Intel Atom P5942B socket: BGA 2106
The Intel Atom P5942B uses the BGA 2106 package, soldered with 2106 balls. It is a 16-core Snow Ridge network processor at a fixed 2.2 GHz, and the soldered chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 2106
- Launched
- March 2020
- Cores and threads
- 16 and 16
- Base power
- n/a
- Codename
- Snow Ridge
- Segment
- Embedded
- Family
- Intel Atom
- Clocks
- 2.2 / 2.2 GHz
Intel Atom P5942B specifications
| Cores | 16 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Tremont (Snow Ridge) |
| Clocks | 2.2 GHz fixed (no boost) |
| Cache | 18 MB L2, no L3 |
| Manufacturing process | 10 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s with ECC, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 32 lanes (16x PCIe 3.0 plus 16x PCIe 2.0) |
| Integrated graphics | None (board management graphics where present) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Supported, DDR4 ECC |
| Package | BGA2106 soldered, 47.5 × 47.5 mm |
| Cooler in the box | None (board heatsink) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Atom P5942B needs a motherboard with a BGA 2106 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 2106 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 2106 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 2,106 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 47.5 × 47.5 mm |
| Introduced | 2020 |
| Memory | DDR4 with ECC, 2 channels, up to 256 GB (2400 or 2933 MT/s by SKU) |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Atom P5942B is
The Atom P5942B is a 16-core network processor that Intel listed in the first quarter of 2020 with the Snow Ridge P5000 range for base transceiver stations. Its Tremont cores run a fixed 2.2 GHz without boost across 16 threads with no Hyper-Threading. Cache is 18 MB of L2 with no L3, and the 10 nm process suits steady edge workloads.
The chip targets mid density appliances that need fewer cores than the 24-core flagship with the same accelerators. Fixed clocks keep forwarding behavior steady across temperature swings. The BGA2106 package solders to the board with 2106 balls in a 47.5 by 47.5 mm flip chip, so there is no socket retention.
QuickAssist accelerates crypto and compression inline, while USB, SATA and UART cover board management. The multiplier is locked. The 85 C maximum with minus 40 C minimum suits street cabinets as well as labs.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The P5942B fits BGA 2106 only. The chip solders to the network board, so there is no socket retention and no later processor upgrade. Board support is fixed to the BGA2106 platform with DDR4 ECC memory and a SKU matched lane layout.
Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete appliances rather than separate parts. A buyer who needs higher density in the same footprint steps to the Intel Atom P5962B with 24 cores. A buyer who needs fewer cores looks at the Intel Atom P5931B with 12 cores.
The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains why embedded compatibility lives in board design files rather than a CPU support list. For service, a failed processor means a board replacement through the vendor.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s across two channels to 128 GB with ECC. Population follows the board layout with DIMM or soldered memory per appliance design. Two channels feed sixteen cores with room for packet buffers and tables.
The SoC provides 32 PCIe lanes as 16 Gen3 plus 16 Gen2 for NICs, NVMe and storage controllers. Boards split the lanes across Ethernet ports and drives, with the exact split fixed per design. Cooler mounting uses no desktop pattern. Cooling follows the appliance thermal design with a board heatsink and chassis airflow.
Sixteen cores without Hyper-Threading suit predictable forwarding. Each core keeps its own L2 slice from the shared 18 MB pool, which keeps latency even under load. QuickAssist offload matters more than headline clocks for VPN heavy templates.
Upgrade paths
On the same BGA2106 footprint there is no CPU upgrade path, since the chip is soldered. Owners who need different density move to another BGA2106 board with a P sibling rather than a chip swap. Port count and memory size remain the practical choices.
Within Snow Ridge P, the step up is the Intel Atom P5962B for 24 cores, while the steps down are the Intel Atom P5931B for 12 cores and the Intel Atom P5921B for 8 cores. All four share 2.2 GHz fixed clocks and BGA2106, so the choice is core count and L2 size rather than speed.
Moving past BGA2106 entirely means a new board on Xeon D or Xeon Scalable with more lanes and channels. For buyers choosing in 2020, the P5942B suited balanced 16-core templates, while the flagship asked more power for density. The range shares Snow Ridge and 10 nm, but each SKU ships soldered to its own board.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Atom P5942B use?
It uses BGA 2106, soldered with 2106 balls. The chip cannot be removed, so an upgrade means replacing the board.
What memory does the P5942B support?
DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s with ECC in two channels to 128 GB. Population follows the board layout per appliance design.
Can the P5942B boost above 2.2 GHz?
No. The chip runs a fixed 2.2 GHz without turbo or Hyper-Threading. Deterministic clocks suit forwarding templates.
How does the P5942B differ from the P5962B?
The P5942B has 16 cores with 18 MB L2, while the Intel Atom P5962B has 24 cores with 27 MB L2. Both share 2.2 GHz fixed clocks and BGA2106.
Sources and verification
- Intel Atom Processor P5942B specifications (Intel ARK)
- List of Intel Atom processors - Snow Ridge (Wikipedia)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .