Socket A (also known as Socket 462) is a

zero insertion force Zero insertion force (ZIF) is a type of IC socket or electrical connector that requires very little (but not literally zero) force for insertion. With a ZIF socket, before the IC is inserted, a lever or slider on the side of the socket is move ...

pin grid array (PGA)

CPU socket In computer hardware, a CPU socket or CPU slot contains one or more mechanical components providing mechanical and electrical connections between a microprocessor and a printed circuit board (PCB). This allows for placing and replacing the cen ...

used for

AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California, that develops computer processors and related technologies for business and consumer markets. While it initially manufactur ...

processors A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, ...

ranging from the

Athlon Thunderbird Athlon is the brand name applied to a series of x86-compatible microprocessors designed and manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). The original Athlon (now called Athlon Classic) was the first seventh-generation x86 processor and the fi ...

to the Athlon XP/MP 3200+, and AMD budget processors including the

Duron Duron is a line of budget x86-compatible microprocessors manufactured by AMD. Released on June 19, 2000 as a lower-cost offering to complement AMD's then mainstream performance Athlon processor line, it also competed with rival chipmaker Inte ...

and

Sempron Sempron has been the marketing name used by AMD for several different budget desktop CPUs, using several different technologies and CPU socket formats. The Sempron replaced the AMD Duron processor and competed against Intel's Celeron series of pr ...

. Socket A also supports AMD Geode NX embedded processors (derived from the Mobile Athlon XP). The socket is a

pin grid array type with 462 pins (nine pins are blocked in the socket to prevent accidental insertion of

Socket 370 Socket 370 (also known as the PGA370 socket) is a CPU socket first used by Intel for Pentium III and Celeron processors to first complement and later replace the older Slot 1 CPU interface on personal computers. The "370" refers to the number of ...

CPUs, hence the number 462). The front-side bus frequencies supported for the AMD Athlon XP and Sempron are 133

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...

, 166 MHz, and 200 MHz. Socket A supports 32-bit CPUs only. Socket A was replaced by

Socket 754 Socket 754 is a CPU socket originally developed by AMD to supersede its Athlon XP platform (Socket 462, also referred to as Socket A). Socket 754 was the first socket developed by AMD to support their new consumer version of the 64 bit micropro ...

and

Socket 939 Socket 939 is a CPU socket released by AMD in June 2004 to supersede the previous Socket 754 for Athlon 64 processors. Socket 939 was succeeded by Socket AM2 in May 2006. It is the second socket designed for AMD's AMD64 range of processors. Av ...

during 2003 and 2004 respectively, except for its use with Geode NX processors.

Technical specifications

* Support of processor clock-speeds between 600 MHz (Duron) to 2333 MHz (Athlon XP 3200+) * Double data rate 100, 133, 166 and 200 MHz

front-side bus A front-side bus (FSB) is a computer communication interface (bus) that was often used in Intel-chip-based computers during the 1990s and 2000s. The EV6 bus served the same function for competing AMD CPUs. Both typically carry data between the ...

on Duron, XP and Sempron processors, based on the

Alpha 21264 The Alpha 21264 is a Digital Equipment Corporation RISC microprocessor launched on 19 October 1998. The 21264 implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture (ISA). Description The Alpha 21264 is a four-issue superscalar microprocessor with o ...

EV6 bus.

Initially launched with 100 MHz FSB support in the earliest chipsets it evolved stepwise to faster 200 MHz FSB while maintaining pin compatibility throughout its lifetime. However, clock, timing, BIOS and voltage differences restrict compatibility between older chipsets and later processors. Socket dimensions are 5.59 cm (5.24 cm without lever) × 6.55 cm or 2.2" (2.06" without lever) × 2.58".

Heatsink

Heatsinks were commonly attached directly to the CPU socket, but some motherboards also had 4 holes for fastening bigger heatsinks to the motherboard. Those holes are placed in a rectangle with lateral lengths of 35 mm and 65 mm.

Socket A mechanical load limits

AMD recommends that the mass of a Socket A CPU cooler to not exceed 300

gram The gram (originally gramme; SI unit symbol g) is a unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI) equal to one one thousandth of a kilogram. Originally defined as of 1795 as "the absolute weight of a volume of pure water equal to th ...

s (10.6

ounce The ounce () is any of several different units of mass, weight or volume and is derived almost unchanged from the , an Ancient Roman unit of measurement. The avoirdupois ounce (exactly ) is avoirdupois pound; this is the United States customa ...

s). Heavier coolers may result in damage to the die when the system is not properly handled. All socket A processors (Athlon, Sempron, Duron and Geode NX) have the following mechanical maximum load limits which should not be exceeded during heatsink assembly, shipping conditions, or standard use. Load above those limits may crack the processor die and make it unusable. Those load limits are quite small compared to the load limits of

Socket 478 Socket 478, also known as mPGA478 or mPGA478B, is a 478-contact CPU socket used for Intel's Pentium 4 and Celeron series CPUs. Socket 478 was launched in August 2001 in advance of the Northwood core to compete with AMD's 462-pin Socket A and th ...

processors. Indeed, they were so small that many users ended up with cracked processors while trying to remove or attach heatsinks to their fragile processor core. This made installing non-standard or non-certified heatsink solutions a risky business.

OEM An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...

aluminium heatsinks typically provided small thermal tolerances so the improper application or absence of a thermal pad or thermal grease, or operation in high room temperatures, could lead to some Socket A CPUs overheating and crashing.

Chipsets

In practice third party chipsets were heavily favoured by motherboard manufacturers. Stability problems and compatibility quirks abounded from manufacturers not following chipset designers' guidelines which in turn caused lasting damage to AMD's reputation despite AMD having nothing to do with the poorly realised hardware.

References

{{amdsock AMD sockets

Technical specifications

Heatsink

Socket A mechanical load limits

Chipsets

See also

References