Dual Processors........

[e-z-e]

I have an intel pentium 3 500 mhz and an intel pentium 3 550 mhz and they are both slot 1. I want to know what is needed to setup dual processors and if I can. I have already done a little research and found that I would have to have an OS that supports dual processors (they said win 2k pro would work) and I would also have to have a good supply of fans in the pc. I would appreciate any advice on how to set this up.

1.) hardware needed
2.) supported OS's (and best one to run it)
3.) does the motherboard have to support 1.1 ghz?
4.) will the system actually run at 1.1 ghz?

thanks in advance
e-z-e

[sterno]

You need two matched processors, so a 500 and 550 won't work. You might be able to get it to work by putting the 500 as CPU 0, but I would seriously recommend against it. You also need a dual-processor motherboard. You need the right memory for the board, some dual-processor boards are designed for high-end PCs and have strict memory requirements. You don't need any unusual number of fans in the case, but a little extra cooling wouldn't hurt.

Your OS needs to be SMP-aware. In the Microsoft world, Windows NT/2000/XP can use multiple processors. DOS/95/98/ME can not.

Two 550's will not be a 1.1GHz machine, nor will two 500's be a 1.0GHz machine. An application that is not written to use multiple processors will run about the same as with a single CPU. An application that is designed to use multiple processors still probably won't run twice as fast, but in rare cases it does happen.

[e-z-e]

You need two matched processors, so a 500 and 550 won't work. You might be able to get it to work by putting the 500 as CPU 0, but I would seriously recommend against it.

why would you seriously reccomend against it?

[WeedVender]

I am curious myself. Maybe the system would be very unstable. Anyway Im currently looking for a motherboard that supports 4 Pentium 3.06 processors. I have everything, including the case, 10 fans, 7 180GB Hd, An ATI 9700 AIW, a Sound Blaster 2, 1 Sony Dru500A, and some other components.

[Greg12]

Note that Windows XP home will not support multiple CPU's

[e-z-e]

it seems that it will be too much trouble to get dual processors to work. my motherboard, however, is expandable to 1.0 ghz. but it is a slot 1 cpu (1.0 ghz slot 1 p3s are quite rare)

i am having trouble finding one. if anyone can point me in the right direction (i don't want to shop ebay for this) i will appreciate it.

e-z-e

[mrtristan]

Dual processor machines can be very sensitive. I haven't run one myself, but I've been doing a lot of research about them, as I am interested in building one.

Think of it this way. Video capturing is already pretty sketchy with one processor. Adding one more to the mix probably won't boost your stability.

Sterno suggested that you run two CPUs of the same speed rating, because of stability. To take it one step further, you should try to get two chips that were manufactured at about the same time. The more identical they are, the better.

[sterno]

Right, multiple processor machines are a little sensitive. You can't just throw two random processors in and expect it to work reliably. It's not like running two seperate computers, or one computer with a CPU that's twice as fast. Keeping the two CPUs' caches in sync and coordinating access to memory and other resources is a balancing act. You want same speed, same cache, same model+stepping, etc. Some places even make a point of selling matched sets of processors with consecutive serial numbers.

If you want a 4-way Pentium system you'll probably have to buy Xeons. I know that with P2/P3 chips you needed Xeons to have more than two, it sticks in mind that I heard some or all non-Xeon P4 processors weren't rated for any kind of SMP. That would be a smart move for increasing profits at the high end since Xeons are hideously expensive, but it would cost them in the small-business market.

[e-z-e]

I'm looking to buy the Slot 1 to 370 CPU converter pictured and described here:

http://store.yahoo.com/joyluckshop/sy3slot1toso.html

I want to use a 933 PIII micro CPU with this converter. My motherboard is expandable to 1 ghz so no problems there. I have a couple questions about this converter though:

1.)

CPU
Supports Celeron 300~500 CPU
Supports FC-PGA Coppermine CPU

does that mean that it will only support 300 - 500 mhz even if it is a pentium III and not a celeron?

2.) will i actually be running at 933 mhz? or will there be speed loss in the conversion.

thanks in advance
e-z-e

[RabidDog]

My m/b IS a slot 1 and I successfully use a p3 900 Fcpga with an adapter. It has extended the working life of my PC very well. You can get thse chips up to 1.4 ghz now I think but perhaps your m/b bios wont recognize it.
N.B. from your relative naivety (My two processors are PCI?) I would steer clear of trying anything too much until you have gained a bit more knowledge. Dual processors HAVE to be exactly the same... quite often even two processors of the same speed will not work because they are of different steppings.... also the two processors have to be capable of working in SMP mode... not all are.

[FT Shark]

i am having trouble finding one. if anyone can point me in the right direction (i don't want to shop ebay for this) i will appreciate it.

Try www.pricewatch.com you should find 1Ghz slot 1 processors on there. I Just bought one a few months ago.

[RabidDog]

Err no, you wont find a slot 1 proc on there or probably anywhere else except a junkyard... even two years they were thin on the ground hence the need for an adapter. strangley tho the prices havent dropped by that much since I bought my cpu 1.5 years ago

[e-z-e]

from your relative naivety (My two processors are PCI?) I would steer clear of trying anything too much until you have gained a bit more knowledge.

i knew that lol...i was tired and frustrated that night...dont know what the heck i said...i did, however, do some research and find out that slot a means athlon motherboard and slot 1 means pentium motherboard...never knew that before...

i got a hold of a 933 and ordered the part from kommax.com...should actually come in tommorow! hope it works... thanks for the tips
e-z-e

[Bagmaster]

You want a good slot 1 mobo? Get an Abit BE-6II. It has 4 ide controllers, 2 of which can be set up as raid built right into the mobo. Plenty of them still around, check EBay. Some are being sold as new in the box. Forget about dual processors, not cost effective for the home user.

[RabidDog]

In truth i ahave been thinking of upgrading my mobo and cpu and was thinking about getting a dual cpu rig to spped up encoding but when I thought about it getting a faster processor is a btter idea since the added speed will work for all stages of encodeing and for all other tasks as well . plus you really lower the number of boards to choose from, I quite fancy a raid setup as well