Dual processors?

Ok. Virgo's thread inspired me to upgrade my computer. It's fairly new, but i'll be heading off to college next year, so I want something that will run smoothly even then. Anyhoo, yeah; got to talking with a friend who's pretty knowledgable with computers, and he suggested running dual processors. I'd love to do this, and believe it is possible, but I searched and couldn't get any conclusive answers.

I assume I'll need a new motherboard, another chip, but what else? And if any of you guys have any experience doing this, is it complicated?

Thanks for all the help guys.

You'll definitely need a new motherboard, and maybe even 2 new chip, depending on what you have now

Intel P4 2.0?

Dual processors will only be useful for a few applications. 90% or more of apps won't use dual processors at all. What are you looking at doing with them?

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Originally posted by DigitalOne
Intel P4 2.0?

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nope. If your going the intel route you'll need to use xeons.

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Originally posted by Ultima Designs
What are you looking at doing with them?

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Making lots of baby processors.

I don't think you need a dual CPU system unless you're going to go nuts with some serious 3D software or try to find the biggest prime number.

using a dual processor setup to run word, is like driving a civic with a erector set made spoiler to race.

but seriously, i wanted dualies but i ended up getting a AMD 64-bit 3400+, and it works great. what kind of money you looking to spend?


ps: i would love to have dual G5's and 8 gigs of ram, just to say i have it...but seriously you guys hear about the quad processor setups they are making...WHY!

bingo. no need for dual procs unless you doing some serious, serious, serious graphic, math, 3D, DV work.

programming, flash, and all of that are not even really threaded to take full advantage of that.

and going to Xeon's won't be that cheap. go with a P4 that has HyperThreading enabled - this will mean a new motherboard too.

or go for the new Xeon's with 64-bit capabilities.

ok so i have a AMD 3400+ 64-bit, and well i am running 2000pro so i don't even get to take advantage of it...is the new 64-bit xp pro even worth it?

any stats anywhere that show a HUGE performance difference, because i am talking HUGE performance difference, because if so i will have a HUGE hole in my bank account haha

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Originally posted by asheep_uk
Making lots of baby processors.

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You could get rich quick mating processors...I might have to try that one day.

Cools. So, I should go with a 64-bit 3.0+ GHz then? Any suggestions?

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Originally posted by DigitalOne
Cools. So, I should go with a 64-bit 3.0+ GHz then? Any suggestions?

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If you have a lot of money, the Athlon FX53 would kick some major ass. Couple that with 1 GB or more of the highest end Corsair DDR RAM and other good quality parts, and you'll have one of the best performing PCs that money can get you.

And remember that each of Athlon's lines of 64-bit proccessors have their own slot and therefore each one will take a different motherboard.

I would go for a 64 bits processors but 64bits processors on pc are still not much powerful and arent making a BIG difference on speed. The foundry are just getting new skills on how to make those processors better working whit the motherboars in it self. Now whit PCI-E ( Get at least 2 or 3 of those on your new motherboard ) there releasing processor that can be added on the fly on your mother board to a big total of 6 wich would mean that you can have 7 processor on one board. The cost of it right now is quite high but AMD is working on that right now to market those at a good standard price. The motherboard is playing a bigger role then what people think. North and South bridge must have the latest technogolie so as the GPU. Mass Storage on the fly can be good as well.

For 3000$ you can build your how computer and have a totaly kickass computer that will fit the PCI-E 16x, some s-ata drive, a DvD burner, at least one Firewire 800 port, Dual display Quadro from Nvidia or any above Gforce 5200 series and you'll be ready.

Always keep in mind to upgrade your RAM before ANYTHING else. 1 gig of ram againts 512 is alot of difference.

And like eveybody says and its true dont go on double processors if you arent on any Video or 3D production of any kind.

good luck in your search

bear in mind that the WinXP 64-bit version for Windows that's still forthcoming has been stated by Microsoft as being OEM only. so getting a copy from a dealer will probably be harder than you think.

just thinking ahead, you might want to hold off on purchases until you button down your OS and motherboard choices first.

going 64-bit or dual processor... not trying to be funny or mean, Reid, but you're not exactly a person I'd call a power user. If you're getting a machine that will last you a long time, then I understand.

but to have the fastest, just for the sake of having it, I would go a different route of what you should/should not get.

just my opinion though.

I agree with Gerbick, Send another post outlining what you want to use your new Computer for. Give general usage types i.e. Play Games, Burn CD/DVDs, Edit Music & Video, 3D Art Work ETC. It would help to state any prefered manufacures as well. why?. Well some components work well together and some work less well with one another. Maybe a rough indication of your Buget and any "Special Features" that you'd like.

Armed with this info "The Knowing(run.heavenlymusic.mp3)" will shift into high gear and post their sugguestions.

Then all you need to do is read. I have found some very good articles in Tom's Hardware Guide. They have comparissons of most things and just recently they have been doing a lot of Myth Busting with what they refer to as Marchitecture(Marketing & Architecture). These guides might save you a fortune.

My top-tip is to buy what you need and not what the corperate suits want you to buy.

Well, maybe this can narrow down my search a bit. I'll be using my PC for:

1. graphic work, rendering (small stuff, mostly web based)
2. some gaming.
3. burning CDs/DVDs
4. Editing music

I'd preferably use an Intel chip. I've always used Intel, and I don't see a big need to switch now.

If I simply upgraded my 2.0 chip to a 3.0, would I have to change my MoBo?

So yeah, any suggestions?

P4 3.2ghz w/ HT*
Motherboard that supports HT
DDR RAM - I use Corsair or Kingston

Yes, get the new mobo, ram, and processor, don't load a lot of crap, and learn to stay out of your processes. don't want another rundll32 incident, now do you? ;)

*hyperthreading*

You had to bring the rundll32 incident up, didn't ya?!

If i'm not mistaken, DDR ram = 2x SDRAM, correct? Since I have 1 GB SDRAM now, 1 GB DDR would be twice as much?

I've heard about hyperthreading a lot too, but what's it do?

do more research. no, DDR is not twice as much. it's twice as fast. thus the DDR stands for Double Data Rate as opposed to Single Data Rate RAM. it basically means the CPU can access the memory twice a cycle, instead of once.

hyperthreading is a lot like multi-threading on a chip. sorta makes the machine thinks there are two processors if they programs are programmed/threaded for it.

azzo.com take a look at some prices.

If you had a fast enough fsb, you'd definately see an improvement in performance between SDRAM and DDR. Usually that's where the performance bottleneck occurs, cpu to memory.