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We know 939 is obsolete technology.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

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

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

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.

Thx. Will put it in.

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

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

Ya, no C&Q if overclocking.

Where to get the guide for changing ACPI uniprocessor to ACPI multiprocessor?

I found it initially but now I don't know where it is.....

But anyway, when I followed the guide to convert to multiprocessor, my windows won't boot!!! Had to do a reinstall....

Here's 2 links:

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=449741&hl=939
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=446056&hl=939

I bought from elhh82. Reliable nice trader

Better than my 7800 GS la. Only scored 3417 (didn't overclock the 7800 GS or CPU):

SM2.0 : 1371
HDR/SM3.0 : 1304
CPU : 1562

Maybe should get a new card? Hmmm....... any new AGPs?....

I know la. 939 is dead. AGP is dead.

Just that a lot of people is still holding on to their "dead-end" rig.

Maybe because of financial constraint or they previously spend so much on their 939/AGP rig..... or maybe they are afraid of spending money on a new rig to find out later that it is going to phase out soon... AM2....who knows.....

Anyway, there's a thread for that..... this thread is for those who unfortunately is stuck with 939/AGP.....

Thx. Never knew that there were many things to do before and after upgrading to dual-core.

Thought I contribute what I have learn recently so that it is easier for other unfortunately-stuck-with-939 forumers when they upgrade to X2......

Eh? Don't understand the question...

My mobo is AGP and socket 939. Socket 939 also have AMD X2 e.g. X2 3800+, X2 4200+ and X2 4800+ (highest for socket 939).

I know about the X1950pro and X1950XT for AGP. Nvidia just release a 7950 GT for AGP too!!!

Was tempted to sell off my 7800 GS EE and get one x1950xt but my GC is adequate for current games

Of course la smooth as baby's bottom. You've got 8800 GTX SLI!!!

So, anybody knows whether it affects upgrading from single-core AM2 to dual-core AM2?

Theorectically, it should right?



This post has been edited by kmarc: May 11 2007, 02:28 PM

There's definitely a difference when you upgrade to dual-core from single-core.

Some of the difference that I've noticed are:
1) Windows boot faster, and you can start doing things earlier instead of waiting for windows to boot all the drivers and applications.
2) Games run smoother, especially if you're running a lot of background apps (esp. P2P)
--- the fps in games is the same but it feels smoother, no more occasional lag due to usage of CPU power by other apps
3) Alt+Tab to windows is noticeably faster (but only in 1-2 seconds)

I can feel the differences as I just upgraded from single-core 2200 Mhz to dual-core 2200Mhz. (with the single-core overclocked to 2442 Mhz!!)

I don't think it is only for mobile CPUs. If you read the link on MS hotfix, they state that:
- "Without these updates, computers that are equipped with these power management-capable, mobile, dual-core processors may experience decreased performance or unexpected behavior". I do agree that the grammar is a bit confusing. Does MS mean ONLY computers with ACPI + mobile + dual-core or computers with EITHER ACPI + mobile or ACPI + dual-core.....

- "This hotfix also addresses the following issues on computers that have multiple processors that support processor performance states".



Vista is not affected. Windows XP needs to hotfix as it was not originally designed for multi-core CPUs that supports ACPI performance states..... Quote from MS:

"Windows XP SP2 is required on computers that have multiple CPUs that support ACPI processor performance states. This requirement includes computers that support the following items:
. Multiple physical sockets
. Multiple-core designs
. Multiple logical threads, such as Intel hyper-threading technology
Because Windows XP was not originally designed to support performance states on multiprocessor configurations, changes are required to correctly realize this support on multiprocessor systems. Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes the required changes to the kernel power manager. These changes make sure that Windows XP correctly functions on multiprocessor systems with processor performance states. "

I think not as I have not come across any websites that mention this.

So, unanswered question : Does it affect AM2?

My non-OC rig only got 3416 la.... You only need at minimum of 25 fps for any games to be smooth (although gamers feel it is only smooth at >60 fps). So, if you're getting like 40 fps, then it is as smooth as a rig with a 3dmark06 score of 10k running at 100 fps!

Why not try Rightmark CPU clock? It can do what C&Q does.

Since I'm overclocking in windows, my bios C&Q is disabled. However, because I'm using RM CPU clock, in windows, the C&Q function is running. I will disable it when I'm overclocking, otherwise, in normal times, it is on.....