I have 2 NUC6I7KYK. #1 shows 4 cores, 8 logical. #2 shows 4 cores and 4 logical. Why is #2 wrong?

[LeonWaksman]

1. In NUC #2, enter Bios settings (press F2 during boot).
2. Within Bios, press F9 followed by "Y" to set Bios to default settings. Then press F10, followed by "Y" to save settings and exit from Bios.
3. Check now how the CPU works.

Leon

[PClar6]

@@Leon: Thanks for the quick reply! I did as you suggested (twice) and, strangely enough, it did change the configuration BUT in the wrong direction! It now shows CORES: 2, LOGICAL PROCESSORS: 4. I did a second BIOS default and it's still the same.

I have 3 shots of the BIOS screen; I hope I added them here correctly.

[PClar6]

posted a file.

[PClar6]

posted a file.

[PClar6]

posted a file.

[LeonWaksman]

Hello @PClar6​ ,

1. All the attached images are not showing the relevant information, however, I can see that you have old Bios version 0064, while the latest version is version 0066.
2. To check the correct Bios settings, enter Bios settings again, click on Advanced tab, then Performance > Processor. Verify that Active Processor Cores is set to ALL. See the attached image of this page in BIOS. Do not forget to press on F10 (Y) to save those settings.
3. I'm attaching image from Performance tab is Task Manager. You can see there how many cores/logical processors are active in your computer.
4. If you want to update your Bios, prepare USB stick, fully formatted to FAT32. Download the latest Bios file KY0066.bio and save on this USB.
5. Insert this USB into rear USB port and power ON your NUC.
6. When you see the Intel NUC logo, click few times on F7. You will enter into Bios Update Tool.
7. Move cursor to line showing your USB with Bios file and press Enter. Confirm that you want update Bios by pressing Enter.
8. Move cursor to line with KY0066.bio and press enter. The update process will start in few seconds and end in few minutes.
9. The computer will either turn OFF or prompt you to turn OFF.
10. Remove the USB and restart your NUC.

Leon

[PClar6]

Leon: I have done as you documented including updating the BIOS to 066. The BIOS shows that all 4 cores are recognized and active. But, there is no change - the TaskManager still reports 2 Cores & 4 Logical. Interestingly, the L1 Cache shows 128KB (on my other KYK it's 256KB) and the L2 Cache shows 512KB - again it's 1/2 of the other NUC which seems to suggest that the hardware may be faulty. I'm beginning to think I may have a hardware issue with the motherboard/I7 CPU.

Thoughts?

Paul

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Paul,

You may check your CPU with Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.

Leon

[PClar6]

Leon: The mystery deepens. Both the TaskManager and the Intel Diagnostic Tool agree that there are only 2 CORES, the diagnostic tool says PASS!!! The BIOS does show 4 cores. I have compared the test results between the two NUC6I7KYK boxes and the only significant difference I can see is that the other NUC is older and has an American Megatrends BIOS and the questionable NUC has an Intel BIOS.

The first upload is the other (good) NUC showing the American Megatrends BIOS dated 06/03/2016. I will uopload the other one next (can't see a way to upload more than 1 image to a message????).

Paul

[PClar6]

posted a file.

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Paul,

1. I suspect that although in Bios settings you see that ALL four cores are activated, it may be false indication. I suggest that you enter Bios settings and change the Active Processor Cores parameter to "1" or "3". Press F10 (Y) and check in Task Manager if the status of active cores corresponds to the new settings. Next, enter again to Bios settings and this time set the Active Processor Cores to ALL.
2. If the above action didn't give the expected result, I would advise to update Bios using Bios recovery method from the Power Button Menu:
3. Use the same USB stick with the KY0066.bio, you have previously prepared and used for F7 update and insert it in the same USB slot.
4. Press Power Button for about 3 seconds. Count 1001, 1002, 1003,1004. Release the Power Button. NUC should reboot into Power Button Menu. You should release the Power Button before 4-sec shut down override or when the Power Button LED changes color from blue to amber.
5. Press F4 and the recovery shall start (it can take up to 30 seconds for messages to appear on the screen).
6. When the recovery finishes, press on Power Button and hold it, until NUC switches OFF. Pull out the power cord. Remove the USB stick.
7. Replace the power cord and press Power Button to switch the computer to ON.
8. Enter Bios setting by pressing F2 during boot process.
9. Press F9(followed by "Y"), to set Bios to default settings. Press F10 (followed by "Y"), to save the settings and exit to O.S. Let the NUC fully reboot.

Leon

[PClar6]

Leon: I truly appreciate all the time you are spending on this issue.

I will try the power/BIOS recovery method today but in the meantime I did try the suggestion regarding setting the number of cores to 1 and then 3 in the BIOS. The results are indicating a fault in either the BIOS or the CPU/motherboard.

TEST: In the BIOS, setting CORE = 1 & rebooting, the TM shows CORE = 1, LOGICAL = 2, but setting CORE = 3 the TM shows CORE = 2, LOGICAL = 4. We seem to be missing 2 COREs.

I'll report back in a day or two after the Power BIOS Recovery.

Again, thank you for your help!

Paul

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Paul,

Check also the Primary Power Settings in BIOS. Verify that Max Performance Enabled is checked. In Windows enable High performance power plan.

Leon

[PClar6]

Leon: Have I exhausted all possibilities? I did as suggested and no change at all. The BIOS Power Recovery went well and the system runs exactly as before. I once again did the BIOS defaults, plus I also did the CORE = 1 and CORE = 3 and each time the TM reports the same 1 or 2 CORES and 2 or 4 LOGICAL.

I also set the BIOS to Max Performance Enabled and Win 10 Power to Maximum Performance - no change.

I did a Passmark (CPU only) test on both NUCs and this broken NUC reports a CPU mark of 3689 and the good NUC reports a CPU mark of 7754 confirming (as if we need it) that the bad NUC is indeed 1/2 CPU enabled.

The good news is that this bad NUC is under warranty until June 26, 2020. Do you think I should start the process?

Paul

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Paul,

I have no other idea. Yes, in my opinion you should open an request to RMA (you may give a link to this thread for reference). May be the Intel Support will give you better idea.

On this page you will find help how to identify your NUC.

Leon

[PClar6]

Leon: I did open a ticket on this issue, and then had a light bulb moment vis-a-vis last Tuesday's Windows 10 updates. So I ran the Intel Processor Identification Utility and it reported a clean CPU with all 4 cores operational!

It seemed to me that I first noticed this issue post Windows update and so I did a reload of a fresh copy of Windows this morning and - problem is fixed! All 4 cores & 8 logical are now reported by TM.

Chalk up yet another Microsoft hiccup in their updates. Can't say which KB did the damage or perhaps it was a problem with this NUC but it's fixed (for the moment).

Thanks for all your help. I needed help even though I'm a retired MCSE and IBM SE. Age does take its toll! LOL

Paul

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Paul,

I'm very glad that your problem was solved without need to replace your NUC.

Regards

Leon