Dualie!

[Paddy]

Howdey all,

I am going to shove another XP1800 into my A7M266-D running a fresh build of XP Pro SP1.

Are there any issues that I should be aware of?
Would I need to reinstall?
Will any non SMP programs benefit?

TIA!

[Paddy]

erm.. on second thoughts.. perhaps i should get a faster CPU with a view to replacing my current one at a later date???

I am fairly sure that this mobo can use XPs of different speeds as if it were an MP

[MultimediaMan]

Intel boards you can do this with, AMD does not recommend it for their Socket A boards, however.

You'd best go with a pair of MPs....Some Singapore XPs came with the L5 Bridge uncut and will be identified as an MP by your board.

The L5 Bridge mod is easily done and non-permanent if you are careful.

[Paddy]

Yeah, my current CPU is reported as an MP1800

[Gurm]

Yes, your entire system benefits from SMP. Once you've done it you'll always miss it if you don't have it.

Everything is just snappier and more responsive. Background tasks run without regard to foreground tasks.

SMP is wonderful. Do it today!

- Gurm

[Wombat]

I don't believe that Intel boards can do different speed processors. I'm pretty sure that right now the only company that can do anything like that is Sun, and that's different speed cells, not microprocessors. IBM's working on it too, but.

If you've already got the board, might as well go ahead. But figure out what you do most with your computer. For the price of MP processors, you could get a faster XP chip. Often one fast processor is better than two normal procs. So what will you do with the box?

I have no idea how picky AMD SMP setups are about matching the processors. With Intel, you usually HAD to have the same stepping of processor, or quirkiness would ensue. Somebody keeps mentioning 2cpu.com around here. I think they have forums. Might want to double check there.

[Paddy]

Woohoo! That's what i wanted to hear

Do i need to reinstall XP?

[Paddy]

Yeah, I have been over there all afternoon.
Jammrock's usually the one to rave about them...

[DGhost]

depending on operating systems you might have to reload it or install a new kernel/HAL.

the thing that benefits the most from another processor is if you multitask a lot, and are juggling programs.

running two XP's in SMP is not guaranteed to work, nor is it supported. even if the board detects them as MP processors (and i know they do), it is not guaranteed to work. I've heard that sometimes they work, sometimes they are just horribly, horribly unstable.

oh, and neither company recommends running mixed speed processors in the same system. it may run, but it is considered at your own risk and is not warranteed at all.

[Paddy]

It wouldn't be a long term solution... I know that the XP's are *not* supposed to work, but i have not heard of anyone who reports problems with the later revision boards...

Perhaps i should try an offload my XP1800 first... I dont want to buy a new XP if there is a chance it wont work...

I will be using WinXP Pro.

[Wombat]

Two true MP processors should give you better performance, at least a little. From the rumors I've heard, the MP chips have a slightly different cache algorithm to adjust for sharing. It makes sense, and is likely true.

[Ribbit]

I remember quite a few people reporting success running SMP Linux with different speed processors, mostly Celerons. But that was a long time ago, and in any case, no-one in their right mind would even suggest you try it.

Edit: I just reread the thread and I see that some people have done just that...

[box]

I've succesfully run an Athlon TB 1200 + an Athlon TB 1333 in an A7M266-D.

Only catch is; it runs both cpu's at the slowest cpu speed, in my case 1200.

But then I bought two XP 2000+ and pencilled L5, no probs whatsoever.

[Paddy]

nah, it was just gonna be a temporary measure until i could flog and replace the old CPU

[Paddy]

I've succesfully run an Athlon TB 1200 + an Athlon TB 1333 in an A7M266-D.

Only catch is; it runs both cpu's at the slowest cpu speed, in my case 1200.

But then I bought two XP 2000+ and pencilled L5, no probs whatsoever.

What revision is your mobo?