Skip to main content
The GA-586ID officially only worked with a P54C/P54CM pair.
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Gigabyte GA-586ID, which supported two socket 5 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration (one P54C and one P54CM). It was released in 1994. Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet. There were quite a few dual-Pentium motherboards, see this post for a selection (thanks to snips-n-snails for the link).

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Gigabyte GA-586ID, which supported two socket 5 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration. It was released in 1994. Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet. There were quite a few dual-Pentium motherboards, see this post for a selection (thanks to snips-n-snails for the link).

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Gigabyte GA-586ID, which supported two socket 5 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration (one P54C and one P54CM). It was released in 1994. Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet. There were quite a few dual-Pentium motherboards, see this post for a selection (thanks to snips-n-snails for the link).

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

GA-586ID was earlier.
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Tyan S1462Gigabyte GA-586ID, which supported two socket 5 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration. It was released in 1995 (I think)1994. Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet. There were quite a few dual-Pentium motherboards, see this post for a selection (thanks to snips-n-snails for the link).

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Tyan S1462, which supported two socket 5 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration. It was released in 1995 (I think). Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet.

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Gigabyte GA-586ID, which supported two socket 5 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration. It was released in 1994. Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet. There were quite a few dual-Pentium motherboards, see this post for a selection (thanks to snips-n-snails for the link).

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

S1462 is a socket 5 board.
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Tyan S1462, which supported two socket 75 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration. It was released in 1995 (I think). Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet.

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Tyan S1462, which supported two socket 7 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration. It was released in 1995 (I think). Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet.

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

If you’re looking specifically for motherboards directly supporting multiple x86 CPUs, in a multiprocessor configuration, and available for purchase outside the system they were designed for, a likely candidate for the first such motherboard is the Tyan S1462, which supported two socket 5 Pentium CPUs in an SMP configuration. It was released in 1995 (I think). Supermicro and Tyan apparently produced dual-486 motherboards too but I haven’t found them yet.

There were multiprocessor x86 systems available for purchase earlier than that, as described in the other answers. They typically used per-CPU daughtercards. Multiprocessing on PC-based x86 only became possible in generic systems with the advent of the MultiProcessor Specification in 1994; before that, operating systems needed hardware-specific support (as was the case with Windows NT 3.1 on the SystemPro).

There were also motherboards which supported multiple CPUs, but only used one at a time; I used to have a Forex board which could use a 386 or 486. Arguably any 486SX motherboard with a socket for a 487 qualifies in this category, since the 487 is a full-blown 486DX, so a 486SX with a 487 is a system with two CPUs, only one of which is used.

Add the Forex 386/486 board.
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502
Loading
PC-based...
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502
Loading
S1462 was earlier. MPS limits to 1994.
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502
Loading
S1462 was earlier.
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502
Loading
Source Link
Stephen Kitt
  • 131.1k
  • 19
  • 543
  • 502
Loading