AMD Athlon II X4 620e socket: Socket AM3

What the Athlon II X4 620e is

AMD Athlon II X4 620e is a quad core Propus processor that AMD released in May 2011 for efficient desktops. It uses the K10 core design on a 45 nm process, running at 2.6 GHz with no turbo. The cache is 2 MB of L2 with 512 KB per core and no L3. Power is only 45 W, which puts four cores inside a dual core power budget. The retail box carries part number AD620EHDK42GM on a Propus C3 stepping. The HyperTransport link runs at 2.0 GHz to the 7 and 8 series chipset. The 938-pin package fits the 941-hole AM3 socket and 942-contact AM3+ sockets by design.

Four threads at low clocks suit threaded office work, file service and light virtualization without heat. The chip keeps the dual channel DDR2 and DDR3 controller, so both memory generations work. No integrated graphics exist on the CPU.

At 45 W the 620e fits small towers with stock cooling while outpacing faster duals in threaded tasks. The fixed 2.6 GHz rate covers file service and background jobs without tuning. Boards pair it with DDR3 DIMMs and chipset video or a basic card. The 45 W quad also suits entry home server duty with boards that offer four DIMM slots and hardware RAID. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows how to confirm the socket.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Athlon II X4 620e drops into Socket AM3 on 7 and 8 series boards with Propus support. Makers including ASRock list Propus quads on 770, 785G, 880G and 890GX boards with current BIOS. AM3 processors also fit AM3+ boards. Check the maker CPU list for the exact board BIOS.

Power at 45 W suits slim office boards with small coolers. Common homes include 780G, 785G, 880G and 890GX boards, with 785G and 880G adding chipset video for office monitors. Four 4 GB UDIMMs give the practical 16 GB ceiling. Boards with four DIMM slots reach the ceiling with matched kits, while two slot boards top out at 8 GB. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers AMD pairing rules.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is DDR2-1066 and DDR3-1333 over two channels. Two matched modules feed four cores. ECC needs a board that wires it. Two slot boards reach 8 GB with two 4 GB modules, while four slot boards reach 16 GB.

PCI Express slots come from the 7 and 8 series chipset. Most builds use chipset video or a basic card.

Cooling follows the 45 W rating with a small stock heatsink on the shared 48 × 96 mm mount.

Upgrade paths

Within Socket AM3 the Athlon II X4 620e can move to faster quads and Phenom II parts with L3 on the same board. Memory and storage carry over, and DDR3 DIMMs move to an AM3+ board as well for a later FX step. The locked multiplier keeps all four cores at reference clocks, so board firmware matters more than cooler size. A higher power quad reference on the same socket is the Phenom II X4 840 class.

A platform move to AM3+ keeps DDR3 while adding FX parts. Keep the AM3 board for efficient threaded duty.