Can I get improved performance using dual processors running in Windows 98?

[Redskin]

Can I get improved performance using dual processors running in Windows 98? I read AutoCAD and Photoshop take advantage of dual processors. I was wondering if you must use NT to get improved performance.

[AuraEdge]

Win98 will show no improvement as the second one will always sit idle. You will need either WInNT or Linux to take advantage of the other CPU. You will also need a program that can take advantage of both.
Its not an either or..you need both Program and OS to utilize it

[bdog]

You will see a performance gain in NT even if your programs are not designed for dual processors, because more than likely you are doing more than one thing at a time. I built a dual processor machine for someone at work, and it speeds up nearly every thing he does. Having two 450's is not like having a 900, but it is definitely better than just one 450. For more info about smp read this article. www.hardocp.com/articles/smp/gadfly_smp/smp_pg1.html

[MDHerman]

Hi. My understanding is WIN98 does not support dual processors. Use NT and the soon-to-be released WIN2000 - both support dual processors. Also, the advantage of DPs is not "450 chip + 450 chip = 900 mhz" as noted above, but the chips each handle different tasks, so your machine runs faster.

[Pantion]

As everybody else have stated Win9x does not take advantage of dual processors. You need a true 32-bit multitasking and parallel processing capabable OS... in other words Win NT or Linux.

AutoCAD and Photoshop do get a performance improvement from dual processors, the problem is the OS. If you plan to use only business applications and no games or any program that may or is having problems with NT then go for it. Or if you are already using Linux then the programs that can use parallel processing will go faster.

[AndreBranco]

i don't know if wxman40 was using windows 98 but his score, to me, was kind of excellent.
click www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum3/HTML/002820.html

[This message has been edited by AndreBranco (edited 10-10-99).]