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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: USSEnterprise on July 22, 2005, 05:19:59 am

Title: Question about Xeon processors
Post by: USSEnterprise on July 22, 2005, 05:19:59 am
Are Xeon processors considered a form of x86 processor? Just wondering because I want to be able to run FreeDOS on my MAME PC (which will also act as a server ;)), but I don't know if DOS will work on a Xeon
Title: Re: Question about Xeon processors
Post by: paigeoliver on July 22, 2005, 05:40:34 am
Are Xeon processors considered a form of x86 processor? Just wondering because I want to be able to run FreeDOS on my MAME PC (which will also act as a server ;)), but I don't know if DOS will work on a Xeon

Yes, it will.
Title: Re: Question about Xeon processors
Post by: elvis on July 22, 2005, 08:30:08 am
The more technical answer:

Xeons have existed since the PII cores, being marketed as Intel's server and high-end workstattion CPUs for x86 users.  All a Xeon is is a high cache and SMP-able (ie: 2 or more CPUs) version of the equivalent "Pentium" desktop branded CPU.

So find out what core the Xeon is based on (ie: PII, PIII, or P4) and for emulation and OS purposes you can safely consider it a high-cache equivalent of the desktop chip.  All software will work fine, as these are just x86 processors with a fancy name.
Title: Re: Question about Xeon processors
Post by: USSEnterprise on July 22, 2005, 02:08:18 pm
ok, good. Thanks
Title: Re: Question about Xeon processors
Post by: AlanS17 on July 22, 2005, 04:04:39 pm
Keep in mind, though, that I don't believe DOS can take advantage of dual processors. And in the off-chance that a newer version like FreeDOS32 can, then I can promise you that MAME doesn't. It'll still work, but you won't be utilizing the second processor (if there is one). The second processor will just sit there doing nothing.
Title: Re: Question about Xeon processors
Post by: USSEnterprise on July 22, 2005, 04:17:59 pm
I'm gonna be dual, or maybe triple booting, with Windows 2000 or Fedora Core 3, which both take advantage of Dual processor. And for all we know, a version of MAME that takes advantage of Dual Processors may make its appearence someday.