this might sound a bit stupid, but...

[manwithplan]

Is it possible to run dual processor MB woth only one cpu in it? I dont know if this is a really stoopid question or not but i suppose theres not harm in asking.

 

[sleepdragon]

yes, you just need to plug in a terminator in the empty slot/socket
(terminator will come with motherboard)

 

[paulip88]

There are also cases where you do not need a terminator. I think it is just necessary for the newer boards/CPUs.

 

[manwithplan]

thanks for the help guys! just though of another one tho, do the two processors have to be the same, ie the same clock speed etc? or can they be different?

thanks
C.

 

[rominl]

if you use dual cpu boards that are using the VIA 694x chipset, you don't need a terminator at all. just put in 1 cpu in the cpu1 socket and you are good to go. as far as i know, if you use those boards that are using the server chipset, or the slot implementation, you need a terminator if you just have one cpu.

if you run two cpu, ideally people say that they have to be the same speed, and even the same stepping. i tried different stepping and it works fine. but they have to at the same speed for sure though. there are boards (for example the MSI 694D series) where allows you to use different chip, but you still gotta overclock or underclock one of the cpu to make them run at the same speed. most of the common boards force you to have cpus of the same clock speed.

 

[cmv]

I think I read of someone running one celeron at 300 and the other at 400 (or maybe it was a 366 and another at 400). But realistically you don't want to do this. There are a number of timing issues, etc... So besides the odd test or two everyone runs the cpus at the same speed (as far as I know).