GA-880GA-UD3H - unlock cores on Phenom II 555 BE

[kaborka]

Hello -- First post here.  I just purchased my GA-880GA-UD3H and PhII as a package deal.  The v2.0 board came with the F1 BIOS which was missing the "CPU Core Control" BIOS option.  I updated to F4a, which added the option.  However, the only available option when set to manual control is to disable Core 1.  I tried this, and the system booted with one CPU!

My understanding was the board is capable of unlocking up to four cores on the PhII 555.  Is this correct?  If so, how?

[Tiger]

CPU Unlock needs to be changed to Enabled.

Exclusive Auto Unlock technology provides hardware-based solution for unleash CPU performance

Advanced BIOS Features
CPU Unlock (Note)
Allows you to determine whether unlock hidden CPU cores. (Default: Disabled)
CPU core Control
Allows you to determine whether to manually enable/disable CPU Core 2 and Core 3. Manual allows the two items below to be configurable.
>>>Auto Lets the BIOS to enable all CPU cores (number of cores available depends on the CPU being used). (Default)
>>>Manual Allows you to individually enable/disable CPU Core 2 and Core 3.
CPU core 2 (Note)
Enables or disables CPU Core 2. (Default: Enabled)
CPU core 3 (Note)
Enables or disables CPU Core 3. (Default: Enabled)

(Note) This item is present only if you install a CPU that supports this feature.

[kaborka]

Thanks, Tiger, I missed that setting.  The board booted nicely with all 4 enabled.  Memtext86+ now reports it as a PhII X4 B55.  Once I get my drives set up, I'll see how it does in Windows.

Thanks again.

[sideburns]

Hi,

I also have a 880G board, ga-880gma-ud2h, but am having difficulties getting to unlock with a 555be. I can manage 4ghz, but no extra cores

What settings have you enabled to get 4 cores? Presumably enabled the CPU unlock and then either manual or auto? Any other options you have changed?

update:

Although when I originally started using the machine the cpu unlock options where for core 2 and core 3, now it just lists core 0 and core 1 Also on boot the cpuid and patch number are displayed, is this normal or perhaps is the proper microcode not in place to recognise this core?

Cheers

[Dark Mantis]

 I would just like to point out, in case of relevancy to other users that not all AMD CPU with extra locked cores can be unlocked. It used to be the case more that you could buy a cheaper model CPU and then unlock extra cores but often now with better binning this is not the case.

[sideburns]

Yes, I am aware the chances of core unlock aint so great these days, but just trying all the options.

On the flip side 4ghz does come at 1.4v vcore

[kaborka]

What settings have you enabled to get 4 cores? Presumably enabled the CPU unlock and then either manual or auto? Any other options you have changed?

No other options changed.  If you're only seeing 2 cores with CPU Unlock enabled, something is wrong.

[Dark Mantis]

If you are still having problems unlocking the cores see this other thread I found: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2476.0.html

[sideburns]

What settings have you enabled to get 4 cores? Presumably enabled the CPU unlock and then either manual or auto? Any other options you have changed?

No other options changed.  If you're only seeing 2 cores with CPU Unlock enabled, something is wrong.

Well ye see this is what I though, motherboard options for unlocking now read

Cpu unlock
Cpu core control
Cpu core 0
Cpu core 1

as opposed to cpu core 2/3 as in the manual and as people describe on the internet. I've tried reflashing the bios a few times but it seems locked to this mode :/ Im sure when I first installed the board it would read core 2/3 as it should.

Also, on boot, where i'd expect the processor speed to be displayed it shows id numbers for the processor instead. I have a theory I may have to wait for a bios update before this chip is fully recognised, the board also has issues correctly getting the spd settings from my ram.

[Dark Mantis]

Maybe there is a fault on the board or chip?

[sideburns]

Yes, perhaps.

I have submitted a querry to technical support regarding this issue suggesting a new bios with new microcode. Will update as and when I hear anything.

[proxy]

I have the same issue showing up on this same board.  Have you had any response from technical support sideburns?  Anyone have an update on this issue?

Any information on this would be appreciated =).

Note: If I have broken protocol by posting here instead of creating a new thread I apologize and let me know; I just thought consolidating this on one thread would be preferable.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.
No problem posting here as you say just as well continue the same thread. I am afraid I don't know the outcome of this particular problem.

[proxy]

Thanks for the heads up DM.  I've read around a number of forums and threads and it seems like this is a common problem with the Gigabyte 8XX series boards.  Apparently they can't unlock extra cores reliably, and I've yet to see successful unlocks with any of them.

It's a shame since this was an excellent feature of the 7XX series boards.  Hopefully Gigabyte will get this resolved in a future BIOS update.  Oh well, I'm still happy with build, but if I'd had prior knowledge of this I might have opted for a Asus 8XX series board, although I still largely prefer Gigabyte.  3 of my 4 builds this year have been with Gigabyte boards (Intel not AMD ones though) 

[Dark Mantis]

In reply I would say that one reason why the 8xx boards are having more trouble with unlocking the extra cores  over the 7xx boards is the the binning by AMD has become tighter and ther are not so many CPUs with the extra core that is stable enough to be unlocked and run stably.