Want to build a dual P4 machine

[Ric Kaysen]

Sorry if this has been discussed here before. I'm interested in building a
new computer using as many parts from my Dell 8200 as is practical. I know
the power supply will cause problems and I don't want to go the rdram route
again so I'll be tossing that stuff. I'd most like to build a dual processor
and use the 2 gHz P4 I already have and buy a second to match. I'm a first
time builder and wanted to ask for some advice from more experienced
builders before going any further. Is this project do-able? Can someone
recommend a motherboard source? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Will Dormann]

Sorry if this has been discussed here before. I'm interested in building a
new computer using as many parts from my Dell 8200 as is practical. I know
the power supply will cause problems and I don't want to go the rdram route
again so I'll be tossing that stuff. I'd most like to build a dual processor
and use the 2 gHz P4 I already have and buy a second to match. I'm a first
time builder and wanted to ask for some advice from more experienced
builders before going any further. Is this project do-able? Can someone
recommend a motherboard source? Thanks in advance for any help.

The P4 chip isn't SMP-enabled, so I don't think your proejct is do-able.


-WD

 

[JT]

Sorry if this has been discussed here before. I'm interested in building a
new computer using as many parts from my Dell 8200 as is practical. I know
the power supply will cause problems and I don't want to go the rdram route
again so I'll be tossing that stuff. I'd most like to build a dual processor
and use the 2 gHz P4 I already have and buy a second to match. I'm a first
time builder and wanted to ask for some advice from more experienced
builders before going any further. Is this project do-able? Can someone
recommend a motherboard source? Thanks in advance for any help.

There are no motherboards for Dual P4s. If you want dual processor, you
either have to go back to P3s, go way up in price to Xeons, or do AMD smp
Athlons or Opterons.

Intel made the P4 a single processor chip on purpose.

JT

 

[Stephen Austin]

Intel made the P4 a single processor chip on purpose.

Why? (Just curious )

Steve

 

[DaveW]

There are NO P4 dual processor boards on the market. You'd have to use Xeon
or Opteron processors.

 

[JT]

Why? (Just curious )

Steve

You will have to ask Intel for the Why exactly. The consensus is they
didn't want P4s to cut into sales of more lucrative Xeon processors in
multiprocessor machines. It does simplify processor testing and design
also if you don't have to design and test for Multiprocessor, but the Xeon
is really a P4 with more cache and an incompatible socket.

JT