Single CPU In Dual Mobo? Will this work?

[strauss]

Hi

I was wondering if it's possible to buy a dual CPU Mobo like the H8DCE and only put in one CPU?
This way I could upgrade gradually.
My initial plan is to get a H8CDE and buy only one AMD 270 or 275 at first as I don't have the money to buy it all at once and maybe as soon as the prices for the dualcore's go down I buy the second.

 

[chewie]

It usually works, just be sure to put it in slot 1....consult the manual (if you can find it on the web) before you purchase. In my Asus PC-DL Deluxe it works (this in dual XEON, but AMD shouldn´t be different).

 

[neil wilkes]

I don't know if the same thing applies to AMD processors, but be very, very careful here.

Installing a single CPU and then installing Windows will install the HAL for single CPU in Windows. This will not work correctly after adding a second CPU at a later date unless you re install XP from scratch.

Problem number two is that for proper operation, a Dual CPU configuration requires matched Processors. I fell into this trap with my ASUS PC-DL Deluxe mobo after buying 2 Xeons - at the same time - that turned out to be from different batches, and as a result there was a warning from the BIOS that although there were 2 CPU detected, they were not matched and bootup would only continue as single CPU mode only.

You MUST install Dual CPU as matched pairs, from the same batch - not just the same clock speed & FSB.

 

[strauss]

Thanks for the info!

How do I know if two CPU's are from the same batch?
Can I assume that if I buy two Opteron's from the same store at the same time that they are matched? Or do I need to check a certain range between the serial numbers?