L3 Cache unlocking

[wowgamer223]

Hi, I just have a question, could I unlock an level 3 cache on a Phenom II X4 850 processor with the ASRock 870 Extreme3 motherboard?

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

I'm pretty sure cache is just something built into the CPU, something that cannot be unlocked. It's like how you can't unlock the amount of RAM you have (not the speed, the amount).

[Speedbird]

I'm pretty sure cache is just something built into the CPU, something that cannot be unlocked. It's like how you can't unlock the amount of RAM you have (not the speed, the amount).

It could be in the CPU, but hidden. Most single-core Semprons are actually Athlon II x2s with the second core disabled.

I checked Wikipedia, and yes Phenom II x4 800 series are Athlon IIs, but no L3 cache.

EDIT: I checked the board manual and yes, it is possible. Just enter the BIOS, go to OC Tweaker and enable ASRock UCC.

[kuzimins]

It could be in the CPU, but hidden. Most single-core Semprons are actually Athlon II x2s with the second core disabled.

As are pentiums, i7's with bunch of things switched off.

[bmacsys]

Hi, I just have a question, could I unlock an level 3 cache on a Phenom II X4 850 processor with the ASRock 870 Extreme3 motherboard?

 Phenom II's have L3 cache and there is no need to "unlock" anything to answer your question. A Phenom II it can't be a Propus. It is a Deneb or Thuban or Zosma. Athlon II's were Propus or Regor cores that had no L3 cache. The lucky buyers of Thuban based Athlon II's could unlock 6 megabytes of L3 cache. But these were early chips that are rare. I happen to have an Athlon II 640 Thuban that unlocked 6 megabytes of L3 and an extra two cores. It became a 1405T.

[wowgamer223]

If it's propus you can't

Oh darn its propus

[bmacsys]

I stand corrected. I though ALL Phenom II's had L3 cache. I thought Propus was only Athlon II's and Sempron's. It would suck to have an L3-less Phenom II. Because it is actually nothing better than a Athlon II.