AMD Sempron processor family is a budget line of AMD
processors that superseded AMD Duron
family. AMD Sempron family spans two different micro-architectures:
- K7 microarchitecture. All K7-based processors have the same
features as other desktop K7 processors, and work only on socket 462
(socket A) motherboards.
- K8 microarchitecture.
K8-based Sempron processors
require socket 754, 939 or AM2 motherboards, and include many new
features that were introduced by K8 microarchitecture. To
distinguish these CPUs from K7-based Semprons our site refers to
them as "Sempron 64", although technically this name is not correct.
This page describes only Sempron processors based on K7 (Athlon) architecture.
Despite being advertised as a budget line of AMD processors, Sempron
socket A processors are simply re-branded Athlon XP processors.
Unlike the previous generation of budget processors, AMD Duron,
which had some CPU features
crippled, the socket A Semprons incorporate all of the features of
Athlon XP CPUs. Sempron socket A processors have 333 MHz (166 MHz
DDR) bus speed, 256KB or 512 KB level 2 cache and are manufactured on
the 0.13 micron technology. All Sempron processors support SSE
instructions.
Similar to Athlon XP processors, all Semprons are marked with rated
speed. Sempron CPUs are rated differently from Athlon XPs - while the XP
processors are rated relatively to Pentium 4 family, Sempron CPUs are
rated relatively to Intel Celeron CPUs. For relationship between
rated and actual frequency of Sempron microprocessors please see
AMD Sempron identification page.
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