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.
SMP lock easy to crack?
If the SMP lock should be implemented in the same way, one could easily crack it just like the multiplier. How-Tos for the latter procedure have been out on the web for months.
The Athlon XP is based on the same core as the Athlon MP which has AMDs official support for being used in SMP configurations. However, AMD only tests and guarantees SMP with the more expensive Athlon MP. As a consequence, experienced users prefer the less costly Athlon MP for dual processing.
More from AMD and CeBIT
You'll find AMD at CeBIT in Hall 19, Booth B24. A recent story from CeBIT about the AMD-Thoroughbred-CPU (in German language and international pictures) is posted here. Hammers new mounting mechanism for coolers, dubbed "Baking Tray" by tecCHANNEL, is depicted here.
In cooperation with CeBIT nearly all news by tecCHANNEL are posted at the english portal of the CeBIT homepage. There you will also find news by other German IDG publications like PC Welt, Mac Welt and Computerwoche. (mec/fkh/nie)