[lug] hardware Q.

[D. Stimits]

I'm looking for motherboards for a linux backup system. The core2 duo 
dual core in the LGA775 seem very attractive, the prices are low if you 
don't look at faster versions, and they don't use much power compared to 
many other cpu's. I'm wondering though about motherboards that are 
LGA775 socket, and report compatibility with Pentium D...and sometimes 
even Xeon...would these also support core2 duo? I'm guessing that 
sometimes the BIOS won't work with a core2 duo, but that maybe it was 
intended that this socket type under a given chipset was intended to 
always support the core2 duo. I'm wondering if this is true...as I 
sometimes see a motherboard with a given chipset that claims 
compatibility specifically with core2 duo, and others that have the same 
chipset and list things like the extreme edition pentium d, but do not 
specifically say core2 duo. I'm thinking maybe it is safe to pick up a 
relatively inexpensive motherboard based on chipset and LGA775 for a 
core2 duo, even if it does not claim core2 duo (for cases where I know 
the chipset can support core2 duo). Any advice on this? Or perhaps the 
BIOS does not even matter and linux itself would decide to use both 
cores? Does linux even require special BIOS support to detect dual core?

D. Stimits, stimits AT comcast DOT net