Solved Windows 8 not using all 8 cores - FX-8120

iKeirNez

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I have an AMD FX-8120, it is an 8 core processor but Windows 8 seems to be only be recognizing 4 of them. Here is a screenshot from task manager

screenshot.PNG

It does say Physical Processors 8, but as far as I am aware it should also say it has 8 cores.

Help would be greatly appreciated!
Keir
 

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make sure your one the latest BIOS
 

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make sure your one the latest BIOS

Just tried updating the BIOS, I think it failed but luckily I have one of those motherboards with Fail Safe, also I got MISSING BOOTMGR and when I went to repair it it thought I was on Windows 7. Might give it another try later.
 

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It's just the way the architecture is designed on these AMD chips. It's different than Intel does it and this is how Windows 8 will recognize it.
 

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It's just the way the architecture is designed on these AMD chips. It's different than Intel does it and this is how Windows 8 will recognize it.

Ok, but will my pc still be using all 8 cores? I presume it will be but just checking!
 

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don't expect Windows to use all the cores of a CPU, you have to throw some real stuff, download a F@H client and you will see it will use 100 % of the CPU and all the cores, but Windows himself use only few resources
 

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don't expect Windows to use all the cores of a CPU, you have to throw some real stuff, download a F@H client and you will see it will use 100 % of the CPU and all the cores, but Windows himself use only few resources

I meant would it use them if it needed too?
 

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It is showing correct, true cores ended with Thurban (phenom II 6 core)
 

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I meant would it use them if it needed too?

It will. Look where it says "logical processors," and you'll see there are 8. This is just how the AMD architecture presents itself physically to Windows.
 

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On your Task Manager Performance Screen at the bottom check on Open Resource Monitor and then CPU tab and you should see all your cores and activity.

Jim :cool:
 

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And when I installed windows 8 my cores were turned off too. I went into my the bios for my ASUS 990fx sabertooth and there is an option called core unlocker that allows you to manually activate them. Also go to the power mgt settings in windows 8. Go to advanced. Then show/ adjust hidden settings. Then Change the power settings to Max performance.
 

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And when I installed windows 8 my cores were turned off too. I went into my the bios for my ASUS 990fx sabertooth and there is an option called core unlocker that allows you to manually activate them. Also go to the power mgt settings in windows 8. Go to advanced. Then show/ adjust hidden settings. Then Change the power settings to Max performance.


The core unlocker as nothing to do with your FX-8130, this is used for peoples with 3 cores CPU to unlock the 4th one, sometime it work, other time not. On a FX-8130, they are no lock ( hidden) cores.

Aside if all your 8 cores was turnoff, your PC will not even boot. You do have a BIOS option to turn on and off some cores ( activate) , by default in an Asus BIOS they are all turn on ( enable) and you can't turn off the 1 and 2, here a picture of a Crosshair, this page is on default the Saber is about the same.

Please don't play with this BIOS setting page, this is only to achieve higher OC, as the less cores you have running the higher you can OC, unless you have liquid nitrogen, it's useless to do it

crosshair.jpg
 

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I meant would it use them if it needed too?

It will. Look where it says "logical processors," and you'll see there are 8. This is just how the AMD architecture presents itself physically to Windows.

Ah ok, I get it now :D

On your Task Manager Performance Screen at the bottom check on Open Resource Monitor and then CPU tab and you should see all your cores and activity.

Jim :cool:

That's very nice, any idea what parked means? It usually says that for all cores after the 4th. I presume it means it just inactive because it isn't needed.

I have the AMD FX-8150

Very nice!

And when I installed windows 8 my cores were turned off too. I went into my the bios for my ASUS 990fx sabertooth and there is an option called core unlocker that allows you to manually activate them. Also go to the power mgt settings in windows 8. Go to advanced. Then show/ adjust hidden settings. Then Change the power settings to Max performance.

I may do the power option!
 

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A parked core is turned off until needed. This is a power saving feature when all the cores are not needed. Under Power Options the Balanced Option will turn on the Parked feature. The High Performance Option will turn off the Parked feature.

Jim :cool:
 

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This is just how the AMD architecture presents itself physically to Windows

What, in truth, doesnt represent the truth ! :)
 

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It's probably allready explained above, forgive this small addition:
It's a misunderstanding: the CPU is a quad-core with hyperthreading, don't know how AMD calls that because I have Intel but it's the same: your core number doubles with the logical processor count make it 4x2=8.

You have 8 logical processors, that's what you need to know.

A zoom of the thread starter's screenshot:
cores.png
So the initial screenshot says it all, you just need to know a bit the details.

Everything's OK.

You can right click on the processor graph in task manager and choose "show logical processors".
You should see all 8 of the graphs.
 

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