Problem with my CPU cores

[djoki]

Okay, so recently I found out that my PC works with only 2 cores enabled. I have a CPU that has 4 cores and 4 threads. To be more accurate, my CPU is AMD Athlon X4 845 Quad Core CPU. How did I find out that only 2 of 4 cores are working? Simply, I opened Task Manager and clicked on performance tab. It said "Cores:2" and "Logical processors:4". As I know, logical processors are threads. I watched a couple videos on youtube for how to enable all my cores but those videos just show how to enable all my "logical processors"(threads). I've been having this problem for weeks. I'd really be thankful if someone could explain how do I enable all of my cores.

[ReBoot]

Check the BIOS setup. Half of the cores may be disabled there. If there's nothing disabled, you have to accept that your mainboard or, more likely, your CPU is in fact defective.

[Cathulhu]

This information is actually correct.
https://community.amd.com/thread/205758#comment-2749009
https://www.anandtech.com/show/14804/amd-settlement
AMD was even sued for it.

[rawWwRrr]

Technically it is only a 2-core 4-logical system. It was poor marketing by AMD back in the day. The die has 2-modules (cores) with 2 cores each (logical processors). It's old tech anyway. If you can upgrade to something more modern.

[djoki]

Escrito originalmente por ReBoot:

Check the BIOS setup. Half of the cores may be disabled there. If there's nothing disabled, you have to accept that your mainboard or, more likely, your CPU is in fact defective.

I opened up BIOS and searched for any core option. The only option that was about cores was "Core Leveling Mode". It had 4 options, mine was on Automatic mode. The other 3 were: "One core per processor", "One Compute Unit", "One core per Compute unit". Is there anything I should change to here or?

[ReBoot]

Escrito originalmente por djoki:

Escrito originalmente por ReBoot:

Check the BIOS setup. Half of the cores may be disabled there. If there's nothing disabled, you have to accept that your mainboard or, more likely, your CPU is in fact defective.

I opened up BIOS and searched for any core option. The only option that was about cores was "Core Leveling Mode". It had 4 options, mine was on Automatic mode. The other 3 were: "One core per processor", "One Compute Unit", "One core per Compute unit". Is there anything I should change to here or?

No. I was wrong, as outlined by

Escrito originalmente por Cathulhu:

This information is actually correct.
https://community.amd.com/thread/205758#comment-2749009
https://www.anandtech.com/show/14804/amd-settlement
AMD was even sued for it.

and

Escrito originalmente por rawWwRrr:

Technically it is only a 2-core 4-logical system. It was poor marketing by AMD back in the day. The die has 2-modules (cores) with 2 cores each (logical processors). It's old tech anyway. If you can upgrade to something more modern.

[djoki]

Escrito originalmente por rawWwRrr:

Technically it is only a 2-core 4-logical system. It was poor marketing by AMD back in the day. The die has 2-modules (cores) with 2 cores each (logical processors). It's old tech anyway. If you can upgrade to something more modern.

I mean, I can upgrade but that would cost me alot. Especially in Serbia, PC parts are very expensive. I bought this pre-built PC(I didn't know much about PC's back then, i would never buy a pre-built again) like two years ago. If I wanted to change my CPU, I would need to change my motherboard, my RAM and my PSU. If I wanted a CPU like Ryzen 3 3100 or Ryzen 5 1600, I would need around 270$(including Motherboard, RAM and PSU) to upgrade all of that. That's really expensive for me. It would be great if someone could recommend me any other cheaper ideas.

[ReBoot]

Why exactly do you want to upgrade? Do you need an upgrade for a game you fancy, or do you want to upgrade for the sake of upgrading?
The currently WAY best bang for the buck would be a Ryzen 3700 system.

[rawWwRrr]

Escrito originalmente por djoki:

Escrito originalmente por rawWwRrr:

Technically it is only a 2-core 4-logical system. It was poor marketing by AMD back in the day. The die has 2-modules (cores) with 2 cores each (logical processors). It's old tech anyway. If you can upgrade to something more modern.

I mean, I can upgrade but that would cost me alot. Especially in Serbia, PC parts are very expensive. I bought this pre-built PC(I didn't know much about PC's back then, i would never buy a pre-built again) like two years ago. If I wanted to change my CPU, I would need to change my motherboard, my RAM and my PSU. If I wanted a CPU like Ryzen 3 3100 or Ryzen 5 1600, I would need around 270$(including Motherboard, RAM and PSU) to upgrade all of that. That's really expensive for me. It would be great if someone could recommend me any other cheaper ideas.

I did say "if you can". If you can't that's fine. Just understand what you have.

[djoki]

Escrito originalmente por ReBoot:

Why exactly do you want to upgrade? Do you need an upgrade for a game you fancy, or do you want to upgrade for the sake of upgrading?
The currently WAY best bang for the buck would be a Ryzen 3700 system.

I play many games that I really enjoy less and less just because my CPU can't keep up with my GPU (GTX1650S) and so it makes frame drops.
Yeah, Ryzen 3700 maybe is the best buy now, but as I said, even 270$ (including Mobo, RAM and PSU) is expensive for me.

[djoki]

Escrito originalmente por rawWwRrr:

Escrito originalmente por djoki:

I mean, I can upgrade but that would cost me alot. Especially in Serbia, PC parts are very expensive. I bought this pre-built PC(I didn't know much about PC's back then, i would never buy a pre-built again) like two years ago. If I wanted to change my CPU, I would need to change my motherboard, my RAM and my PSU. If I wanted a CPU like Ryzen 3 3100 or Ryzen 5 1600, I would need around 270$(including Motherboard, RAM and PSU) to upgrade all of that. That's really expensive for me. It would be great if someone could recommend me any other cheaper ideas.

I did say "if you can". If you can't that's fine. Just understand what you have.

Yeah, I know. I didn't mean to offend you in any way.

[ReBoot]

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. When I wanted to upgrade my CPU (over 5 years old is an eternity in computing), my new CPU would need a new mainboard. That of course needs new RAM so for me, it went about the same as it'll go for you.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Important is to make a good choice.
You dont actually save if you choose a weak cpu/gpu.

But also you dont get all money worth if you buy a "too good" version.

[_I_]

the athlon x4 are true quad core cpus
if the fx line that has 'core pairs sharing fpu and cache' making them more like 1 core with ht/smt

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-Athlon%20X4%20845.html

check bios to make sure all 4 cores are enabled
and windows msconfig to make sure that all threads are enabled
start -> run/search -> msconfig -> boot tab -> [advanced] -> numproc disabled