ASUS Core Unlocker - Real Time Unlocking of an X3 720 on the M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 Linus Tech Tips

ASUS has simplified core unlocking for AMD CPUs with a single button on select boards, and this Linus Tech Tips video demonstrates real-time unlocking of a Phenom II X3 720 on the M4A89GTD PRO/USB3. The host walks through physically mounting the CPU, applying thermal compound, and powering up the system to observe the unlocking process as the onboard core unlocker flips the CPU into an active quad-core configuration. Early in the demo, the presenter explains the concept of core unlocking and why AMD locks cores, highlighting that unlocking may not always be stable and can depend on silicon quality and power/stability envelopes. The tutorial then tests for stability using Prime95, shows the BIOS/setup interaction, and discusses what counts as a successful unlock, including the need for extensive stress testing. In the latter portion, after some hardware hiccups and BIOS navigation, the host confirms four cores in CPUZ and Task Manager, and emphasizes running long stability tests to ensure the unlocked configuration remains reliable. The video concludes with practical takeaways: unlocking can yield measurable performance gains, but stability varies per CPU and motherboard, and thorough testing is essential before relying on an unlocked quad-core setup in daily use.

Topics · technology · hardware · overclocking · computer-science