Issues with new CPU Core Control feature GA-MA770T-UD3P

[SantoriVelt]

Hi all,

This is kind of convoluted so please read through before responding.

My hardware:
GA-MA770T-UD3P Rev 1.0
Phenom II 550 BE
Corsair DDR3 1600 Mhz memory -currently running on Auto at 1333Mhz(FYI The RAM passed memtest at 1600Mhz)

I have been trying to unlock my 550BE processor and with previous revisions of the BIOS(f3, f4) have been successful in getting a boot with 4 cores into windows  after setting the ACC to Hybrid and Auto. Successful that is for up to 30 seconds or so after the desktop comes up. Then the system freezes. I have jacked the vcore up to 1.475 and dropped the multiplier down to 5x and get the same results no matter what I do. I disabled Cool N' Quiet and disabled the cpu fan control so that my OCZ Vendetta CPU fan runs at max all the time.

A couple of times during this process I was able to run prime95 for a few seconds before the freeze. It ran 4 workers. Workers #2, #3, and #4 were fine but with worker #1 I got multiple illegal sumout errors(hardware error) before the system froze. I figure that I have a bad "hidden" core on my cpu. I couldn't disable the cores individually so I couldn't try for a tri-core. I'm stuck with a dual core. Prime runs fine with 2 workers when I set ACC back to Normal and go back to the cpu as a 550BE.

So then along comes the F5d Bios with "CPU Core Control Option". I flash to f5d and set the ACC to Hybrid and Auto again. I boot and it shows "x4 b50" screen. I then go back into the bios. Now, in the ACC menu I can disable core 2 or 3 but not core 0 or 1. I disable one, then the other, then both, and change the voltages and multipliers around but no matter what I do I still get a freeze on bootup.

With cores 2 and 3 disabled, and after raising the vcore to 1.45 and dropping the multiplier to 6x, I can get the computer to run long enough to start prime95. It runs 2 workers. Worker #2 is fine but worker #1 gets the illegal sumout(hardware error) and then freezes.

So here's what I'm thinking is going on:

I can enable the 2 "hidden" cores with ACC set to Hybrid and Auto but then can't disable the unlocked "bad" core. It's assigned to core 0 or core 1, which I can't disable.

So I know this might be a bit much to ask, but it would be *really* awesome if I could disable any of the 4 cores and not just be limited to disabling core 2 or 3.

This would allow me to disable the "bad" core and run as a tri-core.  

If this feature were available it would make the Gigabyte boards with the "CPU Core Control Option" more attractive to value seeking overclockers. With this option it would make it very likely that they could get at least 3 good cores out of their 550BE.
 
I'll send you guys lots of love if individual core disabling becomes a feature! And I'll write about how awesome gigabyte is on overclock.net, overclockers.com, overclockersclub.com, and extremeoverclocking.com, and most importantly newegg.com.

OK enough begging - but seriously, I would sincerely appreciate it.

[runn3R]

Hi SantoriVelt

Thanks for your suggestion, I will pass it to HQ for checking the possibility of implementation

[SantoriVelt]

Awesome! Thank you! 

[Uruk]

I have the same problem on GA-MA790X-UD3P/X2 550 BE.
I can not make the bad core to work more than 3.3GHZ. Now working as X4 B50 3.3 GHz. And more games require only 3 cores.
I would like to turn off bad core and OC my prosesor at 3.8-3.9 GHz.
Then I had a powerful X3 processor....

[Stiliyan]

I have the same problem on GA-MA790X-UD3P/X2 550 BE.
I can not make the bad core to work more than 3.3GHZ. Now working as X4 B50 3.3 GHz. And more games require only 3 cores.
I would like to turn off bad core and OC my prosesor at 3.8-3.9 GHz.
Then I had a powerful X3 processor....

And for tha MA790X-UD4 motherboard... this means for all of the unlockable gigabyte boards

[jmfg187]

I have the MA790FXT-UD5P and would love to be able to disable one of the unlocked cores on my 550 BE as well. I get cache errors and it is unstable for gaming so I have to leave it as a dual core unless the awesome people at Gigabyte can make this option on all cores!

[Pottypete]

Hi,
follow this link for more information,
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,929.msg4484.html#msg4484
It may help you,
Cheers

[jmfg187]

Thank you but I actually did read that. It will not work for me because it is not just a problem with how high I can clock that core I have turned it down to 400 mhz and still get the cache error. The only chance I got of unlocking and being stable is if I could disable the core completely so I do not get a cache error.

[SantoriVelt]

Same here.

One of the cores won't function correctly no matter how low I clock it. The only viable option seems to be disabling the core in the BIOS. If we are lucky, hopefully gigabyte will include this feature in the next bios revision. *crosses fingers*

[kangoo]

i've read somewhere that you can disable / enable these cores using also easytune6 under windows, not only by bios setup. but i haven't checked it myself

[SantoriVelt]

Yes apparently that is possible with the latest version of easytune. I'll have to try that out when I get back from xmas vacation. Hopefully that will allow me to disable the "bad" core.

[Pottypete]

Hi
Heres hoping it works for you,
Merry xmas

[Stiliyan]

Is somebody working on new bios with option for disabling all cores?

[Pottypete]

Hi,
Did you try using easytune 6?
You could request answer from tech services re bios options!
Cheers

[Stiliyan]

Hi,
Did you try using easytune 6?
You could request answer from tech services re bios options!
Cheers

Yes. I tried it and there wasn't option to disable core 0, core 1.