Dell XPS 720 possibility of 2nd processor

[jedynygucio]

I have recently purchased a Dell XPS 720 (D037205) desktop machine with the Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Processor Q6600 chip running Windows XP Pro.

I do a lot of parallel programming and I would like to know whether this chipset/motherboard/computer will allow the installation of a 2nd separate processor. I would like to install a further 2 or 4 cores, or possibly a very fast single core (Pentium 4, 3.6 GHz) with HT.

I would appreciate any advice in this matter, and whether it is indeed possible to do this.
Best regards,
AJS

 

[darkstar782]

No, not possible, the motherboard is an nForce 680i board and only supports one CPU.

You'd need a workstation board with an intel 5000 chipset.

You'd need two Xeon 5000 series CPUs - only these will work in a dual CPU config.

You'd need to replace all your RAM with FB-DIMMs.

You'd need a new case as there are no BTX server boards that would fit the XPS 720's case.

 

[jonisginger]

So really, no.

 

[bobwya]

You'd need a workstation board with an intel 5000 chipset.

You'd need two Xeon 5000 series CPUs - only these will work in a dual CPU config.

You'd need to replace all your RAM with FB-DIMMs.

There are plenty of multi-socket AMD boards e.g.:
http://www.tyan.com/product_board_detail.aspx?pid=554
I guess you can build a 16-core system with that board?? (If the new stepping of the Barcelona is ever released!!)

Bob