of cores - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool

No, it won't any BIOS version etc, it'll just load the default settings within the current BIOS version installed.



That might, and is a good option before you reset the BIOS, OP. I'm not convinced the BIOS will let a piece of software 'see' the cores if they're disabled, but it's worth a shot.

https://imgur.com/a/xKOG8Za

View: https://imgur.com/a/xKOG8Za