Should I upgrade to a Dual-CPU rig?

[PCAddict]

Here's the deal. I have two systems. A P3-600E and a P3-550 Katmai. I am upgrading the 600E to an 800EB. I am going to sell the 550 and the motherboard it resides on. I am considering buying a dual-cpu board and a second 600E. This system will run Windows 2000 Professional exclusively.

Only my 600E is connected to the 'net at this time. Once I do the CPU upgrade, I'll network everything and let both systems share my DSL connection. I have everything I need but have been too lazy to do it.

I currently am running SETI & RC-5 on the same machine, so of course my numbers suck. With the new setup, I'll keep SETI on the single CPU rig and run RC-5 on the dual CPU rig.

Is this worth doing?

 

[mechBgon]

First thing that comes to mind: is your P3 600E a cBO? If not, it is not SMP-capable.

 

[PCAddict]

I must be living under a rock. I do peek out from time to time. I do know that refers to the stepping. How do I find out?

 

[mechBgon]

Intel has a CPU ID progie for identifying them... I'll go hunt it down, brb...

 

[mechBgon]

OK, here is where you can get the utility, and here is where you can decipher the result (hopefully).

 

[PCAddict]

I had an older version of that program. I downloaded it. Basically here is what it told me:

Intel(R) Processor Frequency ID Utility Version 3.0.20001115
TimeStamp: 2000/11/28 2:48:49
Number of processors in system: 1
Current processor: #1
Processor Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) III Processor 600E-MHz
Type: 0
Family: 6
Model: 8
Stepping: 1
L1 Instruction Cache: 16 KB
L1 Data Cache: 16 KB
L2 Cache: 256 KB
Packaging: S.E.C.C./S.E.C.C.2
MMX: Yes
SIMD: Yes
SIMD2: No
Reported processor Frequency: 600 MHz
Reported System Bus Frequency: 100 MHz
Expected processor Frequency: 600 MHz
Expected System Bus Frequency: 100 MHz
*************************************************************

 

[mechBgon]

Looks like a cA2, the predecessor to the cBO. Have a look here.

 

[PCAddict]

Crap. So that means no SMP?

 

[TwoFace]

PCAddict: Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1 makes it a cA2 stepping processor at least as far as I could see...

Mech: Are you absolutely 100% positive no earlier PIII's than the cB0 cores are SMP capable? I seem to remember that other cores were too but I don't know ... Can you verify this for me?

Good luck on your upgrade PCAddict

With love and respect your fellow TA member

Two-Face

 

[mechBgon]

Having had a dual-P3 450, I know for a fact that earlier P3's were SMP-capable... but not the Coppermines at first. The P3 800 was the first Coppermine P3 to have guaranteed SMP capability... because all of them were the cBO stepping or later. Depending upon what you want from that system, PCAddict, you might consider simply buying a couple of PPGA Celerons and an Abit BP6 from someone you trust. The PPGA Celerons are a reasonably-sure bet for 550MHz with adequate case ventilation and cooling, and they crack RC5 just as fast as a P3, MHz for MHz. Then you could sell your 600E...?

 

[PCAddict]

I could change strategies and go with dual 550 Katmai's and sell this 600E. I can easily get my hands on a second 550 Katmai CPU.

 

[TwoFace]

Hmmm I'll take your word for it then mech, just wanted to make sure!

Might be a good idea that then PCAddict... going dual with the Katmai's instead I mean

With love and respect your fellow TA member

Two-Face

 

[NOX]

If your 600E were cBO I would say buy another. I have not had personal experience with cAS, only cBO. Though others seem to have success using cAS PIII600E's on MS-694D. Their are others who are using dual cCO 700E?s, though it does look like there are issues.

Here?s another: 600E

Personally I would not use anything other then cBO, you can take a look at my settings:

[System Summary]

Item Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Version 5.0.2195 Service Pack 1 Build 2195
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name XXXXXXXXXXX
System Manufacturer VIA Technologies, Inc.
System Model MS-6321
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 3 GenuineIntel ~934 Mhz
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 3 GenuineIntel ~934 Mhz
BIOS Version Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Windows Directory C:\WINNT
System Directory C:\WINNT\System32
Boot Device \Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Locale United States
User Name XXXXXXXXXX/Administrator
Total Physical Memory 261,612 KB
Available Physical Memory 133,552 KB
Total Virtual Memory 894,388 KB
Available Virtual Memory 621,804 KB
Page File Space 632,776 KB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

As you can see 6.8.3 stepping, both CPU?s are 700E?s, running at 133MHz FSB (933Mhz).

As far as SMP capabilities Intel has been claiming that for a while, but we all know the truth. It puts anyone in a amusing situation, according to Intel stepping doesn?t matter, but if the stepping isn?t the same Win2k wont boot, though NT will. Talk about screwy sh1t. It?s also possible to run two different speed CPU?s in SMP (i.e. 500 and 700). Though I understand that the higher clocked CPU will default to 500 assuming that is the slower CPUs speed, and both CPU?s need to support the same FSB.

You asked if it's worth it, while that all depends. Here are some of my personal benchmarks:

CPU Benchmark

CPU Multimedia Benchmark

 

[Joe O]

PCAddict,
Once you go dual, you will never look back. I'm suprised that Intel has not pushed SMP more. They would sell more processors, and everyone would have a better computing experience. It must have something to do with Windows 9x (and 3.x before it) not supporting SMP.

 

[PCAddict]

Thanks guys. I'll probably try a dual 550 Katmai setup. That will be the easiest/cheapest.

 

[PhotoLenny]

I'm running a dual 550E cA2 stepping under win 2k - no problems with a supermicro p6DGS

 

[GoSharks]

wait!!!!

you can run dual p3s even if the steppings dont match. all you need is one cpu to be cb0 or higher. its somewhere in the intel spec sheets, i would give you a link, but support.intel.com is down at the moment

 

[Possessed Freak]

photolenny, did you know you can overclock that to 112mhz, it is under manufacturers settings in bios (I forget which part)... set it to 2 or 3...

 

[PhotoLenny]

Tried it, not stable, probably cheap ram