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AliveXFire-eSATA2 mobo.
I'm not an overclocker but I think you guys might know the answer.
I had a problem and reset the BIOS to defaults (before I found the real reason). Under Advanced/CPU Configuration the manual refers to a setting you can Enable or Disable called "Dual Core Support". Even in Overclock Mode I can't seem to make this item appear and I've no idea if it was showing before or not.
My question is, do I have to invoke this option somehow for my dual core CPU to function normally or is it only required for overclocking?
DerekW
According to the motherboard's manual, that particular setting only reveals itself if you've got a dual core CPU & by default it is enabled if this is the case - otherwise it simply remains invisible.
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Yep, I've read the motherboard manual. That's what bothers me because I do have a dual core CPU (see spec).
As most of the items under that heading appeared to be about overclocking I wondered if it only applied then (even tho I still was unable to invoke it).
Anyone around with that mobo or similar who can check it out?
DerekW
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You usually don't want to go with default settings for optimal performance. Check the "Overclock Mode" setting and set it to Manual if it is currently on Auto. You should also enable AM2 Boost.
Normally you'd want to adjust the CPU Frequency (MHz) to match what you have but since by default this is at 200MHz you shouldn't have to since all contemporary AMD CPUs run at the 200MHz factory clocked frequency.
The PCIE Frequency (MHz) is also good since the the default value is 100MHz. But make sure to disable Spread Spectrum which is on Auto by default. Same goes for Cool ‘n’ Quiet - disable it.
I have a strong feeling that setting the "Overclock Mode" to manual should reveal the "Dual Core Support" option & you shouldn't have to change that from the default enable setting.
I see your CPU is stated as running at 2.36GHz - I know the 4200+ by default runs at 2200MHz (200x11) & unless you've raised the CPU's multiplier to 11.5x or maybe you've got a 4400+ that shouldn't be the case if the multiplier setting is on Auto. I would advise you leave it on manual if that is where you have it & set it to 11x as is appropriate for a 4200+.
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Sabertooth
Yes I had already changed a few settings from default (one was necessary to even boot).
The following were found set just as you suggested:
CPU 200MHz.
PCIE Frequency 100MHz.
Cool 'n' Quiet - disabled (my doing earlier).
PU Multipler x11.0 2200 MHz.I'll change my CPU spec to that published (2.2GHz). Out of curiosity I checked the CPU using Everest and it showed 2366Mhz. Even using the 1024 conversion it still seems high. If I can believe the sensors it is only running at 33C so there doesn't appear to be anything to worry about.
On your advice I have now enabled AM2 Boost.
I was in half a mind to do so having read about it in the manual.So, thats all very useful stuff thanks. The mystery surrounding that "Dual Core Support" remains though (no sign of it whatever overclocking I invoke). Perhaps it is now automatic and the manual hasn't caught up with it - who knows...
DerekW
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"Even using the 1024 conversion it still seems high"
The "1024 conversion" is for data capacity, not CPU speed. And don't trust Everest...try CPUZ:
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jam
Aw Shucks yes it's just good old electrical MHz - thx for the reminder.
Thanks also for link. CPU-Z showed 2363MHz (similar to Everest). Multiplier x10, Bus Speed 214.8 MHz. I'm still wading through the rest.
DerekW
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Multiplier should be 11.0x, correct? I just skimmed over a review of your board & it said the max manual multiplier setting is 10.0x. If you set it to AUTO, it *should* default to 11.0x.
http://www.ocworkbench.com/2006/asr...
A new BIOS version was released about 2 weeks ago. Depending on which version you have, you might wanna consider an update.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.a...
Also, double check that your CPU Freq is at 200MHz.
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Jam
Yep, multplier is 11.0x and CPU at 200Hz.
I'm not too worried, CPU doesn't seem to be suffering and temperatures look fine (if I can believe the sensors).
Thx for BIOS update link. I'll bookmark it and think about it. In general I don't risk them unless there is a really good reason to do so.
Everything seems fine so I suspect that elusive "Dual Core Support" BIOS reference (which was the main reason I posted) is not worth losing any sleep about about either.
Thx again - appreciated.
DerekW
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"Yep, multplier is 11.0x and CPU at 200Hz"
Confusing, because you also wrote this:
"CPU-Z showed 2363MHz (similar to Everest). Multiplier x10, Bus Speed 214.8 MHz"
Which is it...11 x 200MHz or 10 x 215Mhz?
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jam
Right, forget the 10x, that was an error or typo on my part (must have been the early hours). It is definitely 11x.
I now see the reason for the rest of the confusion because the CPU frequency increases when I have AM2 Boost enabled.
With AM2 Boost disabled BIOS/Everest/CPU-Z all agree placing the CPU frequency around 200MHz and the core speed around 2200.
With AM2 Boost enabled the BIOS no longer reports CPU frequency but Everest and CPU-Z report the core speed at around 2362MHz, and CPU-Z now gives the bus speed as 214.8MHz.
So it all boils down to AMC Boost jacking up the CPU from 200MHz to 214.8MHz. As I probably got my original posting spec from Everest (set well before the recent BIOS reset) then it looks like AM2 Boost was originally "enabled" in BIOS.
I've since changed my posting spec to the basic 2200MHz which is "probably" less confusing as it now matches published figures.
Thx for your interest - hope it all now makes sense.
DerekW
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Aha! ..... now that you mentioned this, I do recall the manual (when I glanced it over yesterday) did imply a 12.5% boost or something to that effect but 214.8MHz is only 7.4% - Oh well.
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A little rider:
My BIOS version (at bottom of BIOS screen) is given as v02.61 - copyright dated up to 2006
Somewhat mystified because the BIOS updates shown in post #7 (second link) bear numbers such as 1.70 with 2007 dates.
Another thought on the elusive "Dual Core Support" is that this only gives overclocking support anyway. If this happens to be the case then I'm happy enough as long as my dual core is functioning normally. Can't see any reason why resetting the BIOS should have caused this feature to vanish, so it was probably never present in my current BIOS version.
Will do some more Googling out of idle curiosity but nothing much to show so far.
DerekW
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"My BIOS version (at bottom of BIOS screen) is given as v02.61 - copyright dated up to 2006"
The BIOS version is usually near the top of the POST screen, not the bottom. Many times, it's listed after the board model number. For example, have a look at this screenshot...the BIOS version is 2AA7
http://www.linuxhardware.org/images...
Or this shot...the BIOS version is F2:
http://samantha.carrotware.com/imag...
Asus makes it a little more obvious:
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Aha - it is in fact the first version P1.00. I should also have looked in the Main tab in BIOS too (I was in Chipset Features) because it is also given there and also in CPU-Z).
Any idea what that v02.61 refers to at the bottom of the BIOS screens?
Thx
DerekW
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