Do Athlon MPs need to be matched?

TruckStuff · Post by **TruckStuff** » Thu Feb 21, 2002 9:43 pm

I'm thinking about going with an Athlon MP motherboard but only one MP processor until I get a little more money together. I remember reading about how for best performance, a pair of P3s needed to be of the same batch number. Is this so with MPs? Thanks for the info.

DocSilly · Post by **DocSilly** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 4:56 am

copy-paste job from smp-faq on http://www.2cpu.com:

What about stepping and cache sizes?

There is a myth that in order to run multiple CPU's, they need to be the same stepping and cache size. This is not true. According to Intel, you must have the same family of processor, and that's it. In fact, according to Intel, you can even mix MHz! They say that if you clock the processors to the clock speed of the slower CPU, you'll be fine. Mixing cache sizes is also OK by Intel, as long as you're not mixing 1MB or higher cache chips. You're best off if you have the same speed and cache processors, but if you have to try an SMP system you can use whatever is available.

So just get the same speed Athlon MP when you buy the second one and you're fine.

GAZZA · Post by **GAZZA** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 3:10 pm

TruckStuff you can also use the XP athlons with the new mpx chipset instead of paying big bucks for the
MP athlons.
Both chips are based on the same core , hell even the new durons (morgan core 1.0ghz and up) are useable in smp if you really want to save $$

TruckStuff · Post by **TruckStuff** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 6:21 pm

Thanks for the link Doc. I'll probably spend most of tonight reading it.

I really don't see any reason to NOT go with an MP now. All I will be doing is delaying the inevitable. I won't go Duron because this system is for work doing lots of photshop and lfash type stuff. Thanks for the suggestion though.