Kevin Groat

Bought this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ME:B:EOAB:UK:6 for my son from Ebay to upgrade his computer to help with his exams.
The spec is Dell Precision 420 Piii 733 Mhz, Dual Processor board (Slot 2 empty) - what does this mean then?
Assume it can take a 2nd processer, presume it must be identical to existing processer and is it worth fitting?

Likely to be running Win2000 and MS office, not a gaming machine though.

Thanks

JackClark

I have a 6/7 year old Dual PII 300, with just the one processor it would have trouble running a modern browser. As it is it runs everything I throw at it, albeit a bit slower than a new machine.

Fatman

Yes, it will mean that the motherboard is capable of running two CPUs although it's only supplied with one chip. The benefit found from running a second CPU will depend on what software is running and how many programs are running. With light usage you probably won't see much benefit. That said - if you have one, chuck it in!

Win2k *is* capable of using 2 CPUs, by the way. However, you would need to reinstall Windows (assuming it was installed with 1 CPU in place) or carry out the HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) replacement procedure to use the second CPU.

Kevin Groat

So does it need to be an identical processor?

ozzy

Yes, it would need to be another PIII 733Mhz CPU in a slot package (i.e not just the chip on it's own).

Worth fitting if you can source a CPU on the cheap.

You could ask over on the Dell forums for any pointers on where to get one (other than eBay).

Stefan

Kevin Groat

Thanks chaps,why is it only this forum that get's responses at the speed of light
Might give the 2nd processor a go, need to wait and see if it's slot 1 or 3 first. As for the Hardware Abstraction Layer, I was just thinking that myself

Fatman

With regards to the spec of the second chip - yes, it should be as close as possible to that of the first. That said, I have a dual slot-1 PC with one slot-1 chip and a socket-370 chip in a so370/s1 adapter, so you're not necessarily bound to using two slot-1 chips. I think Intel also recommends you use the same stepping of chip, if you're able to do so.

Fatman

"HOW TO: Add Support for Multiple Processors in Windows 2000": http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;234558

Kevin Groat

Cheers Fatman, once it arrives I'll see how brave I feel...

Trashman

Have exact same machine albeit with Dual PIII 1 GHz processors (and that aint boasting these days ). Check out Ebay as you often see 'matched pairs' offered on there. Not sure just how alike they need to be though everything I've seen suggests identical. This is the machine that uses RAMBUS memory (or it is if it is exactly the same as mine), so upgrading memory could be on the pricey side


Edit: Just seen what you paid on the auction - bargain! Memory cost aint such a prob then

Kevin Groat

Trashman, been off work today sick so put the time to good use. Chased a couple of 2.6 Celerons that went for just over the 100 quid mark but not quick enough on the keyboard. Then phoned Vodafone and whinged about my contract and got a free upgrade that more than doubled my minutes each month. Good day all round

HHxx

Its recommended you use the same stepping cpu. You can get away with it with different steppings, its just based on what Intel have done different in that revision. e.g changed the voltage slightly

H

Trashman

Please urgently PM me 6 numbers between 1 & 49