Unlocking a 555

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Rahburt-33

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Mar 17, 2008
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I ordered a 555, and I am using a biostar TA890GXB HD mobo that supports bio unlocking (at post screen it gives an option to press F3 to unlock third core and F4 to unlock fourth)
The third core doesn't unlock at all, and the fourth will unlock but the computer does not boot. I haven't deactivated cool n quiet (I can't figure it out either in this bios) nor have I changed the CPU voltage (Or an CPU settings, for that matter.)

I'm still using the stock HS/F, which I know is a big no-no, but I'm going to buy a new one this weekend. Any suggestions? I have $60, but I only want to spend around 30-40 on it, because I need to buy some speakers.

Any suggestions?
 
There wouldn't be any issues with it running as a Tri Core with the third core disabled would there? To me it seems that if skipping the third core and going to the fourth (1,2,4) would be problematic.
A tri core would be fine for me, I might do a small overclock on it as well if cooling permits.
 
Stability may be an issue on either of the unlocked cores. You are just going to have to experiment with it and run it thru it's paces to see what happens. I had a 555 that unlocked to all 4 cores and overclocked to 3.7ghz without issue, of course this was after it's initial release of the processor and then I bought one at Microcenter last weekend for my dad's new rig and that one wouldn't unlock at all. I also had a 740BE almost 2 years ago that would unlock but overclocking was a major issue for it so I just set it back and ran with the 3 original cores overclocked. I took it back when Microcenter got the 955BE I have now back in stock and paid the difference. Been good ever since. The only way to guarantee results is to start off with a quad core that is meant to be a quad core. The "Gold Chips" are hard to find. BUT on a side note that 555 you got is still a damned good chip. Overclock it the way it is and test it out against the overclocked unlocks you achieve. probably will be close to the same with more stable results. My dad's is sitting at 3.8ghz on an H50 right now. Bumped the multiplier to 16.5X, voltage to 1.375v left the tweaked the memory multiplier right under specs of his memory and beat it up with OCCT for 3 hours to test it out. It checked out fine.
 
sounds like your chip wont unlock....


no issues doing 1/2/4, they are not "logical" in that order/sense...
 
Hedghawg71 said:
Stability may be an issue on either of the unlocked cores. You are just going to have to experiment with it and run it thru it's paces to see what happens. I had a 555 that unlocked to all 4 cores and overclocked to 3.7ghz without issue, of course this was after it's initial release of the processor and then I bought one at Microcenter last weekend for my dad's new rig and that one wouldn't unlock at all. I also had a 740BE almost 2 years ago that would unlock but overclocking was a major issue for it so I just set it back and ran with the 3 original cores overclocked. I took it back when Microcenter got the 955BE I have now back in stock and paid the difference. Been good ever since. The only way to guarantee results is to start off with a quad core that is meant to be a quad core. The "Gold Chips" are hard to find. BUT on a side note that 555 you got is still a damned good chip. Overclock it the way it is and test it out against the overclocked unlocks you achieve. probably will be close to the same with more stable results. My dad's is sitting at 3.8ghz on an H50 right now. Bumped the multiplier to 16.5X, voltage to 1.375v left the tweaked the memory multiplier right under specs of his memory and beat it up with OCCT for 3 hours to test it out. It checked out fine.
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Yeah, I bought it understanding that there was a chance that it won't unlock.The better HS/F should let me push it to 3.7 ghz, at that point I won't mind the amount of cores. Thanks for your response though, I'm gonna try to get to Fry's asap (No Microcenter's in Vegas :( )
 
Rahburt-33 said:
Yeah, I bought it understanding that there was a chance that it won't unlock.The better HS/F should let me push it to 3.7 ghz, at that point I won't mind the amount of cores. Thanks for your response though, I'm gonna try to get to Fry's asap (No Microcenter's in Vegas :( )
Click to expand...

No problem dude, I hoped I helped you out some. Good luck on your rig! :cool:
 
I see a title with 555 in it and I think someone wants to hack a timer chip. Know what I mean :/
 
It looks like I have a good chip overclocking wise, I put it to 3.7 ghz with the stock cooler, so it should be able to do 4 no problem when I get a better cooler.
 
if the bios lets you and cores 1 2 and 4 are stable then yes you can run it as a tri-core.
 
I have been looking into doing this myself. I am just not sure if i feel like playing roulette with it. I may just buy a quad to start with.
 
Rahburt-33 said:
I ordered a 555, and I am using a biostar TA890GXB HD mobo that supports bio unlocking (at post screen it gives an option to press F3 to unlock third core and F4 to unlock fourth)
The third core doesn't unlock at all, and the fourth will unlock but the computer does not boot. I haven't deactivated cool n quiet (I can't figure it out either in this bios) nor have I changed the CPU voltage (Or an CPU settings, for that matter.)

I'm still using the stock HS/F, which I know is a big no-no, but I'm going to buy a new one this weekend. Any suggestions? I have $60, but I only want to spend around 30-40 on it, because I need to buy some speakers.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Do you have another board that supports ACC that you can try unlocking with to isolate the cpu? A long shot since you can even get the system to post but... consider boosting your voltage ~.05-.1v is safe and easy to try.

* quasi new to hardocp. lost my login and email from ~10 years ago.
 
On the Cooler recommendation front, this Coolermaster could work for you. I got one of these for my boy's computer, it keeps his 965BE running at 3.7 @1.4v cooled off. He plays alot of Crysis so I know it gets hot enough that if there was going to be an issue it would have reared it's ugly head on us by now. (it's been over a year like that) His motherboard the MSI 790FX has a LED readout that throws the temps off and the highest I have seen it was around 48c on 2 of the cores while in action. Get a little tube of Arctic Silver 5 to go along with it and spread it on with a razer blade real thin. It works best that way. My Fry's over here always has these things thrown up on end caps all over the store around the same price as newegg. It also came with extra clips so a push/pull setup is possible with this cooler too.
 
If I recall, both of my friends have Arctic Silver 5 leftover from when I built their computers, so I'll ask them about that. Heatsink looks good, thanks for the recomendation. There wouldn't be any problems if I got a colored fan for it, would there? I have a bunch of 120mm fans laying around, so dual fans will keep the cpu nice and cool.
 
No problems on the colors, I put a red one on my boy's box and if the exhaust port wasn't right behind it on the case I would have put a blue one on the back of it. As long as the have the standard mounting on them. This isn't a Thermalright or Noctua by no means but it will get the job done alot more effectively than that stock heat sink anyday.
 
A tri core would be fine. Thats exactly what Im doing with mine because the 4th core will unlock and POST but it wont boot into Windows. So Im at 3 cores.

This thing overclocks very well and with a Cooler Master Hyper 212+, Im at 4.08 GHz right now with temps in the upper 30's during Prime95. Had to tinker with RAM timings a bit to get it stable but it will go. I hit 3.9 with nothing more than a voltage tweak.
 
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