Newbie Q: how is XP with multiple processors? What limitations?

[KR]

I'm using Win98 now, and thinking of upgrading. The following question is
part of my information gathering to figure out what to upgrade to, both in
hardware and software.

I've heard that Windows XP "sees" Intel hyperthreaded (?) CPUs as multiple
CPUs, so I'd guess that qualifies as multiprocessor support. However, when
working on multiprocessor machines that run 2 _or more_ CPUs, is there
anything else I should know about? I searched MS's website but didn't find
anything helpful. I'm looking at the possibility of either a dual AMD
opeteron machine, or maybe even at an older model server motherboard with 4
Intel CPUs, depending on what else I learn about (comparable speed, etc.).
Basically I'll be interested in things like editing and rendering video, so
I need a lot of CPU power. Will Win XP support more than 2 processors? The
machine will be set up as a workstation, not a server.

I appreciate any links or information you think would help me understand the
pros/cons of using XP on multiprocessor machines-

Thanks!
Keith

 

[Tom Porterfield]

Will Win XP support more than 2 processors? The
machine will be set up as a workstation, not a server.

Windows XP Pro supports two physical processors (Home only supports a
single physical processor). If the processor is HT and HT is enabled in
the bios, then XP sees the physical processor as two processors. So if you
had two physical processors, both with HT, then XP Pro would see that as
four processors.

See the following articles:

INFO: Windows XP and Hyper-Threading
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=810231

Windows XP Professional Features
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/features.mspx
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Will Win XP support more than 2 processors? The
machine will be set up as a workstation, not a server.

XP Professional supports only two physical processors, and XP
Home only one.