Converting an Athlon XP to an Athlon MP

[supraway]

I'm considering going dualie here. I was thinking I could pick up a MSI K7D-Master L for about $220, two Athlon XP 1700+'s for about $130, and 512 Megs Crucial Registered PC2100 DDR (I'm not sure if the mobo will support non-registered ram) for about $120. Seems like a good upgrade from my Athlon 1.33. Now, I dont want to pay the extra $50-$75 (per processor) to do Palominos. So, here is my question.

I've heard a little about converting Athlon XP's to MP's. What bridges do I need to connect to do so? Is it worth the risk of killing a processor to convert? Am I crazy doing a dualie system?

[Oni]

I believe it requires connecting the L11 bridge (there are two, one is cut, the other is not). But it might be L5. I'm not exactly sure.

[el]

someone here has two of these mobos and did it.

[jbslow]

You just have to modify the L5 bridges. There's four bridges the newer XP's L5 bridges look like this the first bridge is the only one connected

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the XP's that work have the first and last bridges connected so they look like this

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This is real simple I modified all four of my XP's and they all run perfectly in SMP.

jb

[jbslow]

Ok I have pics this one is not going to work in SMP

[jbslow]

and this is moddified to work in SMP

[el]

sorry couldn't remember/find you! you found the thread.

[supraway]

jbslow, I have a few questions for you.

First off, how would you rate the performance your dual proc systems vs. say my current system upgraded w/ DDR and an 1800+?

Second, how do you like this motherboard? I was definately going to go K7D-Master L, being an MSI fan.

Third, what type of cooling/mods/whatever are you doing to achieve your overclock?

Fourth, I've seen things like Tom's Hardware's vid about unlocking the Athlon XP. Is this mod similar to that, or is it easier? I guess what I'm asking, is can I just join the bridge with some conductive paste, without filling the gap with superglue, or any of the other things you have to do?

Fifth, I'd be in this about $500. Little expensive for me right now, but I'd like to upgrade my system again before college starts again this year. Do you think there is a better way of upgrading my system for less money?

[jbslow]

Well I bought a dually for mulitasking. Thinking back to yesterday as I was surfing the net , checking email , DLing a MP3 , listening to a MP3 and burning a cd ALL without a hitch or slow down I remember why I upgraded. Other then that they perform about the same :p

I like it now that I'm getting used to it. I dont like the memory issues but at default memory setting this sytem is stable as a rock. If I set the memory setting to aggressive the system will loose some stability basically it just wont burn cd's. Other then its weal memory performance I really do like this mobo after all I have two.

No mods yet I just have 3 intake fans , 2 exhaust fans plus two psu fans. I use Thermalright sk6's int he main rig and Galaxy GC12's in the second rig all using 26cfm fans so these system are not very loud.

I just unlocked the L5 bridge like any other bridge. I filled the pit with crayola wax and connected the pins with window defogger repair kit paint. You probably could just draw around the pit with a condutive paint.

I dont know the dual is really smoth it seems faster in most ways even with less mhz per cpu. I would upgrade to a dual given the chance again so I say go for it.

good luck