Thoughts on a dual processor setup.

[Grminalac]

hello,
I have been drooling over a Abit VP6, I would very much like a dual setup, I have for a while. Now I know it won't do 2x as fast not even close, but for the price its a very reasonable buy. My question to you is this. I have read that dual motherboards are very picky on the 2 cpus, I have read they have to be the same stepping. Currently I am running a 550 overclocked to 833. If I purchased a PIII 733 and used it with the 550 would it work correctly. I believe both chips are available in the same stepping. they would both be running at 733 (although i probably would attempt to bosst them a bit.) Or would I be better off to outright buy 2 700 and try to run em at 933. (although it would not be as cost effective)

 

[NFS4]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=299590

 

[MaxFPS]

Check the Sspec on your 550 (E?) here

If you have the cBO stepping for your 550 then you should be OK.

 

[XeonTux]

Does the VP6 allow you to tweak the two processors seperately?

 

[XeonTux]

And why not just get another 550? It would be cheaper, no?

 

[Grminalac]

I have not been able to find any seller willing to tell me the stepping of the 550's. I would like to purchase one and reliably run it at 733. I know though that many times the leftover processors are ones that wouldn't overclock, most good ones were hand picked through by sites like PC Nut. I suppose I could buy a retail package and try my luck, but likely I'd get the wrong stepping. Maybe i'll just wait a while and buy some 700's when the price comes down and run them at 933.
You cannot adjust the processors independantly FSb wise, its impossible, but you can change the amount of voltage each gets independantly. so if one needed a bit more juice to run reliabe you could do that.

 

[WoundedWallet]

I'm not so sure that the VP6 is going to be a hit.

I've read quite a few comments on BP6.com about hardware conflict.

You would be better off sitting on your money for a couple more months till more problems are revealed.

I have a BP6, and I've been waiting this whole year(damned powerleap) for an upgrade. But the recalls and Abit's reputation made me think twice before jumping on it right away like I did with the BP6.

Who knows, in two months maybe I can grab two thunderbirds and 512MB of RAM for the price of two PIIIs.

Besides I've read about a bloodbath after Christmas, with the major retailers stuck with unsold merchandise trying to reduce their inventory. I smell whole computers for $300 in January.

But I have a bad nose, so don't trust me.

 

[Grminalac]

I have somewhatof a decent job at walmart. God i hate the place... but we have a good deal of comps left over from our big sales. They will be marked down 20% after x-mas even though we are basically breaking even on them with he current price. We got over 275 for day after thanksgivng. I wouldn't reccomend buying them though they are junk. (HP) If i can lay my hands on a few at $400 (and not get fired) i'll likely break them up and sell the parts at a nice profit. yiu might want to call around I'm sure circuit city and other large retailers oevrstocked this year. They don't understand a lot of people bought their "junk" machines or heard from others that bought them and people don't want to deal with the problems. so they have a surplus.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Thanks for confirming it Grminalac!

WW