Unlocking AM3 cores?

[stoke1863]

Ok im after a budged Quad core rig for my father for use with solidworks.

I will be buying this motherboard

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-373-AS

Should i buy the Phenom 965 quad or go with a x2 550?

Can the above motherboard unlock the 2 cores? Is it a difficult task? What are the chances i will not be able to unlock the cores?

 

[wakayoda]

I do not think it is possible

Even if it does work a proper quad would be better

 

[Azza]

Don't think you can with that motherboard plus chances are slim with any board I think now. Vendors have been releasing BIOS that take away the option to enable ACC, so even if you get a motherboard that has been known to unlock cores you would probably have to find an older BIOS to try. And even then a newer CPU might not do it.

You'll probably have to do quite a bit of research to find a cheap board that will do it.

 

[stoke1863]

look like il go 965 then

 

[Snax]

I have an unlocked 550BE,

I did it on an asus board on the latest asus BIOS. I have an m4a79 xtd evo, which i think you can get for around £70

I *think* and unlocked 550 BE running at the same clock speed as a 965 will be identical given that they are all the same if all 4 cores work.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Can the above motherboard unlock the 2 cores?

Asus M4A78LT-M LE

AMD 760G/SB710

Latest BIOS #0407 - 8th December 2009
Improve ACC Unleashing Mode

 

[Uther]

I think if he definitely needs a quad core,then get a quad core.The 550BE might unlock,and it might not,seems to be luck of the draw!

 

[reiyushin]

You can change bios is needed. Unlocking is very easy but it's luck of the draw...At the end of the day you only stand to lose £(retail-resale) which shouldn't be too much

If you're going for the 965, that's i5 money should check them out as the AMD products can match them clock for clock in performance. (you'll need to beef up the budget a little, MB's start at about £80 for the i5)

 

[tres]

I bought the same motherboard as shown above and the x2 Phenom 550

Last night, I put the system together - 15 seconds after turning it on the first time time, I had all 4 cores succesfully unlocked.

Run a stress test and it's solid. I've heard a few reports of only getting 3 stable cores, but majority is fine - and for a quad core, 3.1ghz machine for the price - unbelievable performance!