System Microprocessor Requirements

This section summarizes processor requirements for server systems.

Note: It is recognized that OEMs supply systems with specific feature requirements to corporations, which can include providing servers that do not include any processors pre-installed before shipping. However, for testing purposes, the system must include the minimum required components.

System processor capabilities meet performance requirements for each server class

Required

For all systems, whether based on Intel Architecture processors or DEC Alpha processors, the processor must be Windows NT compatible and be listed on the Windows NT HCL. Performance requirements reflect the minimum computational capabilities and performance necessary to support the demands of Windows NT Server and server applications.

For systems based on Intel Architecture processors, the minimum performance requirement consists of the following:

• 400 MHz processor.

For Enterprise servers, processor speeds of 450 MHz or better are recommended.

• Minimum 256K Level 2 (L2) cache or equivalent memory subsystem performance.

For Enterprise class servers with a single processor installed, the minimum requirement for L2 cache size is 512K L2 cache or equivalent memory subsystem performance.

All multiprocessor systems must provide the functional equivalent of a minimum of 256K L2 cache for each processor. The L2 cache cannot be shared between processors in a multiprocessor system.

The caching requirement does not apply to processors that can achieve equivalent performance without an L2 cache. The L2 cache must be implemented as a write-back cache.

Recommendations for improving performance on systems with an L2 cache are:

• Increase cache size.
  
  
• Use L2 cache capable of running at the processor core frequency.

Multiprocessor-capable systems comply with symmetric multiprocessor support specifications and meet minimum expansion requirements

Required for all systems, with Enterprise class supporting expansion to at least 4 processors

For systems in which more than one Intel Architecture processor can be installed, the system must employ those processors symmetrically and must comply with the ACPI 1.0 specification and MultiProcessor Specification, Version 1.4 or later. Support for both MPS 1.4 and ACPI helps customers through the transition from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows NT Server 5.0. ACPI will eventually supercede MPS.

In addition, Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC) support must comply with ACPI 1.0 by including the Multiple APIC Description Table (Section 5.2.8).

An ARC-compliant or ACE-compliant DEC Alpha-based system meets the requirements for multiprocessor support.

For Enterprise class servers, the system must support expansion to at least four processors.