AMD Opteron 148 HE socket: Socket 940

What the Opteron 148 HE is

The AMD Opteron 148 HE is a 2.2 GHz high-efficiency single-core server processor from December 2004. It runs one K8 core at 2.2 GHz with no turbo, so 1 core gives 1 thread. Cache is 1 MB of L2 on a 90 nm process. Power is rated at 55 W in a Socket 940 package with part number OSK148FAA5BK in the E4 stepping.

HE marks a 55 W bin at 1.35 V to 1.40 V, below standard Venus 148 parts at higher power. The 90 nm Venus base adds SSE3 instructions over 130 nm SledgeHammer parts, with a 1000 MHz HyperTransport link replacing the 800 MHz link. AMD sold the HE bin at 417 dollars in December 2004 for dense single-socket racks. The chip supports MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, Enhanced 3DNow, NX bit and AMD64 with registered PC3200 DDR.

Die shrink plus efficiency binning reshapes density. A 2.2 GHz core with 1 MB at 55 W on 90 nm fits more nodes per rack than 130 nm standard parts at 89 W, while SSE3 helps media and encoding tasks. That combination is why Venus HE parts suited dense single-socket servers that needed throughput without new power feeds.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 148 HE fits Socket 940 single-processor dense servers with registered DDR and Venus HE BIOS support. It needs a board qualified for 90 nm Venus parts at 55 W, not just any SledgeHammer board. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers pairing rules.

Dense single-socket chassis are the natural match. Boards listing Venus HE parts set voltage and fan curves for 55 W operation with SSE3 paths enabled. SledgeHammer-only boards may seat the chip yet miss Venus microcode. Dual-processor needs Troy HE parts instead.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is registered DDR with ECC through the on-chip controller, reaching PC3200. Only server modules boot, with ECC for reliability.

HyperTransport at 1000 MHz links the CPU to the server chipset, while expansion hangs off the chipset. No PCIe lanes originate on the die. Cooling uses 55 W qualified heatsinks with directed rack airflow. Lower power allows denser packing, but filters still need service. DDR2 needs Socket F.

Upgrade paths

On Socket 940 the HE steps include higher Venus HE bins where listed, while standard power Venus 150 at 2.4 GHz offers more clocks at higher power. SledgeHammer 148 standard parts offer a 130 nm alternative without SSE3. Beyond Socket 940 a move to Socket AM2 or Socket F needs new boards with DDR2 memory. The 148 HE lifts with the lever, so swaps need no solder work.