CeBIT: Newer Athlon XPs will be SMP-locked
In an Interview with tecCHANNEL AMDs Athlon Brand Manager Mark de Frere stated that newer versions of the Athlon XP will have their dual processing capabilities disabled.
Mark de Frere explained that AMD wants to better protect buyers of SMP machines. Therefore the CPU maker wants to make sure that only genuine Athlon MP processors are uses in these systems. De Frere was not specific on when AMD applies the SMP lock, but he stated that this will happen sometime this year.
The AMD manager kept his lips sealed on how his company wants to implement the locking mechanism. According to other industry sources AMD plans to use the well known method of laser-cutting contacts on top of the CPU packaging. This is already done to lock the multiplier with current versions of the Athlon XP.