Phenom II X2 550 turns into a Phenom II X4 B50

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Hi, :hello:

I'm a firm believer in one step at a time, it worked with both my builds. Before OCing or changing anything in the BIOS I put it all together "Out of Box" meaning no adjustments, load my OS & I burn it in for 2 full days...I leave comp running for a full 48 hours while testing STOCK. If all is stable, now I can unlock the 2 cores & test them. I have 4 cores @3.5GHZ stable.

btw it took me about 7 days to get it stable @ Stock, I had to adjust the timing on my OCZ memory after a email reply with new settings from the manufacturer for my 4GB.
 
The X2 550 is 3100MHz and draws 80W. The X4 945 is 3000 and the X4 955 is 3200 and both draw 125W. So if an unlocked X2 550 becomes a X4 950 - does it now draw 125W?
Click to expand...

No thoughts on this?

Was easy for me to avoid fiddling around before burning in my system - I didn't order a better cooler for over a week!
 
Thx Jim, in fact I ran prime95 in Duo for 12 hours without any problem. To play it on the safe side, I will do the default clock setting on 3 cores. Will keep you guys up to date later on!! Cheers
 
well i got my antec 300 case adn a cooler master 120mm fan in the front.
now unlocked and at 3.4 in running at 40c.

very nice case
 
Your benchmark is based upon the system being un-stable? I don't get that. If mine doesn't pass at least a couple of hours on Prime95, I start over with lower settings.

I'm still confused about this whole OC thing. I run mine 24/7 too at 3.55.

Do yall consider it a benchmark if the computer will POST? Boot Windows and show the desktop? Run for 5 mins without artifacts?
 

Hi, :hello:

OvrClkr, we are all waiting for your report on your new MoBo how are u doing, were u able to unlock the 2 cores ?

IF u are using DirectX 9c here is an Update for it:
DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
Brief Description August 2009:

The Microsoft DirectX® End-User Runtime provides updates to 9.0c and previous versions of DirectX — the core Windows® technology that drives high-speed multimedia and games on the PC.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displaylang=en
Click to expand...
 
I'm about 2 months from building another system. Ugh. I wanna build it so bad.

The only thing good about the wait is prices dropping. That lets me get faster/better toys 😀
 


Stays stable long enough to run benchmarking programs like 3DMark06 and to get a validated CPUID readout. My CPUID link was done with this in mind (16.1k on 3Dmark06) but it only lasted 25mins in prime95, with heat being the factor that ended it. With better than stock cooling I could probably stabilize it for daily use at 3.6, but for now am happy.
 
Thanks Jofa for response. I guess I can't imagine running any computer for tasks when I know there's a chance of error.

My 785 chipset Gigabyte is doing my x4 B50 at over 3.5 without any errors at all. That's simply 17.5 on the multiplier and nothing changed on bus, it doesn't seem to like those changes. My 1066-rated G.Skill I'm running at 800 @ 4-4-4-10 again with zero errors. Heck, I got a very fast computer for under $300 including MB, CPU, RAM, PSU and Scythe cooler. I'm tickled pink!
 
Hi All,

I'm hoping you can help me with my unlock. I've not seen any other reports of the symptoms I experienced. When I change EC Firmware Selection to hybrid and set the ACC to auto, I save and exit and the computer shuts down. It is then dead. It won't do anything until I short the jumper. Am I missing something I'm supposed to do?

CPU: Phenom II 550BE 45nm (need to look up the batch number tonight)
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H
BIOS: F1 (and tried with F4 - same result)
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
PSU: Corsair CX400
Cooling: stock
VC: Radeon HD4200
 
If your 550 can be un-locked, it should work with either BIOS F2 or F4 - no experience with F1. You're doing exactly what I do to un-lock mine, so it likely means your 550 cannot be un-locked. Happens about 30% of the time according to what I've read.

I didn't know that system would be dead if it didn't work, but maybe reviewing the thread here will tell you for sure. I thought it just continued to show as a 550 x2 if it didn't work.

We have the same motherboard, CPU and RAM.

Might try BIOS F2, but I'm running F4 now and working fine and un-locked. Make sure you use the BIOS upgrade within the BIOS, not Windows or such to change it. You can read the BIOS files from a floppy or a RAM drive.
 
@IconicG,
Normally if your 550 doesn't unlock, your computer posts and the bios recognizes your CPU as B50 but when windows starts to boot it blues screens...that's what normally happens when your 550 doesn't unlock...
Yours might be even more faulty than others...If you still want to unlock, I think the best thing for you to do would be to return or RMA this 550 and get another one (hopefully one that unlocks)
 
@mongox
Jofa's right... I can get my B50 3.8 Stable...and even 3.9 on the right settings...
But for benching your CPU only needs to be stable enough to get your CPU-Z verification...and hopefully a successful 3DMark run...
I got mine stable enough @ 4.01Ghz to bench in 3DMark06 and get the CPU-Z verification...so I count that as a successful bench...
 
@Jim937,
OvrClckr mentioned that he was able to unlock on his new mobo. He said it was successful...
But he is busy...I guess...
he is also busy working on our site, as we are still building it up...
you can check it out so far if you're interested... it's www.ovaclockers.com or www.frozentec.com
 
sup... sup...

sorry if I didnt respond to any PM's or posts but I have been busy lately ....

anyways I was able to unlock fine @ 3.8/3.9/4.0Ghz but temps were reaching 60c at load so I decided to return the mobo and save up for a 955/GT 300.... Looking at the new 980a mobo's that have the same unlocking feature as the SB750... But my plans are to save up as much as I can cause I really a next-gen GPU from Nvidia and it seems that the prices are going to be redonculous so I guess it's a waiting game....

 
A non-stock cooler isn't needed to unlock the 2 extra cores on a 550.

If the cores will un-lock, they will do so without any addition of hardware. It just takes a motherboard BIOS that has Advanced Clock Calibration. And a 550 which will un-lock the cores and run properly that way - about 70% of them according to most forums on the subject.

My 550 actually dropped 1C degrees with its cores unlocked.

You want an optional cooler to maximize your ability to overclock the 550, regardless of whether it will un-lock its cores.
 
Yeah, I know and I thought, my friend just games on a dual core so if it doesn't unlock, I'll have a nice dual core!
 
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