Socket AM3

Last updated
Socket AM3
AMD AM3 CPU Socket-top closed PNrdeg0297.jpg
Release dateFebruary 2009 (2009-02)
Type PGA-ZIF
Chip form factorsPGA
Contacts941 (Socket)
938 (CPU)
FSB protocol HyperTransport 3.x
FSB frequency200 MHz System clock
HyperTransport up to 2.6 GHz
Processors Phenom II
Athlon II
Sempron
Opteron 1380 Series
Predecessor AM2+
Successor AM3+
This article is part of the CPU socket series

Socket AM3 is a CPU socket for AMD processors. AM3 was launched on February 9, 2009 as the successor to Socket AM2+, alongside the initial grouping of Phenom II processors designed for it. [1] The sole principal change from AM2+ to AM3 is support for DDR3 SDRAM. The fastest CPU for socket AM3 is the Phenom II X6 1100T.

Contents

Like the previous AMD socket, the "AM3 Processor Functional Data Sheet" (AMD document number 40778) has not been made publicly available. The "Family 10h AMD Phenom™ Processor Product Data Sheet" (document 446878) has, [2] but contains only a brief list of features of the Phenom, and does not contain any substantive technical data regarding socket AM3.

Compatibility

Socket AM3 breaks compatibility with AM2/AM2+ processors due to a subtle change in key placement. The AM3 socket has 941 pin contacts in a different layout [3] while AM2+ processors have 940 pins. Tom's Hardware removed the two obstructing key pins from an AM2+ Phenom processor in order to fit it into an AM3 socket. The processor did not work in the AM3 socket, but still worked in an AM2+ socket, suggesting that compatibility issues run deeper than merely the key pins. [4] It is likely because the built-in memory controller in AM2/AM2+ processors only supports DDR2 (unlike AM3 processors, which support both DDR2 & DDR3 memory). [5] In fact, a few motherboards were manufactured that supported both DDR2 and DDR3, however only one type could be used at a time. Despite using an AM3 socket and despite using a northbridge and southbridge found on AM3 motherboards, they support any AM2, AM2+, or AM3 processor. [6]

As AM3 processors also support DDR2, they are backwards-compatible with Socket AM2/AM2+, contingent upon a BIOS update for the motherboard. Manufacturers including Asus, [7] Gigabyte, [8] and others have labeled existing AM2/AM2+ boards as being "AM3 Ready" or similar, indicating that BIOS support is provided for the specified boards. This allows existing AM2/AM2+ systems to upgrade the CPU without having to upgrade any other components.

Heatsink

The 4 holes for fastening the heatsink to the motherboard are placed in a rectangle with lateral lengths of 48 mm and 96 mm for AMD's sockets Socket AM2, Socket AM2+, Socket AM3, Socket AM3+ and Socket FM2. Cooling solutions should therefore be interchangeable.

Socket AM3+

AM3+ is a modification of the AM3 socket. It has one additional pin for new Bulldozer-based AM3+ processors and is backwards-compatible with AM3 processors. It broke backwards-compatibility between AM3+ processors and AM2 and AM2+ motherboards because the processors do not support DDR2 memory.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opteron</span> Server and workstation processor line by AMD

Opteron is AMD's x86 former server and workstation processor line, and was the first processor which supported the AMD64 instruction set architecture. It was released on April 22, 2003, with the SledgeHammer core (K8) and was intended to compete in the server and workstation markets, particularly in the same segment as the Intel Xeon processor. Processors based on the AMD K10 microarchitecture were announced on September 10, 2007, featuring a new quad-core configuration. The last released Opteron CPUs are the Piledriver-based Opteron 4300 and 6300 series processors, codenamed "Seoul" and "Abu Dhabi" respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mini-ITX</span> 17 × 17 cm motherboard

Mini-ITX is a 170 mm × 170 mm motherboard form factor developed by VIA Technologies in 2001. Mini-ITX motherboards have been traditionally used in small-configured computer systems. Originally, Mini-ITX was a niche standard designed for fanless cooling with a low power consumption architecture, which made them useful for home theater PC systems, where fan noise can detract from the cinema experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socket 754</span> CPU socket for old AMD CPUs

Socket 754 is a CPU socket originally developed by AMD to supersede its Athlon XP platform. Socket 754 was one of the first sockets developed by AMD to support their new 64-bit microprocessor family known as AMD64, this time for the consumer market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socket 940</span> CPU socket for old AMD CPUs

Socket 940 is a 940-pin socket for 64-bit AMD Opteron server processors and AMD Athlon 64 FX consumer processors. It was one of the first sockets designed for AMD's AMD64 range of processors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socket AM2</span> CPU socket for old AMD CPUs

The Socket AM2, renamed from Socket M2, is a CPU socket designed by AMD for desktop processors, including the performance, mainstream and value segments. It was released on May 23, 2006, as a replacement for Socket 939.

The AMD Family 10h, or K10, is a microprocessor microarchitecture by AMD based on the K8 microarchitecture. The first third-generation Opteron products for servers were launched on September 10, 2007, with the Phenom processors for desktops following and launching on November 11, 2007 as the immediate successors to the K8 series of processors.

Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory is a type of synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) with a high bandwidth interface, and has been in use since 2007. It is the higher-speed successor to DDR and DDR2 and predecessor to DDR4 synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) chips. DDR3 SDRAM is neither forward nor backward compatible with any earlier type of random-access memory (RAM) because of different signaling voltages, timings, and other factors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socket S1</span> CPU socket for laptop AMD CPUs

Socket S1 is the CPU socket type used by AMD for their Turion 64, Athlon 64 Mobile, Phenom II Mobile and later Sempron processors, which debuted with the dual-core Turion 64 X2 CPUs on May 17, 2006.

The AMD 700 chipset series is a set of chipsets designed by ATI for AMD Phenom processors to be sold under the AMD brand. Several members were launched in the end of 2007 and the first half of 2008, others launched throughout the rest of 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socket AM2+</span> CPU socket for old AMD CPUs

Socket AM2+ is a CPU socket, which is the immediate successor to Socket AM2 that is used by several AMD processors such as Athlon 64 X2. Socket AM2+ is a mid-migration from Socket AM2 to Socket AM3 and both AM2+ and AM2 socket CPUs and motherboards have the potential to operate together. Actual interoperability depends upon other factors, especially the availability of compatible BIOS firmware, and some PC manufacturers, such as Dell, have not provided compatible BIOS versions that allow use of socket AM2+ CPUs on their products utilizing socket AM2 motherboards, such as the Inspiron 531. It was released in November 2007.

The AMD Bulldozer Family 15h is a microprocessor microarchitecture for the FX and Opteron line of processors, developed by AMD for the desktop and server markets. Bulldozer is the codename for this family of microarchitectures. It was released on October 12, 2011, as the successor to the K10 microarchitecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phenom II</span> Family of AMD multi-core 45 nm processors

Phenom II is a family of AMD's multi-core 45 nm processors using the AMD K10 microarchitecture, succeeding the original Phenom. Advanced Micro Devices released the Socket AM2+ version of Phenom II in December 2008, while Socket AM3 versions with DDR3 support, along with an initial batch of triple- and quad-core processors were released on February 9, 2009. Dual-processor systems require Socket F+ for the Quad FX platform. The next-generation Phenom II X6 was released on April 27, 2010.

AMD Dragon is a platform engineered for gamers, designed for use with the AMD Phenom II X4 processor family. The goal for the platform is to offer the user a powerful gaming system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlon II</span> Family of central processing unit models

Athlon II is a family of AMD multi-core 45 nm central processing units, which is aimed at the budget to mid-range market and is a complementary product lineup to the Phenom II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socket AM3+</span> CPU socket for AMD CPUs

Socket AM3+ is a modification of Socket AM3, which was released on February 9, 2009. AM3+ was released in mid-2011 designed for CPUs which use the AMD Bulldozer microarchitecture and retains compatibility with processors made for AM3. The Vishera line of AMD CPUs also all use Socket AM3+. It is the last AMD socket for which Windows XP support officially exists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGA 1151</span> Intel microprocessor compatible socket

LGA 1151, also known as Socket H4, is a type of zero insertion force flip-chip land grid array (LGA) socket for Intel desktop processors which comes in two distinct versions: the first revision which supports both Intel's Skylake and Kaby Lake CPUs, and the second revision which supports Coffee Lake CPUs exclusively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socket AM4</span> CPU socket for AMD processors with Zen and Excavator architectures

Socket AM4 is a PGA microprocessor socket used by AMD's central processing units (CPUs) built on the Zen and Excavator microarchitectures.

References

  1. ↑ The Phenom II X4 810 & X3 720: AMD Gets DDR3 But Doesn't Need It, AnandTech, 2009-02-09, retrieved 2012-01-10
  2. ↑ Phenom II Processor - Product Data Sheet (PDF), Amd.com, retrieved 2012-01-10
  3. ↑ MSI Releases AM3 Gaming Series Motherboards, Hothardware.com, 2009-01-22, retrieved 2012-01-10
  4. ↑ Modding And Overclocking–Doable? : Socket AM3: AMD's Phenom II Gets DDR3, Tomshardware.com, 2009-02-09, retrieved 2012-01-10
  5. ↑ AMD Phenom II - DDR2 vs. DDR3 Performance, Tweaktown.com, 2009-03-11, retrieved 2012-01-10
  6. ↑ MSI Unveils DDR2+DDR3 Combo Motherboard, Tom's Hardware, 2009-03-07, retrieved 2014-12-31
  7. ↑ ASUS Motherboards Now Supports AMD AM3 Processors, Event.asus.com, retrieved 2012-01-10
  8. ↑ "Gigabyte: Products: Motherboard". Gigabyte Technology.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.