Dual AMD XP CPU's and Windows O/S'

[RDM1]

:) Good day all. Which Windows o/s' will recognize and utilize a dual AMD XP CPU system? Am going to replace my single Duron 800 with either a single AMD XP 2. Ghz or dual AMD XP 1.8 Ghz. Have heard that the only Windows O/S that can handle 2 CPU's is Windows XP Professional. Hope this is not the case. Have tried XP Pro and am not thrilled with it. Currently using ME and am quite satisfied. The problem with XP Pro is the software compatibility issue. Alot of the current software that I can run under ME will not operate under XP Pro. Suggestions? Opinions?:)

[BipolarBill]

Linux, WinNT 4.0 and Win2K Pro can all use multi-processing, but you are still in a situation where your software will not all be transferrable.

Why do you want dual CPUs? Is there an application you need if for?

[RDM1]

Many thanks for your response, BiPolar Bill. Am looking to assemble a system that will have enough processing power to last for 1 year+ hopefully. Will be using about 512MB+ DDRRam with it so am looking to put together something that will kick. Am currently running graphic-editing programs (Photoshop, Flash, etc.), so will need the muscle. Recommendations?

[BipolarBill]

Well, since Photoshop is "SMP-threaded", dual processing will make it fly so you're on the right track.

Now...which OS is the question. Most everything is Win2000-capable these days. Win2K drivers are available for most all hardware.

I recommend Windows 2000 Professional and 1-2GB RAM. Photoshop likes lots of RAM. You could start out with 512MB and boost it later, so make sure it's all on one stick.

I will defer to my AMD-loving colleagues on specific hardware recommendations - I'm an Intel guy. If I had AMD/VIA, I wouldn't have time to help others. :p

One thing that I highly recommend is 400W+ Enermax or PowMax power supply.

[RDM1]

Thanks again BiPolarBill. Will make note of your recommendations. Have you read any good articles in regards to the "New" PC333 DDRram? See it advertised on the web sites of suppliers here in Canada, but have been unable to find any specs on it. How does it compare to PC266 DDRram? Is it worth the extra $$$? What applications will it perform best with, etc? Recommendations?

[BipolarBill]

If you're worried about having the very fastest PC, you're going to make yourself nuts because you cannot have the very fastest PC for longer than about 1 day. :(

I would look into a mainboard that supports DDR333, but I wouldn't snatch one up without serious thought. It's too early. Besides - it's less than 50% quicker than 266 RAM and RAM is not the biggest piece of the puzzle. It would be nice to have, but I wouldn't take a chance on an early motherboard design just to have it.

[otheos]

The only DUAL chipset for the AMD platform is the MP/MPX from AMD:

762/766 = MP
762/768 = MPX (newer).

Their main difference is that the latter offers TWO PCI busses, one 32bit/33Mhz and one 64bit/66or33Mhz.

Also the south to northbridge connection goes through the latter bus (nice 533MBytes/sec) but if you install a 33Mhz card in there you take it all down to 266MB/s.

The MP (older) offers only one PCI bus (like every single CPU board) that supports 64/33.

Now two PCI busses and 64bit 66Mhz are only relevant if you run many SCSI RAID arrays and Gigabit ethernet. Since you most probably wont be running any such thing (ok maybe a U160 SCSI card with 3-4 hard drives :)), the only thing that you care about is to get a board that will have enough 32bit PCI slots for all your 32bit card so that you wont install a 32/33 card on the 64bit bus.

Choices: Asus, Epox, Tyan, Gigabyte, MSI, but you really need to check their sites out to see wich one offers the most for your other hardware.

The 768 chip had a bug with USB so onboard USB is dissabled on these boards (however newer ones are fixes) and manufactures ship a separate 32/33 PCI USB card (some even USB2) that will take one slot so more cards to add...


DDR2700 (333MHz) s irrelevant as the chipset only supports DDR2100 (266MHz) and overclockability (you're not going to are you?) is not that great on this boards.

Also CL2 is irrelevant to as the chipset only supports CL2.5. Finally you need ECC/Reg RAM for these boards (some manufactures say no, but AMD says you need it!).

Finally all AMD CPU's will run dual except for the new XP2000/2100+ (and Thoroughbreds) that are locked for MP use (can be unlocked though).

For OS you will need W2K/WinXPPro/NT in the MS camp.

BTW remember that dual CPU systems are (a lot) SLOWER as gaming machines than single CPU ones.

Suggestions: Wait a month for the new fixed USB boards, Tyan TigerMPX being my favorite: they have the longest experience with AMD SMP, and they build solid server boards. The Tiger has 4 32/33PCI slots so chances to spoil the 64/66 bus are less. Downside: no overclocking (but like I said you are not going to are you?). Epox/MSI/Gigabyte/Asus (in that order) are the next choices.

Happy SMPing.

[RDM1]

:) Many thanks for your input, otheos. Next computer show in this area is this coming Friday. Am going to check out what is available in regards to your post. Based on the possible problems with the O/S, I might just go for the fastest single CPU I can afford and stick with Windows ME. Not the best O/S, but it currently runs all the software I need to use. Will not bother with PC333 DDRRam as based on performance indicated, not worth the extra $$$. Will probably use a MSI m/b as that is what I am currently using with the Duron 800 and am quite satisfied with the reliability and performance.:)