Can I run 2 same speed cpu but different stepping on a dual cpu MB?

[tenchi]

I have 2 P3-500 cpu's but one is SL35E and the other is SL37D. The SL35E is OEM chip and SL37D is a retail boxed chip. Can I run them both on a dual cpu motherboard?

Thanks

 

[mastertech01]

It may depend on the motherboard, but Im running two of a different stepping PIII 800EB on my OR840 Intel board. In fact one is a cb0 that runs 1.65 and one is a cc0 that runs at 1.7 core and the mobo compensates fine.. In fact some mobo will allow you to run two processors of different speeds.

 

[slatt01]

Depends on the OS because it known not to work with NT4.

I don't know if it affects WK2 or any other MP aware OS

 

[Mark R]

Compatability between steppings of CPU is nothing to do with BIOS or OS, but the CPUs themselves. Although some BIOSs/OSs are clever enough to detect combinations that are known to cause problems and refuse to boot.

You need to check the Pentium 3 specification update datasheet for compatability information.

Pent 3 spec update

 

[tenchi]

Cool, Thank you all for the info 8)

 

[bootykika]

I remeber reading somwhere that if your gonna use SMP you should have two cpu's from the same batch.

 

[MrCookie]

Having CPU's from the same batch is the best. Most newer CPU's run fine together so long as both are SMP capable.
I have heard of someone running a 333 and a 300 together for a while and not haveing any serious issues, but wouldn't recommend it.

PS, your CPU's should be fine together. I ran a pair of P3-450's that were not identical stepping, for about 8 months (until I upgraded to 700's)without any problems.

 

[Mday]

the saying goes, you SHOULD use 2 cpus from the same stepping, or even batch.

this is to increase your chances of the cpus being able to be smp'd together. different steppings CAN do it, but chances are lower than those of the same stepping which is itself lower than that of the same batch.