Socket 939: Description

In 2004, AMD presented two platforms for creating computer systems: Socket 754 and Socket 939. The difference was that the first had only a single-channel memory controller, and the second had a dual-channel memory controller. Also, the second kind of processor socket allowed to install dual-core CPU models. It is about the capabilities and characteristics of the latter that will be discussed later.

The history of the appearance of Socket 939

Until 2004, the company AMD actively developed only one processor socket, which was called "Socket A". The second name is Socket 462. It installed 32-bit CPU models with one compute module. In 2003-2004, the situation began when the possibilities of this platform were already insufficient to solve the most difficult problems. Therefore, the company "AMD" completely reworked all the soy processor solutions and introduced two product lines at once. The first of them, in the person of Socket 754, was focused on creating budget class solutions. Also this processor connector allowed to assemble a mid-range PC. Well, to create the most productive desktop personal computers and even entry-level servers, Socket 939 was intended. Its processors had excellent technical parameters and allowed to solve any problems. Also, such PCs could be used as working or graphic stations. Another important feature was the release for this processor socket of the first dual-core processor solution from AMD which was the Athlon 64 X2. Socket 939 Was relevant until 2006, after which he was replaced by a more advanced "Socket AM2." The processors of these sockets are not compatible with each other. In "Socket 939" there were 939 contacts, and in "AM2" - 940.

Positioning of this computer platform

It was the solution of the most demanding tasks that was focused on Socket 939. Its processors in terms of performance did not leave any chances to competing platforms. Therefore, this platform in 2004-2006 perfectly suited for the creation of a powerful gaming PC, graphics or workstation. Also in this socket it was possible to put the CPU of the "Optheron" line. In this case, such a computer system has already turned into an entry-level server. In fact, the niche that was occupied by Socket 939 in 2004-2006, now occupies LGA 2011 v3 from Intel. But AMD is not represented in this segment at the moment. In the context of the current performance requirements, it can be noted that the PC based on "Socket 939" for 10 years of work dropped from the premium segment into the niche of budget office computers. And this is not surprising: 10 years for the market of computing technologies - a long time.

The main advantages of Socket 939

Several important technical innovations were implemented in products that were based on a processor socket called Socket 939. The first of these is a dual-channel memory controller. In an earlier "Socket A", some motherboards also boasted such an important feature. But in the case of an updated platform, the company "AMD" went further. If before that the RAM controller was integrated into the north bridge of the motherboard, now it was transferred to the semiconductor crystal of the central processing unit. On the one hand, this increased the area of the chip and the degree of its heating. But it was due to this non-standard move that a significant increase in productivity was provided. Another important innovation of this platform was the availability of 2 slots for installing graphics adapters. This engineering solution allowed the creation of graphic stations with even greater levels of performance. Well, the last important feature of this platform is the emergence of dual-core chips. Immediately they, of course, could not constitute a full-fledged competition of the CPU with one computational module: the frequencies in the case of the two-block layout of the crystal had to be reduced. But as the software optimization for 2 data streams, this approach more than justified itself.

Sets of system logic for this platform

The basic sets of system logic for Socket 939 Were such:

• NForce 4 from the company Nvidia. This is the most functional chipset in this case. It allowed to install in the PC 2 graphic accelerators in expansion slots PCI - Express. Also, the motherboards based on it had a single-chip layout: the set of logic consisted only of the south bridge into which the part of the north bridge that remained after the integration of the RAM controller into the central processing unit was transferred.

• K8T890 from VIA. This solution in terms of specifications clearly lost to nForce 4. It did not have a built-in Ethernet controller for 1Gb / s and manufacturers had to use third-party solutions. Also the number of ports for SATA-drives was limited to 2 and there was no possibility to create RAID-arrays with the help of chipset. All these problems were solved with the help of additional microcircuits. But it complicated the layout of the motherboard and increased the cost of the final product.

• Another Xpress 200 chipset from ATI could boast of the built-in graphics accelerator of the initial class Radeon X300. This allowed in some cases (for example, when creating an entry-level server) to save on the purchase of a discrete graphics accelerator.

• In turn, SIS 756 for the most part was the analog of nForce 4. But the cost was lower. But the previous relatively unsuccessful products of this manufacturer led to the fact that this set of system logic has not received a sufficiently wide distribution.

RAM

Just for the use of one type of RAM, the motherboards were oriented in this case. Socket 939, as noted earlier, received one important innovation - the RAM controller was integrated into the CPU. It was oriented to work in conjunction with the modules "DDR" of the 1st generation. All the more recent types of RAM in the composition of such a system was already impossible to use. To do this, it was necessary to significantly process the CPU and even release a new platform, which was called "AM2".

Models of supported processors

This platform supported such models of central processing units:

• The most modest parameters and the corresponding performance level could boast of the chips of the "Septron" line. They also had lower clock speeds and reduced cache size.

• Slightly higher on the step are located "Athlon 64". The computing part of the semiconductor crystal was identical to the "Septron", but their frequencies were higher and the cache was increased.

• Even more high level of performance was provided by chips of the Athlon 64 FX line. And for the same parameters: the frequency and the number of cache-memory.

• Even higher were the AMD Athlon 64 X2. Socket 939 Was the first processor connector from the company "AMD", in which it was possible to install 2-core CPU. This is how they were designated.

• The highest level of performance in the context of this platform was provided by the CPA "Opteron". They had improved technical specifications and were focused on creating entry-level servers.

The cost of a computer system based on this platform

At $ 799, one of the most powerful CPU models, the FX-53, was rated, which included the Amd Athlon line. Socket 939 precisely because of this line of silicon chips, providing a fantastic level of performance at that time, and received a lot of positive feedback from computer enthusiasts. The motherboard was also an expensive component in this case, the cost of which could even reach $ 200. If you add the remaining components, then the total cost of the computer system in this case could reach $ 1500. You could, of course, have installed a more affordable chip for the 720 dollars Athlon 64 line. 939 Socket in this case, significantly lost its level of performance and the difference between it and "Socket 754" was not so big anymore.

Owner feedback

The performance level was excellent for the processors with the FX index of the Amd Athlon 64 line. Socket 939 at the time, due to this, without any problems left far behind the direct competitors on the basis of Socket 775 from Intel. At the same time, energy efficiency was also better for AMD solutions. Therefore, most computer specialists at that time, when assembling a new high-performance and universal PC, paid attention precisely to the AMD Socket 939 platform.

Pros and Cons of Socket 939

The key disadvantage in this case is the high cost of the end PC based on Socket 939. Athlon for this platform with a normal level of performance was much more expensive than a similar semiconductor chip for Socket 754. The same can be said about motherboards. But the difference in performance was not so significant. Therefore, such personal computers were bought only in those cases where the maximum performance was necessary at all costs. In all other cases, the option remained for the more accessible "Socket 754". Now about the pluses of Socket 939. "X2" - it was such a prefix had dual-core chips from AMD and it was the main innovation of this platform. The second important nuance is the possibility of creating graphic stations with two video cards.

Results

Signed for 2004-2006 was the output of Socket 939. This platform predetermined the development of semiconductor products of the company "AMD" for many years. Even its current processor socket "Socket AM3 +" is based on those developments, which were then made. Only at the end of 2016 the new architecture, which was codenamed "Zen", should replace these developments.