For a while ASUS has been making motherboard with Core unlocker feature. Motherboards for socket AM3 not that overpriced Intel crap. But they have been expensive (example ASUS Crosshair III Formula).
Now that is changing! New ASUS M4A89GTD PRO has many many cool features.
With the main one – Core Unlocker(to unlock cores in AMD AM3 CPUs)
Memory OK (for those idiots who buy crappy flashy LED laced memory modules like Kingston HyperX or Geil Black Dragon and can’t get them to work)
GPU Boost for better graphics
TurboKey (instant hardware overclock)
and USB 3.0 ports.
I never had the chance to test it but now that opportunity presented itself I did it.
Took ASUS M4A89GTD Pro and Phenom II X2 555 cpu (only 2 cores available) put it together with some GooD RAM DDR3s and off it goes.
Sorry for pic quality I was taking them with my lost&found Sony Ericsson w810i.
Here it is with a regular locked CPU
And at a flip of a switch:
Here are some CPU-Z screen shots:
It works! It really works, the fun part is that a MB which will cost around 130 ~150 USD can turn a $200 cpu into a $400 cpu instantly given that the said CPU has all 4 cores intact. Sometimes manufactuers lock cores because they are faulty so instead of Phenom x4 you get Athlon x2 but the CPU is saved, unlocking that wouldn’t be a good idea cause the system would be unstable (intel used to do this back in the day with celerons, faulty pentiums would get cut and branded celeron). So far this Phenom x2 555 worked over night on OCCT all cores loaded 100% and didn’t freeze or reset, seems that I got a good one on my hands. I still have some athlon II there and will see if that works as well.
Anyways… coolness to the max.