It’s possible to make a system using more than 1 processor. Symmetrical Multiprocessing systems are typically used as servers and as high-performance workstations for Computer Aided Design, 3-D rendering, PhotoShop editing and other severely processor-based work.

Though, if pocketbook is wide and wants the ultimate in workstation performance, an Symmetrical Multiprocessing system is the appropriate choice. In an Symmetrical Multiprocessing system, multithreaded applications get a boost as processes are sent to every processor, so the 2CPUs work together to run programs.

Windows XP Home doesn’t run Symmetrical Multiprocessing. If want to use Symmetrical Multiprocessing with Windows XP, Windows XP Professional is required. Though, certain games don’t support XP Professional.

In order to use an Symmetrical Multiprocessing system same as a single processor PC, a special motherboard having 2CPU slots is require, a well-matched version of Windows like Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional, 2 processors, and memory.

Intel as well as AMD both makes special processors devoted to Symmetrical Multiprocessing processing. Intel produces the Xeon DP, at present is on top at the 2.8GHz, and the Xeon MP at speeds up to 2GHz. AMD makes the Athlon MP, available as fast as the 2600+ at present.

The best chipset for an Intel solution is the i7505 chipset, manufactured by Intel. It uses a memory technology known as dual channel DDR, which effectively doubles the bandwidth in comparison with the earlier DDR. This latest technology is only at its beginning stage at the moment.

Remember that doubling the number of processors doesn’t associate to doubling the performance of a comparable single-processor system. Dual processors share the same memory and FSB. There’s an important performance hike, particularly if running processor-intensive applications like movie encoders, 3-D rendering applications, CAD etc.

Best results from SMP-aware applications can be produced, but any multithreaded game or application can benefit from a Symmetrical Multiprocessing setup.