[Omniscaper]

I'm still a novice when it comes to workstation PC building. There so many considerations that a regular PC building does not necessitate.

I currently have a P4 Xeon 2.66ghz 533mhz bus 512kb cache CPU. I'm attempting to find another CPU to finally complete my system to what I intended it to be. Now I'm coming across many articles indicating that CPU match up is CRUCIAL. One source tells me that an attribute of the cpu called "stepping" number must match, whle another tells me it doesn't matter as so long as the frequency, cache, and bus specifications match.

Can anyone with DP knowledge shed some light on this issue?

[Roanoke]

You do know dual CPUs is kinda pointless, unless you heavily multi-task, right ?

[Omniscaper]

"You under estimate the power of the darkside" -Vader


My commercial activities include

1. Video editing (via Avid/Premiere Pro)
2. Dvd Authoring
3. 3d modeling and animation

Typical multitasking activities:
1. Rendering video/CG special effects
2. Photoshop work
3. Net surfing/online gaming
4. Downloading (tv shows/goat porn)

All of these activities benefit greatly from a DP system by reducing rendering times and increased productivity.

Games are just for ****z and giggles to keep me sane amidst this commerical torture. Gotta pay the bills. I have to admit, the gaming rigs of today do put my workstation to shame when it comes to the realtime output of gaming. But those rigs do not even come close to matching the rendering times of a DP system.

I'd be lying if I said it doesn't make my mouth water to see Halflife 2 run at a blistering 120fps. I was kinda upset when Doom3 DP support was abandoned, Doom experience would have OWNED all your gaming systems.

[Omniscaper]

Am I the only one in here that has a DP (dual processor) system? Aren't ther server admins in here!?

[WMCoolmon]

The most experience I had was with a P3...but when I got it, I got both the processors at the same time from the same vendor.

Edit: So without further information, I don't see why a "stepping number" match is needed. You could try finding a hardware manufacturer who will sell you a processor and give you a full refund if it doesn't work.

Edit 2: After some *brief* reading on what they are, it sounds like it Depends. Stepping numbers are apparently like processor version numbers -  it's probably a very good idea to have them match, but they just might have differences that will make them not work together.
http://www.ocfaq.com/article.php/overclocking/29

For Pentium III, I found no similar doc for Pentium IV:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentiumiii/xeon/sb/CS-007546.htm#9

[Grey Wolf]

If you have a 130nm, my reccomendation is to hurry before Intel does something stupid.