Socket AM2

Socket AM2 is a socket for high-performance and budget desktop microprocessors. The socket was officially introduced on May 23, 2006. On that day AMD released new Athlon 64 X2 5000+ and Athlon 64 FX FX-62 microprocessors, and announced complete lineup of Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2 and Sempron processors for socket AM2. These were not the first socket AM2 processors, though. The first socket AM2 microprocessors were Energy efficient Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2 and Semprons - they were introduced a week earlier, on May 16, 2006.

The socket AM2 works with single, dual, triple and quad-core desktop processors with frequencies up to 3.2 GHz. The socket supports dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM memory controller and one 1000 MHz HyperTransport link. The Socket AM2 is not the latest socket for desktop AMD microprocessors. The latest socket for desktop AMD CPUs, Socket AM2+, supports faster HyperTransport link, up to 2.6 GHz, and offers separate power planes for the CPU core and integrated memory controller. The socket AM2+ is compatible with socket AM2, that is socket AM2+ processors can be used in socket AM2, and vice versa.

The socket AM2 has 940 pin holes. The pin holes are arranged as 31 x 31 grid, with 21 pin holes plugged.

  Supported processors  

All processors in the table below will physically fit into the socket, but not all of them are supported by all motherboards. If you're upgrading an old computer system please make sure that the CPU is compatible with your motherboard. Please see "Upgrading socket AM2 motherboards" section below for information on how to determine what microprocessors can be supported by your motherboard.

CPU Family	Frequency	The fastest CPU(s)
Athlon 64	1800 MHz - 2600 MHz 3000+ - 4000+	ADH1640IAA5DH
Athlon 64 FX	2800 MHz FX-62	Athlon 64 FX-62
Athlon 64 X2	1800 MHz - 3200 MHz 3400+ - 6400+	Athlon 64 X2 6400+
Mobile Athlon 64 X2	2000 MHz - 2200 MHz 3800+ - 4200+	AMN4200IAT5CU
Phenom X3	2100 MHz - 2300 MHz 8400 - 8600	Phenom X3 8600
Phenom X4	1800 MHz - 2500 MHz 9100e - 9850	Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition
Second Generation Opteron	1800 MHz - 3200 MHz 1210 - 1224 SE	Second Generation Opteron 1224 SE
K8 Sempron	1000 MHz - 2300 MHz 2100+ - 3800+	Sempron LE-1300

There are no Intel or VIA processors compatible with this socket.

  Compatible sockets  

Socket AM2+

  Compatible package types  

940-pin organic microPGA

  Upgrading socket AM2 motherboards  

If you want to upgrade to the fastest socket AM2 microprocessor then your upgrade choices are:

• If you're planning to do a lot of audio or video encoding, 3D rendering, running other multi-threaded applications, or running many processes at once, then your best upgrade option is Phenom X4 9850 or Phenom X4 9750.
• If you need maximum performance in existing games (Crysis, Oblivion, etc) then the best upgrade option is Athlon 64 X2 6400+. Second Generation Opteron 1224 SE is as fast as the Athlon X2 6400+, but it's not recommended for upgrades due to much higher price.

For cheap computer systems, used primarily for e-mail, browsing and office-type applications, either Athlon 64 LE-16xx or slowest Athlon 64 X2 processors would be more than sufficient.

To determine what processors are supported you'll need to:

• Determine manufacturer and model of your motherboard,
• Search on manufacturer's website for the motherboard model.

For upgrade information for ABIT, ASRock, ASUS, DFI, ECS, Gigabyte Technology, Jetway, MSI, PC Chips motherboards please check CPU-Upgrade motherboard database.