Support for Dual CPUs (Win XP Pro)

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Is Win XP Pro able to support dual CPUs? I just got two P-III 1GHz and I have a neat Motherboard. I was thinking of buying Win 2000 Pro, but I wanted to know if XP would make use of 2 CPUs.

Thanks

Wassim

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Wassim:

Yes WinXP Pro will support 2 processors. That is one of the major differences between XP Home and Pro. Home will only support a single processor. Also if you wish to put an XP computer on a network that is also a domain, you must use XP Pro.
Hope this helps.
apapkin@cox.net

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Thanks apapkin.

I took a trip down to the store, and I looked at the box, and it did say it can handle two CPUs.

But the question here would be, could I install it without having this “authentication process” that now MS is making us all jump through?

I simply want to use the OS but don’t want to be bothered with having to register over and over or even send more money to MS.

Thanks

Wassim

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Wassim:
Yes unfortunately you will have to follow the activation procedures. If you don’t, after 15 days or so Windows will not boot until you do activate. You do not have to register, just activate. I suggest buying the full version, not the upgrade.
apapkin@cox.net

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I’m not sure why you would suggest purchasing the full version but I have the WinXP Pro Upgrade and it works great. Never had a problem with the upgrade version and it is half the price. Regarding the activation, it was not intrusive or difficult and only took about a minute or so with a 56k modem connection via the internet. I have never had to deal with the activation process again.

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BriGuy255:

Suggested full because I have never been a fan of upgrades for operating systems. This is personal only and should not be considered mandatory in any way. If upgrade works for you, not a problem.
Cheers,
apapkin

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The only difference between the two, the upgrade requires a proof of a earlier OS, i.e., you will need to keep your older CD around to do a rebuild.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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DaveA:

That’s another good reason.
apapkin

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I’m interested in finding out how those dual-processor systems perform. I have a co-worker with a new computer with 2 2GB processors and also 2 GB RAM running Windows XP Pro. He had hoped to use it to make quick work of compiling Microsoft Visual FoxPro programs, but has found that his modest notebook can run rings around it. The performance options mentioned in Knowledgebase Article Q308417 seem to be fairly basic, and his machine seems to be set up to give priority to foreground programs. What have others experienced?

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You have to be very careful when considering a 2 processor system. Yes XP supports it, but that does not necessarily mean that XP uses it. In my experience, programs need to be specially compiled to use 2 processors and that is why, with the added overhead of the 2 CPUs talking to each other, the compiler is actually running slower than on a single processor.

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