"Socket AM2" from the company AMD: processor models, sets of system logic and hardware platform specializations

"Socket AM2" from the company AMD by the standards of computer technology made its debut long ago - in 2006. Since then, hardware platforms have been updated many times, but computers based on it can still be found quite often.

History of appearance

In 2006, AMD's two hardware platforms - Socket 754 and Socket 939 - exhausted themselves completely. Processors did not allow to significantly improve performance, and the RAM subsystem did not allow using new faster DDR2 modules . At the same time, the main competitor represented by Intel did not have such problems. успешно развивалась и позволяла как увеличивать производительность, так и можно было на ее системные платы устанавливать более скоростные планки ОЗУ. Their platform based on LGA775 successfully developed and allowed both to increase performance, and it was possible to install faster RAM slots on its motherboards. Therefore, AMD was forced to present an updated platform with improved specifications, which was based on Socket AM2. In 2009, AM2 received a minor update, which, according to the specifications of the manufacturer, was called AM2 +. омпоненты этих двух сокетов сохраняли актуальн ость вплоть до 2011 года, когда был представлен наследник процессорных разъемов АМ2 и АМ2+ в лице уже АМ3. The components of these two sockets were kept up-to- date until 2011, when the heir of the AM2 and AM2 + processor connectors in the person of AM3 was presented .

Platform Compatibility

Direct heir, in fact, was for the computing platform "Socket AM2-AM3." But there was also an intermediate link - AM2 +. The chips AM2 and AM2 + were compatible with each other and could be installed in any such processor socket. But AM3 solutions, except for this socket, could also be used in AM2 +. Physically, the AM3 processor can be installed in the "AM2 Socket", but in this case it is necessary to consider the incompatibility of the memory controllers. а АМ3 — только DDR3. AM2 was focused on the use of only DDR2, and AM3 - only DDR3. In turn, AM2 + was equipped with a "hybrid" RAM controller, which could work successfully with both the first and the second type of memory.

Processor Models

The company AMD has released such processors under the "Socket AM2":

• Septron solutions were used to create office or budget PCs. Just one block of calculations, a low clock speed and a minimum cache size did not allow these CPUs to use for something more.

• Mid-level PCs were based on the Athlon product line . They also had only one block of code processing. But here the size of the cache they had more, and those frequencies - increased. All this allowed at that time to create medium-sized gaming systems.

• Premium - the segment of computer systems within AM2 occupied the CPU Athlon X2. They already had twice the number of blocks of code processing, and this made it possible to significantly increase their speed.

Sets of system logic

In 2006, AMD did not occupy such a dominant position in the market of chipsets as it is now. . As a result, in most cases the motherboard "Socket AM2" was based on a set of third-party chips . и VIA. This included such well-known companies as NVidia, ATI, SIS and VIA. Since the dominant position in this niche was occupied for some time by the products of the first company, we will concentrate on it. The list of chipsets of this company for AM2 included the following sets of system logic:

• NForce 550. This was the most affordable solution with an integrated graphics subsystem aimed at the office systems market. Septron. The ideal chip for them was Septron. PCI-E формата 16X не позволяло использовать в составе таких ПК дискретную графику. Also, the lack of PCI-E expansion slot of 16X format did not allow using discrete graphics in such PCs.

• NForce 570 Ultra. A more advanced set of system logic that allows you to create entry-level gaming systems. Athlon и Athlon Х2 . Most often they were used in conjunction with the CPU series Athlon and Athlon X2 . Also within the framework of such computing systems, it was possible to install one discrete video card.

• NForce 570 SLI. и в основном они работали в связке только с Athlon Х2 . Similar motherboards were equipped with two slots for installing video adapters, and basically they worked in conjunction only with Athlon X2 . SLI. The latter could work in SLI mode . Such technical solutions are perfectly suited for creating an average and premium level of gaming system blocks or even entry level graphics stations . PCI-E 2 x 8X. The mode of operation of the accelerators was PCI-E 2 x 8X.

• NForce 590 SLI. This set practically did not differ from the previous one. PCI-E 2 x 16X. The key difference is the operating mode of video cards, which in this case was PCI-E 2 x 16X. That is why these motherboards were most often found in the composition of graphic stations of the middle and higher levels.

Memory subsystem

One of the main innovations was the memory subsystem within the framework of Socket AM2. DDR2. The processors that were intended for installation in this connector were equipped with a 2-channel RAM controller, which was aimed only at using DDR2 modules . And the operating frequencies of the latter could be 400, 533, 667, 800 or even 1066 MHz. The maximum amount of RAM within this computing platform could reach 16 GB.

Built-in graphics adapters

There were also built-in graphics accelerators within the framework of the computing platform, which was based on the Socket AM2. Of course, in the current processor solutions, the integrated graphics subsystem is part of the semiconductor chip of the processor, but at that time there was no such possibility, and as a result, the graphics adapter chips were included in the set of system logic. The Radeon HD3200 can be cited as an example of a built-in video card . Again, the capabilities of such integrated solutions are sufficient for the implementation of the most simple tasks (for example, office applications), but they did not fit to build a productive computing system.

Summary

Сокет АМ2» . Revolutionary for its time was Socket AM2 . It allowed to use a new type of RAM, and the processed microprocessor architecture allowed to obtain a significant increase in performance. But since its release, it has been more than 6 years, it is outdated morally and physically. But those features that were implemented in it, and to this day can be found in the most recent AMD solutions.