smokin hot! Modding the Athlon XP into an MP

[MrHans]

Text
😀

 

[Freejack2]

Hmm they report some possible stability problems... 🙁

 

[virtuamike]

They report stability probs with running dual XPs but not necessarily because of the mod, some of the XPs used to run in MP config straight from factory before AMD cut the bridge.

 

[Chu]

1. Some SMP boards don't care if you stick in XP's or MP's, it's just some are more picky then others, check out 2coolcpu.com for more nfo.

2. The main difference between XP's and MP's is a bigger cache. Connecting a bridge doesn't magically unlock this, and might even be the reason some people are having stability problems . . .

-Chu

 

[Oakenfold]

I'm not sure you would need to connect anything to use xp's in smp format..I think Chu may have hit it on the head! 😉

 

[Abaddon66]

I'm not sure as I have not studied it in depth, but I haven't seen anything written about them having a different cache size (that would mean amd would have to fab a different die), I have heard that they're caches interact differently. Either way I have a good friend who is a test engineer at amd and he told me just a week ago, when I asked him the difference in the two, that the mp and xps bridges are simply cut differently.

Shrug

 

[MrHans]

<< I'm not sure you would need to connect anything to use xp's in smp format..I think Chu may have hit it on the head! 😉 >>


well what I got from the article is that if the XP was purchased before the third L5 bridge was cut, it was prolly SMPable, if it had been cut, no way.

from the article:



<< Comparing the workable XP and the unworkable XP, we found a certain bridge cut away. Just like how AMD lock the multiplier, we think that this particular bridge may hold the key to enabling the Athlon XP to run in dual configuration. >>


Cache size difference?


<< 1. Some SMP boards don't care if you stick in XP's or MP's, it's just some are more picky then others, check out 2coolcpu.com for more nfo.
2. The main difference between XP's and MP's is a bigger cache. Connecting a bridge doesn't magically unlock this, and might even be the reason some people are having stability problems . . .

-Chu >>


dont the MP & XP both have 128k and 256k of L1 and L2 cache respectively? Please link to were it says they dont, I'm new to AMD stuff but am learning quickly (on the steep end of the curve for now)

I think this is a great thing as I'm jumping on the AMD powered dualie bandwagon.
hans

 

[SonicTron]

<<

<< Below is where you'll find the bride. >>



What! Athlon XP's come with a free marriange and AMD didn't tell us??

😀

 

[XCLAN]

from what i understand AMD tests the cpu's and the ones that pass a rigorous stability test and compatibility test turn into mp's and that is how they decide wich ones to sell as mp's and Xp's ...however many of them sell as XP's anyway due to demand.

 

[Spac3d]

<< from what i understand AMD tests the cpu's and the ones that pass a rigorous stability test and compatibility test turn into mp's and that is how they decide wich ones to sell as mp's and Xp's ...however many of them sell as XP's anyway due to demand. >>



Wow, that is interestng. Where did you read that? I would like to hear if that is true.

I heard that there is little to no difference between the XP and MP, but that is just crazy.

Spac3d