Processor connector AM2: processors, technical specifications and performance level

In a very difficult situation for AMD in 2006, a connector for the AM2 CPU was announced. Processors for sockets 754 and 939 at that time completely exhausted themselves and could not show a sufficient level of performance. As a result, it was necessary to offer something new with a higher speed for a worthy response to the eternal competitor in the person of Intel Corporation.

How and why did this computing platform appear?

In 2006, the market of personal computers started selling a new type of RAM, which was called DDR2. The existing connectors for the installation of the CPUs 754 and 939 of the company AMD were aimed at using the obsolete, but the most common type of RAM - DDR.

As a result, the last socket was reworked and became known as AM2. The processors for this connector received a 30% increase in performance compared to its predecessors. The main factor that allowed this increase in performance was the increased bandwidth of RAM.

Sockets to AM2. Subsequent processor connectors

As noted earlier, the predecessors for this processor socket can be considered as sockets 754 and 939. Moreover, from the position of the organization of the operation of RAM to the hero of this review, the second one, which also had a 2-channel controller of RAM, was closer. But also the server socket 940 can be attributed to the predecessors of AM2. The processors in this case had identical organization of the RAM subsystem and a similar number of contacts, which was equal to 940 pieces.

In one form or another, AM2 existed until 2009. At this time, instead of him and his updated version in the face of AM2 + was released a new processor socket AM3, the key innovation of which was the use of a new modification of the RAM - DDR3. Physically, AM2 and AM3 are compatible. And even CPU AM2 + can be installed in AM3. But the reverse use of the CPU is unacceptable because of the incompatibility of the microprocessor-based memory controllers.

Models of central processors for AM2

AMD Socket AM2 processors were aimed at the following segments of the PC market:

• The products of the Septron line were able to assemble budget system units. Such CPUs had only one computational module and a two-level cache. Technologically, these semiconductor solutions were made at a rate of 90 nm (the range of the CPU frequencies was limited to 1.6-2.2 GHz) and 65 nm (1.9-2.3 GHz). These chips had a very, very democratic cost and an acceptable level of performance for solving office tasks, and it was for these two reasons that they could often be found in the budget segment of the PC.
• The mid-segment solutions included all CPUs Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 X2. The level of performance in this case was provided by increasing the size of the cache memory, higher clock speeds and even the presence of two computational modules (processors with the X2 prefix).

• The most productive products of this platform were chips of the Phenom family. They could include 2, 3 or even 4 computational units. Also, the amount of cache memory was significantly increased.
• Socket AM2 was aimed at creating entry-level servers. The processors of the Opteron family could also be installed in it. They were available in 2 modifications: with 2 computational modules (based on the Athlon 64 X2 CPU and 12xXX marking) and 4 cores (in this case the Phenom chips were the prototype, and such products were already designated 135X).

Chipsets for this platform

AMD AM2 processors could be used in combination with motherboards based on such chipsets from AMD:

• The maximum level of functionality provided 790FX. It allowed to connect at once 4 video cards in 8X or 2 mode in 16X mode.
• The niche of mid-range products was occupied by 780E, 785E and 790X / GX. They were able to install 2 graphics accelerators in 8X or 1 mode in 16X mode. Also, solutions based on the 790GX were equipped with a built-in video adapter Radeon 3100.
• Even lower on the step by the level of functionality were the solutions based on 785G, 785G / V and 770. They allowed to use only 1 discrete graphics accelerator.

RAM and its controller

The installation of the newest DDR2 modules at the time was focused on the AM2 socket. Processors, as noted earlier, due to this important innovation received an additional 30% performance. As in the case of sockets 939 and 940, the memory controller was integrated into the CPU. Such an engineering approach allows to increase the performance with a subsystem of RAM, but limits the number of CPU types supported by the CPU.

The appearance in the future of new modifications of the strips leads to the fact that the architecture of the memory controller must be reworked. It is for this reason that an intermediate solution AM2 + appeared between AM2 and AM3 +. It did not radically differ from its predecessor, and the only difference was that it added support for DDR2-800 and DDR2-1066 RAM modules. In pure form, AM2 could fully work with the slats DDR2-400, DDR2-533 and DDR2-667. You can also install faster RAM modules in such a PC, but in this case their performance was automatically lowered to the level of DDR2-667, and there was not much benefit from using faster RAM.

The current situation with this platform

To date, Socket AM2 is completely out of date. Processors and motherboards for this platform can still be found in a new state in warehouses. But to consider this connector as a basis even for assembling the most budgetary PC is not recommended: the price difference with the most affordable processor solutions of the initial level of more recent sockets is insignificant, but the difference in terms of performance will be palpable.

Therefore, it is possible to use such accessories in the event that the PC on the AM2 base is out of order, and it is necessary to restore it urgently with minimal costs.

Let's sum up the results

Signed in 2006 for the world of computer technology was the output connector for the CPU AM2. The processors in this case received a very substantial increase in speed and allowed solving more complicated problems. But now the products based on this platform are outdated, and it is not recommended to consider them as the basis for building a new system unit.