Important : Your dual-core may not have been properly optimized!!!

Never knew that upgrading from single core to X2 (939) would be so difficult.

It is not as easy as taking out your old CPU and putting in the X2 and then boot windows.

This thread is to help upgraders have a smooth transition from single core to X2 (Socket 939).

However, be prepared for BSOD, unbootable windows, might need a clean install and many many hours!!!!

Things to do BEFORE installing X2 CPU
1) Make sure your BIOS can support X2 (may need updating)
2) Backup your important data
3) Ensure you know what you're doing - see AMD guide for CPU/heatsink installation/removal (Guide here)

Things to do when X2 CPU installed
1) Reset your bios on boot-up

2) Install ACPI multiprocessor (windows will still be running the ACPI uniprocessor)
-----Check windows first. Go to Device manager>Computer - should be ACPI multiprocessor (if so, good!!!)
-----If not ACPI multiprocessor, need to install it
-----Some links : Using update driver, Advance way (Difficult! My windows became unbootable!)
-----Alternative : Reinstall windows

3) Install AMD CPU driver (CPU Driver here)

4) Install MS hotfix for dual-core (See this page : Microsoft hotfix KB896256)
----- Alternative link for MS hotfix : KB 896256 (It works!!! Dunno whether it is V4)

5) Install AMD Dual-core Optimiser (after installing the MS hotfix) (Hyperlink same as AMD CPU driver)
-----Alternative : Use Rightmark CPU clock utility (Enable "Synchronize Time-stamp counters (TSCs) of CPU cores" in advance CPU settings)
----- Important : Need to install MS hotfix first then only Optimiser


Facts about installing the above necessary software/drivers
Your dual-core might not be running optimally
Some report of increase performance by 1-5% (true?)
Certain amount of stuttering or random speedups/slowdown in single threaded games

Does not affect Intel CPUs
Does not affect Vista

Affects dual-core AMD CPUs (939 X2 & 939 Opterons) (?? AM2 X2)

Quote regarding ACPI multiprocessor : A lot of performance gains can be unlocked by the dual-core upgrade if the correct HAL is loaded (How true is it for Windows XP?)

Things to remember about 939
We know 939 is obsolete technology.
We know doing all this is easy for some expert.
So, please give helpful info/hint rather that commenting that 939 users should upgrade to C2D/C2Q/AM2

Links to other guides for installing the above software/driver
1) Extreme systems
2) Opterons dual core (Hard|Forum)
_____________________________________________________________________

Anybody who has experience with this is welcome to contribute. Will update this post if new info is available.

The above links are found after googling for info on the net

This post has been edited by kmarc: May 18 2007, 09:32 PM

i just switch to AMD x2 3800+ with dfi nf3-ultra mobo

just that i install fresh windows and now running flawlessly

That's what I thought!!!

I was playing some games while downloading and notice that there was a noticeable lag. Searched the net and found the above links.

After I installed the MS Hotfix, no more lag!!!

___________

Another thing, go to device manager and look under computer.
It should be ACPI multiprocessor and not ACPI uniprocessor!!!

This post has been edited by kmarc: May 5 2007, 01:09 AM

Dont forget about the BIOS..
If u buy the S939 mobo much earlier, especially X2 still not yet available. The preloaded BIOS may not support x2..if it does, no problem with Windows XP since it supports dual core even no extra driver to be installed.. The AMD driver just to improve the use of dual core in x2..

Anyway, i dont think much ppl would upgrade to S939 X2 from single core right now.. S939 processor is so hard to get nowaday in retail market..

This post has been edited by accs_centre: May 5 2007, 01:09 AM

Ahem.... 21 forumers just bought X2 939 in the bulk section!!!

And still more ordering!!

This post has been edited by kmarc: May 5 2007, 01:11 AM

Does it apply to AM2 as well?

---

Added on May 5, 2007, 1:15 amnot worth to pay more for a near obsolete technology

This post has been edited by dattebayo: May 5 2007, 01:15 AM

welp, the price is quite cheap for obsolete technology.
and AM2 performance isn't that great either. i would get conroe if i were to upgrade to DDR2.

btw, back to topic. from what i read, if you install optimizer first, then hotfix, you will end up getting BSODs.

Edit: make sure you get the V4 of the MS hotfix. and u will need genuine win to download from microsoft sites. try googling if you need the direct download links without going pass microsoft verification. just in case you need the file to be redownloaded for backups.

This post has been edited by SpikeTwo: May 5 2007, 01:24 AM

Where is it? Is seems you did caught my attention! I am looking for a minor upgrade for my system even some of you might think sc939 is no more a worth investment! 939 is still good!

Hope to upgrade to AMD X2 s939 der, but no money....

Thx for the info. Will add that in.

I provided an alternative hyperlink for the MS hotfix. Not too sure whether it is V4 but I installed it and so far no problems.

Alternative to Optimizer, you can also use the Rightmark CPU Clock Utility. If you're running that program, you have to enable the "Synchronize Time-Stamp Counters (TSC) of CPU cores" in the advanced CPU settings.

Hi bro, here is a extra link for u guys to refer
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81429


-pWs-

Thx. Will put it in.

LULz..
not sure bout you guys, but damn, i kept getting bsod's at speed higher than 2.4g orthos stable (suspected to be psu related)
and ms fixes gives me process1_yadda yadda bsod which made things worse
*now running w/o ms fix

**and im not overhauling to a new uber 1337/latest super fast yadda yadda platform with moar monies coz with this x2 upgrade its still enough for my internets and folding activities

This post has been edited by e-jump: May 5 2007, 10:41 AM

nice thread TS.

I'm planning to upgrade my CPU too.. couldn't bear to let go my RM1800 (yesteryear) ATI X800 PRO AGP 8x so stick back to s939.

Just stuffing a lot of RAM into my PC. Now 1.5GB



This post has been edited by Intrigue: May 5 2007, 08:51 AM

Post updated!

Included a guide for CPU + Heatsink installation/removal.

_________________

e-jump - I've tried OC up to 2570 Mhz on mine, so far no problems/BSOD. But I chickened out. Going to wait for my Noctua HSF first.....

__________________

Waaaa.... your X800 so expensive aaa...... My 7800 GS EE was about RM 1600 also la...

Really thinking about upgrading my GC to ATI1950PRO/XT........

P.S. Anybody knows whether dual-core AM2 and opterons are affected also?

This post has been edited by kmarc: May 5 2007, 10:24 AM

I did not experience any problem from upgrade single core opteron 146 to dual core X2 3800+ and even overclocking it up to 2.5GHz flawless.

Looks like Opterons dual core is also affected!

See hyperlink in the 1st post.

I too didn't experience any problems until I started playing single threaded games. There was a noticeable random slow-down or speedups when I was playing games.

Other than that, everything else was ok. Could overclock without any problems too.....

This post has been edited by kmarc: May 5 2007, 11:31 AM

Yes, i can OC no doubt n do orthos up to 2.5g (althouh it fails in less than 8hrs)
but it BSOD'd as soon as SMP folding client starts to fold a WU

It's all very simple actually. Just follow this guide. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81429


I've been running my X2 at 2.7ghz daily use for almost a year already. I don't understand y u guys r having so many probs with BSODs, Slowdown speed up during games n such. U hafta remember not to use the silly Cool n Quiet feature too when overclocking. That totally screws things up.

may i know how to check whether my x2 is optimized or not?

it's bcuz i have installed those stuff the other way around i.e. i installed the optimizer first then only the hotfix.. duh, havnt install any games yet..

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

lemme describe a bit on my xp after installing x2 into my system: my system has had BIOS updated to the latest version before i upgraded to x2. after i have installed the x2, my old windows xp's device manager doesnt have the acpi multiprocessor driver for me to be installed. after googling around, i decided to reinstall windows. guess what i have stumbled upon, my FIRST windows reinstallation ended up in MBS Multiprocessor driver which means it's like windows 98 or ME, when you shutdown ur system, in the end it'll hav a msg sayin it's now safe to turn off ur computer and then you gotta manually push the power button of ur casing...

after that i performed reinstallation another time using 'ahem' version of windows, ended up MBS Multiprocessor ALSO!!! but this time the whole system is a bit weird after the installation. atm i was really exhausted and i took some time off. when i returned, i reinstall ori windows again and this time, YES! it's finally ACPI Multiprocessor

i dunno why this happened jus that mayb something's not configured correctly by the windows installation or something else..