AMD A10-6800K socket: Socket FM2

What the A10-6800K is

AMD A10-6800K is a quad core Richland APU that AMD released in June 2013, as part of the 2013 Elite A series on Socket FM2. It runs 4 Piledriver cores and 4 threads at 4.1 GHz base with turbo to 4.4 GHz. The cache is 4 MB L2 (2 modules of 2 MB, no L3). Power is 100 W on a 32 nm process. Graphics come from AMD Radeon HD 8670D (844 MHz), which drives monitors without a separate card.

The cores sit in two Piledriver modules with 4 MB of L2 in total, and threads equal cores at 4. The on die graphics block carries 384 shaders at 844 MHz. That block shares system memory, so two matched DDR3 modules matter more here than on a CPU without graphics. Memory support is ddr3 up to 2133 mt/s, two channels. The APU also carries pcie 2.0 from the apu, while SATA and USB come from the board chipset.

The K suffix marks an unlocked multiplier for board level tuning, with voltage and cooling setting the practical limit. At 100 W the A10-6800K fits mid towers with tower air cooling. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows how to confirm the socket before ordering parts.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The A10-6800K fits Socket FM2 on A55 through A85X boards. Most Socket FM2+ boards accept it after a BIOS check, since FM2+ keeps back compatibility with Richland. DDR3 modules match stock operation without tuning. FM1 Llano boards never accept Richland.

Power delivery suits the 100 W rating, so boards with heatsinked power stages are the safe choice. A board that lists Richland 100 W support covers the A10-6800K. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide explains the 48 by 96 mm pattern shared with AM2, AM3 and FM1. Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works covers AMD pairing rules.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is ddr3 up to 2133 mt/s, two channels across two channels. Boards commonly offer four DIMM slots on ATX and two on micro ATX. Two matched modules give the rated bandwidth, which also feeds the graphics block. There is no DDR4 option, so a move to DDR4 means leaving the socket.

PCI Express is pcie 2.0 from the apu from the APU for one graphics slot, with SATA and USB from the board chipset. Most builds in this class stay on integrated graphics, since AMD Radeon HD 8670D covers office work and video. A mainstream card of the era pairs without waste where a slot is free.

Cooling follows the 100 W rating. A tower air cooler with a 120 mm fan is the practical pick, since the stock cooler runs loud under sustained load. The 48 by 96 mm mounting pattern is shared with AM2, AM3 and FM1 on desktop FM2.

Upgrade paths

Within Socket FM2 the A10-6800K sits in the quad core A10 group. A same socket move can add clocks, for example from an A8 to an A10, or from a locked part to an unlocked K part for tuning. The board stays, while memory and cooler often carry over. AMD A8-6600K shows another Richland option on the same socket.

A platform move means a new socket with DDR4. AMD moved mainstream desktops to AM4 with a different pin layout and cooler spacing. That move needs a new board, new DDR4 modules and often a new cooler bracket. Keep the FM2 board for secondary duty where it still runs well.