Swapping AMD X6 for AMD X4 - How Tough a Job?

[cjh6386]

That's consistent with my scenario...if there are four cores, ME sees all four and uses them. If it is a six-core processor, it does not see six, or even four...but ONE! And freezes. Runs well on the quad.

very strange. does anything use more than one core on your system? I have a 2600k, all 8 threads become active when I run just about anything.

[RogueTrader]

Hold the phone! New data! Seeing the 8 cores in the screen display above (mmettin, thanks), I decided to download Speedfan to see what my system would look like. It shows 6 cores, with real-time activity. The news flash: ME 2, when monitored with Speedfan, shows ALL 6 cores active/working, as does Task Manager. So maybe I don't care that the ME config is erroneous...but I do care that it freezes. Might have to rethink where this is coming from...

[JSLEnterprises]

ME & ME2 will only use 4 cores in total, even if your system is emulated 8 or 12, or true 6 core proc.
Just a heads up on that

Sound more like you're having an issue not related to the cpu.

[Lenny]

I don't think this is a CPU problem but rather some issue with ME2.

Be sure your ME2 is fully updated. I don't have the game but google tells me that ME2 had past problems with CPU affinity. There was even a user written utility called MassAffinity to address it but that doesn't specifically seem to be your problem.

[RogueTrader]

That's what I had been thinking, based on the input from EA, but after these discussions and seeing (apparently) all six true cores working feverishly when viewed with Speedfan and Task Manager, while running ME...makes me think the games are taking advantage of all six true cores, whether their Configuration utility shows it or not. Just so I understand...what's the background behind your statement that they are limited to using four cores?

I'm still deciding if we have a processor issue here or something else (graphics card driver, who knows?). I'm leaning toward saying the issue is not the X6. I need to look at the differences in the two rigs I have, the X4 and the X6, to figure out a clue. It's the same graphics card (which I swapped), The graphics card driver used was identical in each rig, prior to the freezes.

[mmettin]

I'm still deciding if we have a processor issue here or something else (graphics card driver, who knows?). I'm leaning toward saying the issue is not the X6. I need to look at the differences in the two rigs I have, the X4 and the X6, to figure out a clue. It's the same graphics card (which I swapped), The graphics card driver used was identical in each rig, prior to the freezes.

Ok, Lets go back to the beginning...

Could you enter your system information into the space for that in your User CP then enable viewing of it? Or could you make a detailed signature listing all of your parts? This will help others answer this and future questions, and you only need to do it once. As an example of the level of detail we need, you can click on my system dropdown or look at some of the other signatures you see here. Thanks.

[TheGlasMan]

I communicated with EA via chat and they confirmed the game does not support X6 processors, and that I would be better off with the X4.

Maybe future games will support X6 and I am being too hasty...but these are the ones people in this household want to play today. Maybe a second swap to get the X6 back in there in the future? It won't go to waste, believe me!

First check your motherboard to see if they have a bios that supports an x6. I think this is the source of your problems.

When a game doesn't support "X" number of cores it just means the extra cores won't be used, and this will not effect anything. CPU's with more cores are thought to run at lower Frequency (not really) so on a game that supports 4 cores a 4 core cpu that runs at a higher frequency can run the game slightly faster then a 6 core that runs slower. Even when that makes a difference the video card often will limit the possible performance rendering that difference mute. Ie that was a stupid thing for EA to say.

[RogueTrader]

I have put my system specs in, so take a look for any clues.

Glasman, the motherboard listed there does support 6 cores (you can see the 6 addressed in the BIOS; the processor is listed in their approved list for that motherboard.

To Oldbrave: I tried disabling the last two cores.ME still recognized only one core, at least what you can see in their config utility. Separately above, we see that the game actually does utilize 6 cores despite the fact it says one is there.

[mmettin]

I have put my system specs in, so take a look for any clues.

Glasman, the motherboard listed there does support 6 cores (you can see the 6 addressed in the BIOS; the processor is listed in their approved list for that motherboard.

To Oldbrave: I tried disabling the last two cores.ME still recognized only one core, at least what you can see in their config utility. Separately above, we see that the game actually does utilize 6 cores despite the fact it says one is there.

The MB listed does indeed support 6 cores...But you have to at least have 1006 bios or newer to support your processor

Phenom IIX6 1075T(HDT75TFBK6DGR),3.0GHz,125W,rev.E0,SocketAM3,6-Core 1006 (bios)


Do you know what version of the bios you have ?

[RogueTrader]

The bios version is American Megatrends 1606 from 24 Aug 2010.

[Lenny]

An easy way to verify Windows sees all 6 cores is:

- Run Task Manager
- Verify that View -> CPU History -> One Graph per CPU is selected
- On the Performance tab you should see 6 separate graphs under CPU Usage History

[mr_raider]

I've been running ME2 on a 1090T with no issues for 1 year. How many cores the game sees is irrelevant. The OS will distribute the workload as it sees fit.

[RogueTrader]

PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AND SOLVED!! Thanks to all for the help. It might help others to know what happened here. After concluding that all six cores were indeed being used, that was not the issue. Replaced BIOS, total Win7 reload, all drivers updated, went thru multitude of ASUS troubleshooting steps...still would not pass ASUS CPU stress test. Much worry about a burnt-out CPU since it had overheated once. Then, using ASUS TurboEvoV tool, I visually saw that each of the six cores was being overclocked from 3.0mhz to 3.5mhz. I had not done this, had never intended to overclock this rig. Changed each core back to 3.0mhz, now it's as solid as a rock! Turns out the BIOS (the new and likely the previous) was overclocking by default, making the rig unstable. This motherboard/BIOS combination is VERY capable, and I need to learn how to use/set optimally. Supposedly the CPU can be significantly overclocked, but you need to make sure all the settings are working in concert. So - use caution, watch your BIOS settings!