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Processor Sockets: The Types of Socket Used by AMD and Intel Processors (CPUs)

Last updated on 10 March 2008

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An introduction to processor sockets

The rate at which Intel and AMD change the kind of motherboard sockets (it used to be slots for a short period) that their desktop PC processors use, is confusing, as well as being infuriating, because it means that even if the form-factor remains the same (ATX or micro-ATX), every time the type of processor housing changes, or there are technical changes to the existing platforms, a new motherboard has to be purchased if you want to upgrade from one type of socket to another, or even use a more advanced processor that uses the same type of socket. You have no choice in the matter because the previous housing is then no longer supported.

The pace of change is now so rapid that it is becoming increasingly necessary to purchase a new motherboard, processor, and even RAM in order to upgrade to a faster processor.

Back in 1997, Intel moved from housing its processors in Socket 7 (used in 66MHz FSB motherboards) and Super Socket 7 (SS7) sockets (used in 100MHz FSB motherboards) to using a slot (like a PCI/AGP slot), which it called Slot 1.

The Pentium 233MHz MMX processor was Intel's last SS7 processor.

It then proceeded with Slot 1 motherboards to run its Pentium II and III processors, and the cut-down economy versions (with none or less Level 2 cache), called the Celeron.

All of a sudden, the Slot 1 Celeron processors couldn't compete with the SS7 AMD K6-2 and K6-3 processors, and Intel turned the Celeron range back into socketed processors, this time using what it called Socket 370. The processor has 370 pins and the socket has the matching pin grid array to accept them.

Then Intel dropped slot processors altogether in favour of socketed processors.

Some of the Celeron and the last Pentium 3 processors use motherboards that have the Flip Chip - Pin Grid Array or FC - PGA socket. - This is not a new socket, just a new name for Socket 370.

However, Socket 370 is now dead. The Celeron and Celeron D (not a dual-core) processors do not use Socket 370 or Socket 478 motherboards, they use the same LGA775 socket as Pentium D (dual-core) and Pentium 4 processors, both of which have been superceded.

Intel Pentium 4 processors (superceded) use the earlier Socket 423 and Socket 478, or the current Socket LGA775 motherboards, which run the latest Intel Core 2 Duo (dual-core processors) and Intel Core Quad (quad-core processors).

The image below shows a Socket 478 motherboard that is no longer in production. The processor's socket is surrounded by the fitting to which the heatsink and fan unit is fitted. It is an unusual board because it only has one PCI slot (white, bottom left-hand corner).

AMD used Socket 7 motherboards (with a 66MHz FSB) for its K6 processors , and Super Socket 7 motherboards (with a 100MHz FSB) for all of its K6-2, and K6-3 processors, but followed Intel when it decided to use a slot, which it called Slot A, for its first Athlon processors.

Click here! to go directly to a table containing the specifications of AMD's superceded K6, K6-2, and K6-3 processors.

Having also moved away from slotted processors, AMD Athlon, Athlon XP, and Duron processors went on to use Socket A (aka Socket 462) motherboards that are now no longer in production, but can still be bought from outlets such as eBay.

Socket 754 and Socket 939 motherboards run AMD's Athlon 64 and Sempron desktop processors, both of which have been discontinued. AMD has migrated all of its desktop processors to the Socket AM2 and Socket AM2+ platforms. AMD's Socket AM3 processors and the motherboards that run them are expected to be made available at the end of 2008.

Socket AM2 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM2

Socket AM2+ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM2%2B

Socket AM3 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM3

Socket LGA775 motherboards run Intel's Celeron (single-core), Pentium 4 (single-core), Pentium D (dual-core) and Core 2 Duo (dual-core) desktop processors. You have to make sure that a Socket LGA775 motherboard supports a Pentium D or Core 2 Duo dual-core processor, because some of the earlier Socket LGA775 motherboards cannot run the latest processors made for this socket.

Socket T (also known as Socket LGA775) -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_T

Intel's Socket LGA775 platforms

Visit the Processors section of this site for more information on Intel's Socket LGA775 desktop PC processors.

AMD's Socket AM2 and AM2+ platforms

AMD's new range of Socket AM2 processors have been available for some time together with the motherboards that run them made by the major manufacturers.

In November, the AMD Socket AM2+ quad-core processors called the Phenom arrived on the market.

AMD's Socket AM2 processors have an onboard memory controller that supports the latest DDR2 RAM.

Here are links to the new motherboards from Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte:

"ASUS will of course make significant use of AM2 in many different variations. Currently we offer four variations of AM2 boards: the M2N32-SLI Deluxe, M2N-SLI Deluxe, M2V and the M2NPV-VM. The first of these boards, the M2N32-SLI Deluxe, promises to set a new standard for gaming. The M2N32-SLI Deluxe supports dual graphics card operation to run the most video resource-hungry applications. The board comes equipped with an NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP chipset, two PCI Express x16 slots for two identical SLI-applicable graphics cards to run simultaneously in SLI (Scalable Link Interface) mode, and even an optional fan for water-cooling." - http://usa.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=3462

MSI Socket AM2 motherboards - http://www.msi.com.tw/

Gigabyte Socket AM2 motherboards - http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/

AM2 for Power Users: Foxconn C51XEM2AA-8EKRS2H Motherboard Review -

"Foxconn proves the AM2 advantage by posting the best overall performance we’ve seen from a 2GHz Athlon64 3200+. But Foxconn’s advantage doesn’t stop there, as this is also the most fully featured board we’ve tested, offering everything from six-drive RAID arrays to dual-gigabit network teaming and net packet prioritization. Support for two graphics cards with full x16 transfers, SLI mode, x4 PCI Express add-in cards, the latest processors, and DDR2-800 makes the C51XEM2AA-8EKRS2H about as future-proof as anything else on the market." -

http://www.sysopt.com/features/mboard/article.php/3615946

AMD's Socket AM2+ platform: The Phenom processors

For the first time since its take-over of the graphics-chip company, ATI, AMD has produced a complete platform, code-named Spider, that consists of the new Phenom processor, the 790FX motherboard chipset, and the Radeon HD3800 series of graphics cards.

Intel's quad-core processors are really just two dual-core processors in a single package. However, AMD's quad-core processors have all four cores in a single chip.

The good news is that the Phenom processors, and all of the Athlon 64 Socket AM2 processors, can be used on either the new Socket AM2+ motherboards or on Socket AM2 motherboards. In other words, in order to run, the Phenom processors do not require a new Socket AM2+ motherboard. They will also run in a Socket AM2 motherboard. A Phenom processor uses Hypertransport 2.0 on an AM2+ motherboard, and Hypertransport 1.0 on a AM2 board. However, a BIOS update may be required to run a Phenom processor on an AM2 motherboard.

The single-die, quad-core design involves a greater risk of manufacturing defects resulting in lower yields per silicone wafer. If only one of the four cores is defective, it cannot be sold as a quad-core processor. However, if one of the cores is defective, it is deactivated with the intention in mind of marketing it as a triple-core or tri-core processor. AMD’s customers will therefore soon be able to purchase a less expensive tri-core processor. However, at the time of writing this (November, 2007) no information was available about when the Phenom X3 processors will be brought to the market.

Each of the four processor cores of a Phenom processor possesses its own 512 KB of L2 (Level 2) cache, and all of the cores have access to 2MB of L3 (Level 3) cache, which produces an increase in performance.

Even future Phenom processors manufactured on a 45nm fabrication process and supporting DDR3 memory will run in Socket AM2 and AM2+ motherboards. The Socket AM3 45nm Phenom processors are scheduled for release in 2009.

The other advantages of the Spider platform are that it can be upgraded to use up to four graphics cards, and the platform supports the new PCI Express 2.0 graphics standard.

Motherboard manufacturers Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte were at the introduction of the Spider platform in Warsaw to show off their AM2+ motherboards. According to AMD, the MSI K9A2 Platinum (MS-7376) is currently the best of the offerings.

AMD Phenom Quad-Core Processors -

http://www.amd.com/...0,,30_118_15331_15332,00.html

Core 2 Extreme QX9770 - Is Intel Afraid of Phenom? -

"This is the first time in recent memory that Intel is introducing a new processor without having a concrete model at hand. The obvious conclusion is therefore– Intel is worried about AMD’s Phenom launch and is trying to steal the limelight." -

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/Intel-QX9770-X48-X38-QX9650,review-29749.html

All of the specifications of AMD and Intel processors for the desktop PC

Visit the following two pages to view tables containing all of the technical specifications (socket type, clock speed, supported instruction sets, cache, etc.) and other information, such as the dates of release, of all of the processors made by AMD and Intel up to the present. The earliest processors are listed first. The further down the list a processor appears, the more recent it is. Look down the Socket/Slot column for the socket type for a particular model of processor.

Desktop CPU Comparison Guide - AMD processors -

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=337&pgno=0

Desktop CPU Comparison Guide - Intel processors -

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=337&pgno=4

Annotated images of Socket A and Socket 939 motherboards

Click here! to view an annotated images of an ATX AMD Socket A motherboard for the first Athlon socketed processors, and an annotated image of an ATX AMD Socket 939 motherboard for Athlon 64 anf 64 FX processors. - Click your browser's Back button to return here.

The safest way to upgrade RAM: Use the UK and US Crucial Memory Advisors

Paul Mullen, the highly-respected computer guru of the Helpfile at ComputerShopper.co.uk - "I have recently been buying my memory only from Crucial Technology. I would rather pay the extra cost than waste time trying to track down the obscure program faults that bad memory can cause."

The memory requirements of the versions of Windows Vista

Most of the versions of Windows Vista require more RAM memory to run optimally on a computer that doesn't use memory-hungry applications than Windows XP. A video-editing application is an example of memory-intensive software. Only Windows Vista Home Basic has a recommended minimum amount of memory of 512MB, which is the same amount recommended for Windows XP. Windows Vista Home Premium, the most popular version, and Windows Vista Ultimate require a recommended minimum of 1GB (1024MB) of memory, which is twice the amount of minimum memory recommended to run Windows XP. For more information on computer memory, read the RAM pages of this site.

For example, if your computer has an Asus motherboard, open the menu, scroll down to ASUS, and click GO. If, say, you have a Dell computer, scroll down to DELL, and do likewise. You will be taken to the relevant information on Crucial's website.

If you don't know the make and model of the motherboard installed in your computer, here is a good free utility - Belarc Advisor - that creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Another utility that also provides detailed information on the memory itself is CPU-Z.

Intel adopts a new and highly confusing numbering system for its processors

Intel has decided to use a new confusing numbering system for its processors instead of using just the name of the processor and its clock-speed in gigahertz (GHz).

"Intel Introduces Processor Numbers" -

http://www.intel.com/products/processor_number/info.htm#p4htt

The history of the PC processor from the first AMD and Intel processors up to the present models

Visit the following two pages to view tables of all of the processors made by AMD and Intel up to the present.

Desktop CPU Comparison Guide Rev. 1.2! - AMD processors -

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=337&pgno=0

Desktop CPU Comparison Guide Rev. 1.2! - Intel processors -

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=337&pgno=4

If you want are more detailed history of Intel and AMD processors from the first processors up to 2006, visit this article:

See the Processors pages on this site for more information on these processors.

Google searches

If you can't find the information you're looking for on that page, there is a mass of information on processors on the Internet. Using the Google search box at the top of this page (with the Web radio button selected) to search for phrases such as: intel + processors or amd + processors, "Intel processors" or "AMD processors", etc., will bring up so many sites that you could probably spend a whole day visiting them.

PC Buyer Beware! Copyright © Eric Legge 2004-2008. All rights reserved.