Wondering about going dual cpu

[motoracerx]

Just wanted to say hi. Also, I was wondering if you could give me any suggestions on dual cpu mobo's. Both intel and AMD. What procs would be good too? I plan on running some Seti, RC5, OGR, and some video encoding.

 

[risen]

You probably know this but to run dual you need an operating system that supports it. I know windows xp professional does, but windows xp home edition and windows 98 does not. I am unsure about windows 2000. Hope this helps.

 

[Viper GTS]

If you go Intel you either have to get a P3 based system (slow) or a P4 Xeon system ($pendy).

Dual AMD XP's is a fast, low cost option.

Dual Xeons are nice, but I would wait until they have 533 FSB Xeons available.

Viper GTS

 

[IgoByte]

I'm running a dual Athlon MP1800+ rig, and while it's nice, I doubt it's necessary or even overly useful as a PC/workstation. If a server, then yes, definitely dual, but for a workstation, I'd go with a single P4 2.8Ghz or something. It's faster than dual MP1800s and you don't have to deal with a tight mobo market...

 

[IgoByte]

BTW, NT 4.0, Windows 2000 Pro & up and Windows XP Pro & up all support SMP.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: IgoByte
I'm running a dual Athlon MP1800+ rig, and while it's nice, I doubt it's necessary or even overly useful as a PC/workstation. If a server, then yes, definitely dual, but for a workstation, I'd go with a single P4 2.8Ghz or something. It's faster than dual MP1800s and you don't have to deal with a tight mobo market...

That is not necessarily true, it all depends on what you're doing. In anything that will benefit from SMP (distributed computing, video encoding) dual 1800's will stomp the hell out of a P4 2.8.

For games, or anything that doesn't benefit from SMP, the P4 is faster. I have owned both a dual 1800 system and an OC'd P4, they both have their advantages.

Also keep in mind that dual systems have issues with many current sound cards, and video performance is less than ideal with most SMP capable chipsets.

Viper GTS

 

[motoracerx]

rock on. I know there is a way to unlock the XP to make it a MP. What mobo would you recommend for a dual AMD system?

 

[ripthesystem]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: IgoByte


Also keep in mind that dual systems have issues with many current sound cards, and video performance is less than ideal with most SMP capable chipsets.

Viper GTS

on my Duallie I've got an Audigy and a Radeon 8500. Also used a TBSC and various GF3/GF2/Voodoo Cards and no issues with anything at all. God Bless the OR840 😉
ripthesystem