Patent Publication Number: US-8972711-B2

Title: CPU core unlocking device applied to computer system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/310,715 filed Mar. 5, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a computer system and, more particularly, to a computer system with a central processing unit (CPU) core unlocking function. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, a multi-core CPU is developed. The more the cores is, the better efficiency of the CPU is. However, the price of the CPU is higher. 
     For example, a dual-core CPU, a three-core CPU and a quad-core CPU which are usually manufactured by the same semiconducting process. In other words, four cores are manufactured in a single chip at the same time. The number of the CPU cores is determined according to the operation condition in the testing procedure after manufactured. 
     For example, in the testing procedure, all the four cores operate normally; the CPU is indicated to be a quad-core CPU. In a similar way, when one of the four cores cannot operate stably, this core is locked, and the CPU is indicated to be a three-core CPU. When two cores cannot operate stably, the two cores are locked and the CPU is indicated to be a duel-core CPU. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the connection between components of a conventional computer system. In the computer system  100 , a north bridge chip  120  is connected between a CPU  110  and a south bridge chip  130 . The south bridge chip  130  is further connected with a basic input output system (BIOS)  150 . Currently, the CPU  110  supplied by the AMD Company has an advanced clock calibration (ACC) function to unlock the locked cores to enhance the work efficiency. 
     When the ACC function is executed, the south bridge chip  130  operates according to the setting and the control of the BIOS  150 , and thus the south bridge chip  130  regulates the duty cycle of the clock signal of the CPU  110  directly and completes the ACC function to enhance the efficiency of the CPU  110 . Moreover, when the ACC function is completed, the core unlocking function of the CPU  110  is completed. Since the cores of the CPU  110  increase, the operating rate and the operating stability is promoted greatly. 
     However, in order to achieve the core unlocking function of the CPU  110 , the computer system manufacturer has to buy the same series of the north bridge chip  120  and the south bridge chip  130  manufactured by the same company and dispose them on the computer system  100 . There are no other methods for unlocking the cores of the CPU  110  except the above method. Since the computer system manufacture should buy the same series of the north bridge chip  120  and the south bridge chip  130 , the cost increases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A computer system with a core unlocking function to a locked multi-core CPU is disclosed. A plurality of general purpose transmit output (GPIO) ports of an embedded controller or a south bridge chip generates and transmit a combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU to unlock the CPU core. 
     The computer system includes a CPU having a plurality of signal terminals; and a core unlocking executing unit having a plurality of GPIO ports connected with the corresponding signal terminals of the CPU. The GPIO ports of the core unlocking executing unit generate and transmit a combination of core unlocking signal to the signal terminals of the CPU to unlock the CPU core. 
     A motherboard with a CPU core unlocking function, cooperating with a CPU, includes a CPU socket having a plurality of signal terminals for being connected with the CPU and a core unlocking executing unit having a plurality GPIO ports connected with the corresponding signal terminals of the CPU socket. The GPIO terminals of the core unlocking executing unit generate and transmit a combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU via the signal terminals of the CPU socket to unlock a CPU core. 
     In an embodiment, the CPU is a multi-core CPU. The number of the CPU cores is not limited herein. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the component connection of a conventional computer system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a CPU core unlocking device of a computer system according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a CPU core unlocking device of a computer system according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a CPU core unlocking device of a computer system according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a CPU core unlocking device of a computer system according to a first embodiment of the invention. In a computer system  200 , a north bridge chip  220  is connected between a CPU  210  and a south bridge chip  230 . The south bridge chip  230  is further connected with a basic input output system (BIOS)  250 . 
     In the first embodiment, an embedded controller  260  is connected to the south bridge chip  230  and the CPU  210 . The GPIO ports of the embedded controller  260  are used to generate and a combination of core unlocking signal and transmit the combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU  210  directly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the GPIO ports of the embedded controller  260  are 7 terminals in this embodiment, such as a TMS signal output terminal, a TDO signal output terminal, a TDI signal output terminal, a TCK signal output terminal, a CRST_L signal output terminal, a TRST_L signal output terminal and a DBREQ_L signal output terminal. The GPIO ports are connected with the corresponding signal terminals of the CPU  210  directly. In the embodiment, the corresponding signal terminals are a H_TMS signal terminal, a H_TDI signal terminal, a H_TDO signal terminal, a H_TCK signal terminal, a H_CPURST_L signal terminal, a H_TRST_L signal terminal and a H_DBREQ_L signal terminal. In other words, the seven signals terminal of the embedded controller  260  generate and transmit a combination of core unlocking signal to the corresponding signal transmit terminals of the CPU  210  to unlock the CPU core  210 . Persons having ordinary skill in the art shall understand that the signal output terminals and the corresponding signal terminals are just an example, any combinations of the signal terminals and signals which can achieve the core unlocking function are not departing from the scope of the invention. 
     According to the first embodiment, after the computer system  200  is booted, the south bridge chip  230  sends a first core unlocking control signal S 1  to the embedded controller  260  when the BIOS  250  outputs a control signal to the south bridge chip  230 . Then, the embedded controller  260  outputs the combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU  210  for unlocking CPU  210 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a CPU core unlocking device of a computer system according to a second embodiment. In a computer system  300 , a north bridge chip  320  is connected to a CPU  310  and a south bridge chip  330 . The south bridge chip  330  is further connected with a BIOS  350 . According to the second embodiment, an embedded controller  360  is connected between the CPU  310  and a switch control circuit  370 . As described in the first embodiment, the embedded controller  360  has 7 GPIO ports. The embedded controller  360  is used to generate the combination of core unlocking signal and transmit the combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU  310  directly. 
     As described in the first embodiment, as shown in the  FIG. 3 , the TMS signal output terminal, TDO signal output terminal, TDI signal output terminal, TCK signal output terminal, CRST_L signal output terminal, TRST_L signal output terminal and the DBREQ_L signal output terminal of the embedded controller  360  are connected with the H_TMS signal terminal, H_TDI signal terminal, H_TDO signal terminal, H_TCK signal terminal, H_CPURST_L signal terminal, H_TRST_L signal terminal and the H_DBREQ_L signal terminal of the CPU  310  directly. In other words, the seven signals of the embedded controller  360  generate and transmit the combination of core unlocking signal to the corresponding signal terminal of the CPU  310  to unlock the CPU core  310 . 
     Moreover, the switch control circuit  370  has a switch SW. The switch control circuit  370  generates a second core unlocking control signal S 2  with different level by using the turn on and the turn off of the switch SW and output the second core unlocking control signal S 2  to the embedded controller  360 . In other words, users can use the switch SW to control the embedded controller  360  of the computer system  300  directly to generate the combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU  310  to unlock the CPU core  310 . 
     According to the second embodiment, when the computer system  300  is booted, the switch control circuit  370  outputs the second core unlocking control signal S 2  to the embedded controller  360  via the adjustment and the control of the users. The embedded controller  360  outputs the combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU  310  to unlock the CPU core  310 . 
     As stated above, when the embedded controller  360  generates the combination of core unlocking signal, and transmits the core unlocking function to the CPU  310  is achieved via the embedded controller  360  regardless of the specification of the south bridge chip  330  and the north bridge chip  320 . Hence, the core unlocking function of the CPU  310  is achieved without a specific south bridge chip and a specific north bridge chip. The cost of a computer system is reduced. 
     Moreover, CPU core unlocking devices in the first embodiment and the second embodiment may be applied to one computer system. In other words, the users can set the BIOS to make the south bridge chip output a first core unlocking control signal S 1  to an embedded controller to output a combination of core unlocking signal, or the users also can directly adjust a switch control circuit of the computer system to output a second core unlocking control signal S 2  to the embedded controller to output the combination of core unlocking signal. When the CPU receives the combination of core unlocking signal, it executes a CPU core unlocking function. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a CPU core unlocking device of a computer system according to a third embodiment. In a computer system  400 , a north bridge chip  420  is connected to a CPU  410  and a south bridge chip  430 . The south bridge chip  430  is further connected with a BIOS  440 . In the third embodiment, when the computer system  400  is booted, the CPU  410  executes a booting up function in the BIOS  440 . The booting up function in the BIOS  440  is that the CPU  410  is used to execute a specific GPIO control code (or a command) to control the seven GPIO ports (GPIO- 1  to GPIO- 7 ) of the south bridge chip  430  to output a combination of core unlocking signal to the CPU  410 , and then the CPU core  410  is unlocked. 
     In other words, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the seven GPIO ports generate a combination of simulate signal, the combination of simulate signal comprising a TMS signal, a TDO signal, a TDI signal, a TCK signal, a CRST_L signal, a TRST_L signal and a DBREQ_L signal, and output the seven signals to a H_TMS signal terminal, a H_TDI signal terminal, a H_TDO signal terminal, a H_TCK signal terminal, a H_CPURST_L signal terminal, a H_TRST_L signal terminal and a H_DBREQ_L signal terminal of the CPU  410  directly. In other words, the seven GPIO ports (GPIO- 1  to GPIO- 7 ) of the south bridge chip  430  generate and transmit the combination of core unlocking signal to the corresponding signal terminals of the CPU  410  to unlock the CPU core  410 . Similarly, persons having ordinary skill in the art shall understand that the signal output terminals and the corresponding signal terminals are just an example, any combinations of the signal terminals and signals which can achieve the core unlocking function are not departing from the scope of the invention. 
     In the above embodiments, seven signals are used to generate the combination of core unlocking signal to unlock the CPU core. Four signals such as the TCK, the TMI, the TDI and the TRST also may be used to generate the combination of core unlocking signal to output to the H_TCK, the H_TMI, the H_TDI and the H_TRST_L signal terminals of the CPU to unlock the CPU core. Persons having ordinary skill in the art shall understand that the operation principle of the four signals combination is the same as that of other signal combinations, which is omitted herein. 
     To sum up, a computer system with a CPU core unlocking function is provided. The computer system can use a south bridge chip manufactured by any companies to execute a CPU core unlocking function. The cost of a computer system is reduced. 
     Furthermore, the invention also may be applied to a motherboard without installing a CPU. In other words, the CPU is not installed in a CPU socket. However, since the terminals of the CPU socket are connected with the GPIO ports of an embedded controller or the GPIO ports of a south bridge chip, the motherboard also supports a CPU core unlocking function. When the CPU is installed in the CPU socket on the motherboard, the core unlocking function may be executed. Further, the core unlocking executing unit is a GPIO chip could be controlled by CPU via LPC bus or smbus PCI etc. 
     Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the scope. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments described above.