Xeon - How to tell dual or single core?

Hi all,

I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
seems to be a pretty good price.

The information I've found online suggests that these were available
with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
each)

I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
configuration.

The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
it's single or dual core?

All information/help muchly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Andy.

Andy wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
> seems to be a pretty good price.
>
> The information I've found online suggests that these were available
> with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
> each)
>
> I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
> configuration.
>
> The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
> it's single or dual core?
>
> All information/help muchly appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Andy.
Right click my computer select properties. The page that comes up will tell
you what the processor(s) are.

Andy wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
> seems to be a pretty good price.
>
> The information I've found online suggests that these were available
> with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
> each)
>
> I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
> configuration.
>
> The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
> it's single or dual core?
>
> All information/help muchly appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Andy.

The Precision 670 uses a 7525 Northbridge. (You should verify I got the right one.)

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1053318

Tyan makes a motherboard using that Northbridge, and the processor support
list for that Tyan board is here. I'm using this as a way to approximate
the support for the Dell box (since I cannot find any advice for the 670).

http://www.tyan.com/archive/support/...u_xeon_p4.html

If you scroll down to "Thunder i7525", the supported processors are:

S604 FSB800 2MB L2 cache = 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8 GHz
S604 FSB800 1MB L2 cache = 2.8, 2.8^, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 GHz

^ = Low power Xeon.

Those would be single core. They probably have Hyperthreading
(but the Intel processorfinder.intel.com site shows blanks for
the information section of those processors, so I cannot verify
that).

This is an Intel provided utility. I don't know whether it
handles multiple socket motherboards or not. Another utility
you can use, is CPUZ from cpuid.com .

http://www.intel.com/support/process.../CS-014921.htm

HTH,
Paul

* Andy:

> I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
> seems to be a pretty good price.

Hopefully the price is really good. The 670s are quite old.

> The information I've found online suggests that these were available
> with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
> each)

These information is wrong. The 670 is a dual socket604 system, and only
can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.6GHz (there was a dual core
2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision 670!). All of them
support HyperThreading, that means every processor shows two logical
CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are visible in Windows
is just useless.

These XEON are based on the P4 Netburst architecture, that means they
run very hot, and the faster variants can't keep up with even a single
faster Core2 Duo processor. The Precision 670 uses the intel E7525
chipset which has a shared 800MHz FSB and needs DDR2-400 Registered ECC
memory.

Compared with a modern Core2 Duo E6600 or faster, you're probably way
better with the Core2.

> I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
> configuration.

It doesn't exist. Saldy, a lots of sellers are either too naive to
realize that HyperThreading is not "dual core", or probably want to pull
people over the table by knwoingly describing it as "dual core" when in
fact it isn't.

> The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
> it's single or dual core?

As I said, a Precision 670 with dual core processors doesn't exist. Period.

Benjamin

* Andy:

> I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
> seems to be a pretty good price.

Hopefully the price is really good. The 670s are quite old and slow now.
We still have some around at work, though, as they are very reliable.

> The information I've found online suggests that these were available
> with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
> each)

These information is just wrong. The Precision 670 is a dual socket604
system, and only can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.6GHz (there
was a dual core 2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision
670!). All of them support HyperThreading, that means every processor
shows two logical CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are
visible in Windows is just useless.

These XEON are based on the old Pentium4 Netburst architecture, that
means they run very hot, and even two of the faster variants (3.6GHz)
can't keep up with one of the faster single Core2 Duo processors. The
Precision 670 uses the intel E7525 chipset which has a shared 800MHz FSB
and needs DDR2-400 Registered ECC memory.

Comparing a dual processor Precision 670 with a modern Core2 Duo E6600
or faster, you're probably way better with the Core2 Duo system.

> I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
> configuration.

It just doesn't exist. Sadly, a lot of sellers are either too naive to
realize that HyperThreading is not really "dual core", or probably just
want to pull people over the table by knowingly describing it as "dual
core" when in fact it isn't.

> The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
> it's single or dual core?

As I said, a Precision 670 with dual core processors doesn't exist. Period.

Benjamin

* Andy:

> I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
> seems to be a pretty good price.

Hopefully the price is really good. The 670s are quite old and slow now.
We still have some around at work, though, as they are very reliable.

> The information I've found online suggests that these were available
> with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
> each)

These information is just wrong. The Precision 670 is a dual socket604
system, and only can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.8GHz (there
was a dual core 2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision
670!). All of them support HyperThreading, that means every processor
shows two logical CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are
visible in Windows is just useless.

These XEON are based on the old Pentium4 Netburst architecture, that
means they run very hot, and even two of the faster variants
(3.6GHz/2MB) can't keep up with one of the faster single Core2 Duo
processors like an E6650. The Precision 670 uses the intel E7525 chipset
which has a shared 800MHz FSB and needs DDR2-400 Registered ECC memory.

Comparing a dual processor Precision 670 with a modern Core2 Duo E6650
or faster, you're probably way better with the Core2 Duo system. Not
only it's faster, it also consumes less power.

> I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
> configuration.

It just doesn't exist. Sadly, a lot of sellers are either too naive to
realize that HyperThreading is not really "dual core", or probably just
want to pull people over the table by knowingly describing it as "dual
core" when in fact it isn't.

> The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
> it's single or dual core?

As I said, a Precision 670 with dual core processors doesn't exist. Period.

Benjamin

Benjamin Gawert wrote:

> * Andy:
>
> > I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
> > seems to be a pretty good price.
<snip>
> > The information I've found online suggests that these were available
> > with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
> > each)
>
> These information is just wrong. The Precision 670 is a dual socket604
> system, and only can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.8GHz (there
> was a dual core 2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision
> 670!). All of them support HyperThreading, that means every processor
> shows two logical CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are
> visible in Windows is just useless.

....

Thankyou Benjamin, Paul and PS for your speedy and helpful responses.

Looks like I'll give it a miss. It won't be much (if any) kind of
'upgrade' from what I'm running now - Sounds like I'll need to save
for an extra week or two and build my own box based on a Core2 Duo
(can't imagine I'll see much extra benefit from going quad-core). I
have enough heat issues here as it is!

Cheers, and thanks again,
Andy.