Processor Unlocking?

[BlackRat]

Locked cores

I hear a lot that AMD not only uses processors with defective cores for it's lower end models, but that some of the X2 and X3 processors are so popular that they have taken perfectly working quads and locked some of the cores. Their yields are getting better but people still need low end CPUs, AMD is not going to wait for more defective CPUs to make up for the shortage of X2/X3. That might explain so many successful unlocks and overclocks - if a core is defective it's def not going to overclock on top of unlocking:
http://centauruscomputers.com/html/special_1.html

Athlon II X3 440 un/overclocked to 3.4Ghz Phenom II B40 Quad. Good example

 

[AcetheGamer]

I was able to unlock mine,.....it was an Athlon X2 5000 2.2ghz 45nm revision dual core. Manage to unlock the rest of the two cores and the l3 cache. Tested stable both on games and stress test( been running it for almost 5 months now ). I was able to overclock it to 3ghz from the 2.2ghz stock clock. Here's the cpu-z screenie. You had to have a mobo with at least an SB710 southbridge, ACC and unlock feature.

I got the Athlon X2 for about $60 so that is quite a steal