Socket AM3

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Socket AM3

Socket AM3 is a CPU socket

CPU socket

A CPU socket or CPU slot is a connector on a computer's motherboard that accepts a central processing unit and forms an electrical interface with it....
for AMD

Advanced Micro Devices

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. is an United States multinational corporation semiconductor industry company based in Sunnyvale, California, that develops Central processing unit and related technologies for commercial and consumer markets....
processors

Central processing unit

A central processing unit is an electronic circuit that can execute computer programs. This broad definition can easily be applied to many early computers that existed long before the term "CPU" ever came into widespread usage....
. It follows directly from Socket AM2+

Socket AM2+

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 is fully compatible with Socket AM2, so that processors designed for Socket AM2 work on Socket AM2+ motherboards and vice versa....
. AM3 was launched on February 9th, 2009, alongside the initial grouping of Phenom II

Phenom II

Phenom II is a family of AMD multi-core 45nm central processing units, succeeding the original Phenom . The Socket AM2+ version of Phenom II was released 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....
processors designed for it. The sole principal change from AM2+ to AM3 is support for the AM3 processors' integrated memory controller

Memory controller

The memory controller is a digital circuit which manages the flow of data going to and from the main memory. It can be a separate chip or integrated into another chip, such as on the Die of a microprocessor....
, which now supports DDR3 in addition to DDR2

DDR2

DDR2 can refer to:* DDR2 SDRAM* discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2...
. AMD is also introducing a platform codenamed "Dragon" along with the Phenom II, which consists of a Phenom II processor, an ATI HD4870 Graphics card and an AMD 790GX Chipset.

et AM3 breaks compatibility with AM2/AM2+ processors due to a subtle change in key placement.

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Encyclopedia

Socket AM3 is a CPU socket

CPU socket

A CPU socket or CPU slot is a connector on a computer's motherboard that accepts a central processing unit and forms an electrical interface with it....
for AMD

Advanced Micro Devices

Central processing unit

Socket AM2+

Phenom II

Memory controller

DDR2

Compatibility

Socket AM3 breaks compatibility with AM2/AM2+ processors due to a subtle change in key placement. The socket has 941 pin contacts while current AM3 processors have only 938 pins. Tom's Hardware removed the two obstructing key pins from an AM2+ Phenom II 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.

However, AM3 processors are backwards-compatible with Socket AM2+, contingent upon a BIOS

BIOS

In computing, the Basic Input/Output System , also known as the System BIOS, is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface for IBM PC Compatible computers....
update for the motherboard. Manufacturers including Asus

ASUS

ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated , a Taiwanese multinational company, produces motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, PDAs, computer monitors, notebook computers, Server , computer networking devices, mobile phones, computer cases, Electronic component, and computer cooling systems....
, Gigabyte

Gigabyte Technology

Gigabyte Technology is a Taiwan-based manufacturer of computer hardware products best known for its motherboards. The company is publicly held and traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange ....
, 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.

Socket AM3

Compatibility

See also

External links