Which AMD CPUs were famously unlocked for overclocking using the "pencil trick"?

AMD Athlon 64

AMD K7 Athlon / Duron

AMD Phenom II X3 Black Edition

AMD Ryzen 1000 Series

Choose wisely! The correct answer, the explanation, and an intriguing story await.

A brief explanation why

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, AMD Athlon processors, particularly those based on the Thunderbird core, gained widespread attention not only for their performance but also for an unusual and enthusiast-friendly quirk: they could be "unlocked" with nothing more than a pencil.

These CPUs, which initially came in the Slot-A format and later in Socket A (Socket 462), were among AMD's first to feature multiplier locking. To enforce the lock, AMD used lasers to sever the tiny copper connections on the processor's surface known as the L1 bridges.

This move was partly a response to unscrupulous computer vendors who would overclock lower-end chips, remark them as higher-end models, and sell them at inflated prices.

But...

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