is this possible and what is the advantage or disadvantages of having 2 CPUs in one computer.
2006-08-22 15:12:08 · 5 answers · asked by Zarcaris 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
Be aware that having a second processor does not double your performance. In fact, you will likely not see a significant increase in performance at all on a desktop machine. However, many server applications are written specifically to take advantage of multiple processors so in that case you would see a definite improvement. It really depends on what you are going to use the computer for. Keep in mind that you will also need to double the amount of memory you would ordinarily use in an SMP system. Wikipedia has a decent reference on symmetric multiprocessing.
2006-08-22 15:26:28 · answer #1 · answered by Jeff M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So make sure you have another socket for the other CPU, your OS supports 2 CPUs, your OS licensing will support 2 CPUs and depending on the OS some programs need to be specifcally designed to take advantage of 2 CPUs.
If your present mother board does not have 2 CPU sockets, it might be easier-cheaper to see if the Mboard supports HT technologies (2 CPUs on one chip) or similar.
If the PC is older than a couple of years, it is probably more prudent to get a new PC.
The main disadvantage used to be that some OSs where only licensed for one CPU and the 2 on one chip still looked like 2 CPUs to the OS. I do believe that all OSs have given a pass to everyone now EXCEPT maybe server OSs.
Two CPUs are better than one IF you can take advantage of the second. Many servers have dozens of CPUs.
Levi Patrick II
www.TheITDoctor.com
2006-08-22 22:27:52 · answer #2 · answered by Levi Patrick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is possible. However, you'd need to upgrade your motherboard and purchase another processor. If you are going to do this, you may as well buy an Intel Core 2 Duo chip and motherboard, which essentially does this for you, but on one processor.
Benefits come from applications that support multiple processors. It spreads the calculations across processors so it can do 2 calculations in the time a single processor machine will do one.
2006-08-22 22:14:57 · answer #3 · answered by Paul K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 CPUs allow you to process data faster. You can get a dual core processor these days so you don't need to buy 2 individual processors and find a motherboard that'll support 2 CPUs.
2006-08-22 22:13:53 · answer #4 · answered by IT Pro 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you best call some tch on that lol
2006-08-22 22:16:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋