Dual XP

[zippo]

Have anyone tried AMD XP CPU's on an dual MP motherboard???

[azhari]

I haven't tried it personally, but have been reading other posts about it. It doesn't work. Only the MP's work in dual systems.

P.S. Welcome to the forums.

[chawken]

Several people have claimed that the Tiger MP, Tiger MPX and the Thunder will run with the XP. According to Tyan - the MP chip is the only chip that will run on these mobo's, without data corruption. If people have run the board with dual XP's, then more power to them, but I wouldn't trust the integrity of the system with anything but the MP chips. The MP chips are only a couple of bucks different in price, and the MP chips work just fine in single processor systems.

[tbirdkiri]

they are all paliminos!

the only diff is that they verify via tests and support smp functionality.

[chawken]

Originally posted by tbirdkiri
they are all paliminos!

the only diff is that they verify via tests and support smp functionality.

True - The MP's and the XP's are both Palominos, however, the MP chips have one added feature that the XP's do not have:

Smarter Multiprocessing with Smart MP Technology

A key advantage of this multiprocessing platform is Smart MP technology, which helps the processor and chipset offer a more efficient platform and deliver better overall performance. Dual, independent, point-to-point buses and an exemplary cache management system, together with a bus that allows high-speed communications between processors, unite to make this new platform an exciting, efficient, and cost-effective solution for IT managers. Other Smart MP technology features include an optimized cache coherency protocol, which manages data and memory traffic, as well as innovative "snoop" buses, which offer high-speed communication between the CPUs in a multiprocessing system. In addition, the use of a transaction-based bus protocol allows the processors to stay in operation, even while outstanding data requests are being filled.

[tbirdkiri]

can you say data prefetch?

[WillysNut]

Originally posted by tbirdkiri
they are all paliminos!

the only diff is that they verify via tests and support smp functionality.

There's a little bit more to it than that. Most of the articles I've read mention the testing portion and the fact that the CPU's are essentially the same.

But AMD could easily disable SMP capabilities in "regular" XP cores...probably through microcode or manufacturing process. Pretty stinky if you ask me but you gotta run a business!

[tbirdkiri]

well smp isnt disabled in the chip.
its disabled in the bios of the board.
all it does it look for the name string and when it see's an xp the board only allows one at a time.

[eh?]

there was an article one the front page saying the XPs won't run on duals

[WillysNut]

Originally posted by tbirdkiri
well smp isnt disabled in the chip.
its disabled in the bios of the board.
all it does it look for the name string and when it see's an xp the board only allows one at a time.

You may or may not be correct. :) I hate rumors!! Quoted from Game PC: (http://www.gamepc.com/reviews/hardware_review.asp?review=xpmp&page=1&mscssid=&tp=)

"Of course, there's the matter of the rumors floating around the net lately. The rumors being that AMD will somehow put a "lock" on the Athlon XP's multiprocessing capabilities with future core steppings. As of now, all the batches of XP chips we've gotten have not been locked, and we have received no indication they will be in the future. For all of us who like cheap SMP systems, let's hope they never do."

My fingers are crossed!

[SickBoy]

I hate to advertise for a competitor, but you really need to check out 2cpu.com's forums. There are a ton of guys running dual TBirds and dual XP's on both the Asus A7M266D and TigerMP boards over there. The rumors of "No SMP with AthlonXP" are not true. AMD doesn't provide support if dual XP's don't work - but if they work, they work, and most of the time they do work.

SB