Intel clamps down on dual-Celeron systems

Intel's attempt to prevent Celeron CPUs being used in multi-processor systems may for now depend more on bamboozling buyers than actually nobbling the chip. According to hardware-oriented Web site BX Boards, Chipzilla began disabling one of the Socket 370 Celeron's pins (AN15, to be exact) at the end of June, to ensure the chip would not work in dual-CPU mode. That was in response to the release of several dual-CPU motherboards. At the same time, the company began stamping 'For uniprocessor systems only' stickers on its Celeron packaging. Just a trick to put people off? BX Boards asked at the time. And it now appears that that may well be the case. The site claims to have received reports from readers who have got the chip to work in dual-processor mode. Clearly there are still plenty of fully-operational Celerons in the channel, and Intel's sticker strategy is indeed a half-way measure until dual-mode disabled Celerons start filtering through. ®