ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+

[Ahgemon]

Need some collective thinkers for this motherboard, it is on newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381

79.99 good board, stable, affordable.

Ok so since I picked up this board I am curious about getting the Phenom II x2 550

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

104.99 great value, Quad core with 2 de-activated and/or non functional cores.

So, does anyone know anything about unlocking the other 2 cores on this chip, with this motherboard, is there a bios update? I will look around myself, but figure I would ask all of you. whats the intel?

also the motherboard due to processor limitation is only capable of using 2 memory banks for ddr2 pc8500 memory, by default if all 4 banks are used, the memory is run at 800mhz.

So question 2 is for anyone with this board and full ddr2 pc8500, is it possible to adjust the timings and voltages to run all 4 banks at 1066mhz?

any input is welcome and appreciated, and these are cheap computer parts we all can use so any helpful links, pictures, or proven techniques would help!

thanks guys!

happy hunting

 

[Ahgemon]

dug up so far...

http://www.userdrivers.com/BIOS/Asus-M4A78-Plus-Motherboard-BIOS-1101/

Improves system performance when the memory is 1066. looks like the sb700 chipset does not support acc, which is needed to unlock the PII-550.

under the BIOS revisions there is support for the PII-945/955 cpu's, so

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

for 215.00 roughly 110.00 more than the pII-550 you could go with the 955, yeah I know with this motherboard, haha. its a spare parts system for me, I will likely just keep the athlon2 chip I put in it. I'll keep looking I am bored.

 

[QuietIce]

If nothing else you could always re-arrange the multipliers and clock speeds to make a DDR2-800 setting run at 1066 speeds. For near stock speeds on a 550BE that would be something like 266x12 - a mild OC (3192 v 3100) but the RAM would be running 1064 if set at 1:2 ...