AMD K8 processor families

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AMD K8 family is the eighth and the latest generation of AMD microprocessors. The first members of this family, server-class Opteron processors, were introduced on April 22, 2003. Shortly after that the company released Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 FX high-performance desktop processors. Mobile Athlon 64 and mobile K8-based Semprons K8 processors were announced in 2004. Like the AMD K7 family, as well as Intel microprocessors, the family consists of desktop and mobile processors targeting different markets:

Opteron - server class processors.
Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 FX - high-performance desktop processors.
Sempron 64 (Sempron) - budget desktop processors.
mobile Athlon 64, mobile Turion and mobile Turion 64 X2 - high-performance mobile processors.
Mobile Sempron - budget mobile processors

The major new feature in K8 CPU family is 64-bit mode. In this mode the processor operates as 64-bit processor, while still able to execute older 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit x86 applications. It's worth to mention two other enhancements included in all K8 microprocessors:

HyperTransport technology (originally called Lightning Data Transport) implements high-speed link between the processor and other I/O devices.
Integrated memory controller provides dedicated access to memory.

Athlon 64

Picture of: AMD Athlon 64 3800+ - ADA3800IAA4CN (ADA3800CNBOX)

3800 MHz (rated), 2200 MHz (actual)
512 KB L2 cache
940-pin organic microPGA

ADA3800IAA4CN is the fastest single-core Athlon 64 socket AM2 processor. Even though this is not overall the fastest single-core AMD processor, for many people it's still a good and cheap upgrade option due to very good price/performance ratio. Being 30% - 40% cheaper than the Athlon 64 4000+ CPU, it's only a few percent slower than the 4000+. The difference in performance between this processor and AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 is approximately 10% - 15%, while the FX-57 CPU is 2.5 - 3 more expensive.

Athlon 64 X2

Picture of: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ - ADA3800DAA5CD (ADA3800CDBOX)

Athlon 64 X2 microprocessors integrate two Athlon 64 cores on one die. This design has many advantages of dual-processor systems, yet allowing the processor to work in cheaper single-processor motherboards. Dual core (Athlon 64 X2) processors use the same rating as single-core processors, though performance of dual-core CPUs may be quite different depending on the type and number of applications the processor runs. All dual-core processors are manufactured using 0.065 and 0.09 micron process.

Currently (Jul 2007) the fastest officially released Athlon 64 X2 processor is ADX6400IAA6CZ / ADX6400CZBOX / ADX6400CZWOF.

Athlon Neo X2

Athlon 64 FX

Athlon 64 FX are high-performance microprocessors aimed at computer enthusiasts. The FX CPUs offers higher, 5% - 10% on average, performance over the fastest desktop Athlon 64 or Athlon 64 X2 processor released at about the same time. Higher performance comes at higher price though - the Athlon 64 FX CPUs may be up to 50% more expensive than the most expensive desktop Athlon 64/64 X2 microprocessors.

The fastest Athlon 64 FX processor at this time (Dec 2006) is Athlon 64 FX 74.

Opteron

Picture of: AMD Opteron 242 - OSA242CCO5AH

Opteron is a family of server-class processors based on K8 architecture. Initially released for socket 940 motherboards, these processors featured three HyperTransport links, where each link could be used to connect to another processor or I/O device. All socket 940 Opterons had single-channel DDR memory controller and could work only with registered RAM. There were three different versions of AMD Opteron processors: 1xx version for single-processor systems, 2xx version for dual-processor systems and 8xx version for system supporting up to 8 processors. Some 1xx processors were made for socket 939. These processors didn't require expensive registered RAM to run, but they had only one HyperTransport link.

Dual-Core Opteron

Second Generation Opteron

Picture of: AMD Second Generation Opteron 2210 - OSA2210GAA6CQ (OSA2210CQWOF)

1.8 GHz
Dual-core
2 MB L2 cache
1207-land lidded LGA

Sempron 64

Picture of: AMD Sempron 64 2800+ - SDA2800AIO3BX (SDA2800BXBOX)

2800 MHz (rated), 1600 MHz (actual)
754-pin lidded mPGA

Sempron X2

Picture of: AMD Sempron X2 2200 - SDO2200IAA4DO

Mobile Sempron

Picture of: AMD Mobile Sempron 3000+ - SMS3000BQX2LF

3000 MHz (rated), 1600 (actual)
128 KB L2 cache
754-pin lidded micro-PGA

Sempron for Ultrathin Notebooks

Mobile K8 Athlon XP-M

Picture of: AMD Mobile K8 Athlon XP-M 3000+ - AHN3000BIX3AP

3000 MHz (rated), 1600 MHz (actual)
256 KB L2 cache
754-pin lidless micro-PGA

Mobile Athlon 64

Picture of: AMD Mobile Athlon 64 3000+ - AMN3000BIX5AR

Mobile Athlon 64 is a family of mobile microprocessors based on K8 architecture. Mobile Athlon 64 processors share many features with socket 754 Athlon 64 CPUs - single channel DDR memory controller, one HyperTransport link, support for SSE and SSE2 instructions (some mobile processors also supported SSE3). Mobile Athlon 64 had lower power consumption than desktop CPUs, and also featured PowerNow! technology.

Mobile Athlon 64 X2

Picture of: AMD Mobile Athlon 64 X2 2.2 GHz - ZMN2200IAA501

2.2 GHz
1 MB L2 cache

Engineering sample

Turion 64 Mobile technology

Picture of: AMD Turion 64 Mobile technology ML-32 - TMDML32BKX4LD

Mobile Athlon 64 CPU family was replaced by Turion 64 Mobile technology family. Turion 64 microprocessors have the same K8 micro-architecture as mobile Athlon 64 processors: 128 KB level 1 cache, from 512 KB to 1 MB level 2 cache and one HyperTransport link. Most Turion 64 processors have integrated single-channel DDR memory controller and work in socket 754. Some Turion 64 CPUs work in socket S1 - these processors have dual-channel DDR2 memory controller. All Turion processors include SSE3 instructions and feature new Deeper Sleep power-saving mode. Power consumption of Turion 64 is usually lower or much lower than power consumption of mobile Athlon 64 CPUs.

Athlon 64 for Notebooks

Picture of: AMD Athlon 64 TF-20 - AMGTF20HAX4DN

Athlon Neo for Ultrathin Notebooks

Athlon 64 X2 for Notebooks

Picture of: AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 - AMDTK55HAX4DC

1.8 GHz
1 MB L2 cache
638-pin lidless micro-PGA
Socket S1

Athlon Neo X2 for Ultrathin Notebooks

Turion 64 X2 Mobile technology

Picture of: AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile technology TL-52 - TMDTL52HAX5CT (TMDTL52CTWOF)

New feature in the Turion 64 X2 Mobile technology family is integrated second CPU core. Dual-core design improves system performance when running a multi-threaded application, or more than one application at a time. Dual-core design has its drawbacks though. Not only these processors are more expensive because it costs more to manufacture them due to larger die size, they also require more power to run which is very important for mobile processors. To reduce power consumption these mobile processors use PowerNow! technology and a few power-saving modes including Deeper Sleep mode. Core voltage of the Turion 64 X2 CPUs is lower that the one of Turion 64 processors, which helps to reduce power consumption further. All in all, the Turion 64 X2 have insignificantly higher power requirements than single-core Turion processors.

Turion Neo X2

Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core

Last modified: 10 Dec 2011