Dual CPU Boards

[CarsonAurum]

I have a few questions, as I am looking into working a dual CPU board (The Asus Z10PA-D8 ATX Board To Be Exact) into my next build. Before I delve into this full heartedly I need to know: Can I use the board with 1 CPU and add another later? Why do boards, like the one mentioned above have 512 GB RAM Capacities? Is work automatically distributed among the 2 chips and their designated RAM? Can both chips read/write/use all connected HDD/SSD and Graphics devices?

 

Thanks for any replies

;D

[CarsonAurum]

*Bump

[Cyrus49]

I think you can use it with one cpu. I remember Linus doing it in one of his videos.

[inflictedpotato]

You should be able to use one cpu with no problems. On certain boards, however, this will limit the available number of PCIe lanes. In addition, you will only be able to use 1 cpu worth of RAM slots. Work will be automatically distributed between the two CPUs, but keep in mind your workload; many tasks are better suited to the faster fewer cores of a single cpu system than many cores, and will fail to fully take advantage of the many cores of a dual cpu system. 

 

These boards are typically designed for intense workstation workloads, many of which can take advantage of tremendous quantities of ram, such as intensive video / audio production and scientific computation. 

 

Also, remember that only Xeon cpus can be used in dual CPU configurations.