Intel Core i7-3610QM processor seems to have only 3 cores, 6 threads (instead of 4 cores, 8 threads)

[idata]

A year ago, I bought an ASUS G75VW-T1066V laptop with an Intel Core i7-3610QM processor.

The Intel specifications (http://ark.intel.com/products/64899/Intel-Core-i7-3610QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_30-GHz http://ark.intel.com/products/64899/Intel-Core-i7-3610QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_30-GHz ) say that this processor contains 4 Cores and supports 8 Threads.

The Intel Processor Identification Utility also claims "Active cores per processor: 4, Disabled cores per processor: 0".

But Windows7-64 in its "performance" section sees only 6 threads.

So does CPU-Z: "3 cores, 6 threads".

So does Speccy from Piriform: "3 cores, 6 threads".

My questions: do I have a faulty i7-3610QM processor?

Or do I have to activate something so that the fourth core and the eights thread become operational?

[Silvia_L_Intel1]

Hello S Ulmer,

If the Processor Identification Utility Tool is telling you that all 4 cores are enable, but in the other hand all other software such as CPU-Z, Speccy and the task manager on Windows are seeing only 3 cores, 6 threads. This issue could be related to the operating system.

These are some recommendations for this issue

1. Download and run the following Intel software named Processor Diagnostics Tool. https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19792&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%20(64-bit)*&DownloadType=Utilities%2C%20Tools%20and%20Examples https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19792&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%20(64-bit)*&DownloadType=Utilities%2C%20Tools%20and%20Examples
2. You may want to do BIOS updated on your computer.
3. Do a clean installation of the operating system.

If the problem persisted I recommend you to get in contact with the laptop manufacture for any additional assistance.

Regards,

Sylvia L

[idata]

Hello Silvia,

No need to try out your recommendations.

The problem was solved by Pierre Romani /message/192265# 192265 http://communities.intel.com/message/192265# 192265 :

click on start button, type msconfig in the search bar, then press Enter, then go to start, advanced options and uncheck the number of processors and memory limit.

Thanks a million, Pierre.

Not only did this simple procedure bring back the 4th core of my i7-3610QM processor, but it also enabled the turbo boost function which did not work before.