Dual Athlon systems upgradable to dual core processors? announced for 2005?

[archeco]

Does anyone know whether and if so which of the currently available Athlon Dual Processor systems (and motherboards) will be able to upgrade to the Dual Core Processors which AMD announced for the first quarter of 2005?
Also, could I run a dual processor system with one processor and add the second one later?

 

[Vette73]

They should be able to, just make sure the Dual Opteron board has a good VRM and the board maker is known for upgrading their BIOS's.

I would think MOST dual opteron tyan and maybe Iwill boards would be. After that I am not sure

 

[archeco]

Thanks Marlin.
What about a dual Athlon 64 Board - will the dual core processors also be made to replace the Athlon 64?
And about the other question: Can one run a dual processor board on one processor (until one affrod the other)?
Yes to Kerry/Edwards!

 

[plk21]

Yes, you can run one cpu in a dual cpu mobo. then upgrade later by putting a second (identical) cpu in the other socket.

No to Kerry/Edwards.

 

[SunnyD]

I think the correct answer is NO.

A dual Athlon - as in Athlon MP (socket a) will not be upgradable to dual-core CPU's simply because AMD won't be making dual-core Athlon MP's. They will be making dual-core Opterons (socket 940) and eventually dual-core Athlon 64's (socket 939).

 

[archeco]

Thanks Sunny.
Becasue of the price difference between Athlon 64 and the Opteron, it seemed to me that it was wiser to buy a Dual Athlon 64 system now and then upgrade to the dual Core Athlon 64 - I just was not sure whether and when AMD would come out with Dual Core Processors for the Athlon 64.
This is assuming that an AMD Dual Athlon 64 system will do as good a job on video editing as the Powermac 2.5 Gz(?) - that's my bet based on the skimpy performance tests that I could find on the net.

 

[coolred]

First off you cannot build a dual processor A64 system, the opterons are what you need for dual 64bit system from AMD. The 2xx or 8xx series of processors will work in dual or eigth way systems. The 1xx series is single processor only. I recently bought a dual opteron board, and for now a single opteron 246, I planned to add another 246 later on. But now I think I should have just gone with a single A64 setup, but I can't decide if its worth it to sell off my opteron stuff in favor of a single processor system, although it would net me some extra cash that I need for a new video card.

 

[archeco]

Thanks Coolred.
I had gotten the impression that dual processors are the future, as is 64 bit processing. I wanted to be ready to do a litttle video editing as well as CAD. The question is whether it is wise to even try to anticipate future processors for upgrading rather than letting one's system become outdated and buying the next new model. (I noticed that the top AMD (Athlon FX) seems to cost even more than the Opteron and the custom-built Dual Opteron systems run high because they seem targeted at the high-end workstation market and top level professional firms.
Is it treason to think of the Dual G5 Powermac?

 

[Auteur]

Originally posted by: archeco
Is it treason to think of the Dual G5 Powermac?

No. If you building from scratch a dual 2.4GHz Opteron machine will cost about the same a dual 2.5GHz G5 PowerMac.

You never said what you'll be using the computer for but if its gaming go with the Opteron.

 

[archeco]

Thank You Auteur:
I have been to several sites for bulid your own PC and have come to the same conclusion: The Dual Opteron 246 systems come to about $ 3,100.00 or more.
I want to use this computer to do both medium duty CAD and video editing. It seems to me that the main differecne between the G5 and the Dual Opteron options is that the Opteron system can be more easily upgraded (the G5 has no RAID option) and is more robust (since the Opteron is a server chip).
I find it very difficult to make a decision, frankly, and I also have the feeling that Apple always overcharges somewhat.