Socket Geek

Socket AM2+ socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit

Socket AM2+ is the AMD pin grid array socket that carried the first Phenom II processors in December 2008. It holds 940 contacts for 940-pin packages on a 40 × 40 mm footprint. AMD launched it in November 2007 as a bridge from AM2 to AM3, adding HyperTransport 3.0 at up to 2.6 GHz and split power planes while keeping DDR2 memory.

Quick facts

MakerAMD
Package typePGA
Contacts940
Package size40 × 40 mm
IntroducedNovember 2007
StatusLegacy
MemoryDDR2 up to PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066), two channels
PCIe from the CPUNone from the CPU. PCIe comes from the 700 series chipset; HyperTransport 3.0 up to 2.6 GHz links CPU to chipset
Cooler mounting holes48 × 96 mm
ReplacesSocket AM2
Replaced bySocket AM3

Overview

The socket matters for this batch because the Phenom II X3 715 Black Edition is listed as an AM2+ part at 2.8 GHz with 6 MB of L3 cache and a 95 W rating. Deneb quads 920 and 940 share the socket with the same DDR2-only controller. AM3 processors with 938 pins often boot on AM2+ boards after a BIOS update because they carry both DDR2 and DDR3 controllers, but the reverse never holds. An AM2+ chip lacks a DDR3 controller and cannot work on AM3.

Boards use the 700 series chipsets with DDR2 slots and HyperTransport links rather than CPU PCIe lanes. The 790FX suits the 125 W 920 and 940 quads, while 770 boards suit 95 W Heka triples. Successor AM3 arrived in February 2009 with DDR3 support and 941 contacts, so a move to DDR3 or to Thuban six cores means a new board on Socket AM3 or AM3+.

Processor generations

CodenameMarketing nameYearsNotes
DenebPhenom II X4 920 and 9402008 to 2009Quad K10 parts with 6 MB shared L3 for AM2+ boards with DDR2 only, including the 2.8 GHz 920 and the unlocked 3.0 GHz 940 Black Edition from January 2009.
HekaPhenom II X3 triples2009 to 2010Triple K10 parts with 3 by 512 KB of L2 cache and 6 MB shared L3, including the 2.8 GHz 715 Black Edition on Socket AM2+ at 95 W.
KumaAthlon X2 Kuma duals2008 to 200965 nm K10 dual cores with 2 by 512 KB of L2 cache and 2 MB shared L3, including the unlocked 2.8 GHz 7850 Black Edition at 95 W from April 2009.
RegorAthlon X2 Regor duals200945 nm K10 dual cores for AM2+ DDR2 boards, including the 2.2 GHz Athlon X2 5000+ at 65 W.
TolimanPhenom X3 triples2008 to 2009Triple K10 parts with 3 by 512 KB of L2 cache and 2 MB shared L3, including the 2.4 GHz 8750 and the unlocked 8750 Black Edition at 95 W from 2008.
AgenaPhenom X4 quads2008Quad K10 parts with 4 by 512 KB of L2 cache and 2 MB shared L3, including the 2.6 GHz 9950 Black Edition at 125 W plus 65 W e-series quads from 2008.
BudapestOpteron 1300 single-socket server quads2008K10 server quads with 4 by 512 KB of L2 cache and 2 MB shared L3 for single-socket AM2+ servers, including the 2.3 GHz 1356 at 95 W with 75 W ACP from June 2008. Server chipset support is board specific, so the support table stays desktop only.

Chipsets for Socket AM2+

700 series

Boards contemporary with the Phenom II AM2+ launch with DDR2 memory.

ChipsetSegmentNotes
790FXEnthusiastFlagship board with dual graphics slots for Phenom II 920 and 940.
790XHigh-end
770MainstreamValue DDR2 board for triple core Heka builds.

Who Socket AM2+ serves

Socket AM2+ fits DDR2 towers that stay on their original boards. A 715 Black Edition owner keeps DDR2-1066 modules and a 700 series board with a BIOS that lists the exact model. The unlocked multiplier allows small clock changes without touching the reference clock, which helps older boards with limited voltage options.

Within the socket the choice is triple against quad at fixed DDR2. The 715 triple at 2.8 GHz suits office and light threaded work at 95 W, while the 940 quad at 3.0 GHz suits rendering at 125 W. Both need the board maker CPU list because Dell and other OEM boards often lack compatible firmware even when the chipset matches.

Memory and expansion

Memory on AM2+ is DDR2 only, up to 4 DIMMs of DDR2-1066 on many ATX boards with up to 8 GB on common models. AM3 processors bring a dual DDR2 and DDR3 controller, so they can run DDR2 on AM2+ boards after a BIOS update. AM2+ processors carry only the DDR2 controller, so DDR3 boards never accept them.

Expansion comes from the chipset because K10 CPUs provide no PCIe lanes. HyperTransport 3.0 at up to 2.6 GHz carries CPU to chipset traffic, and the 790FX splits graphics slots for dual card builds. Cooling uses the 48 × 96 mm mount shared with AM2, AM3 and AM3+, so a tower cooler from a later AMD build usually fits when the case allows.

CPUs on Socket AM2+

42 processor pages in the database, newest first.

ProcessorCores / threadsBase / boostTDPLaunched
AMD Athlon X2 5000+2 / 22.2 GHz65 WOct 2009
AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE2 / 22.8 GHz95 WApr 2009
AMD Phenom II X4 9204 / 42.8 GHz125 WJan 2009
AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE4 / 43.0 GHz125 WJan 2009
AMD Phenom II X3 715 BE3 / 32.8 GHz95 W2009
AMD Athlon X2 74502 / 22.4 GHz95 WDec 2008
AMD Athlon X2 75502 / 22.5 GHz95 WDec 2008
AMD Athlon X2 7750 BE2 / 22.7 GHz95 WDec 2008
AMD Phenom X3 88503 / 32.5 GHz95 WOct 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9450e4 / 42.1 GHz65 WOct 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9850 (95W)4 / 42.5 GHz95 WOct 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9950 BE (125W)4 / 42.6 GHz125 WOct 2008
AMD Athlon X2 6500 BE2 / 22.3 GHz95 WSep 2008
AMD Phenom X3 8250e3 / 31.9 GHz65 WSep 2008
AMD Phenom X3 8450e3 / 32.1 GHz65 WSep 2008
AMD Phenom X3 8750 BE3 / 32.4 GHz95 WSep 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9750B4 / 42.4 GHz95 WAug 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9850B4 / 42.5 GHz95 WAug 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9150e4 / 41.8 GHz65 WJul 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9350e4 / 42.0 GHz65 WJul 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9850 (125W)4 / 42.5 GHz125 WJul 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9950 BE (140W)4 / 42.6 GHz140 WJul 2008
AMD Opteron 1352 (B2)4 / 42.1 GHz95 WJun 2008
AMD Opteron 1352 (B3)4 / 42.1 GHz95 WJun 2008
AMD Opteron 1354 (B3)4 / 42.2 GHz95 WJun 2008
AMD Opteron 1356 (B3)4 / 42.3 GHz95 WJun 2008
AMD Phenom X3 84503 / 32.1 GHz95 WApr 2008
AMD Phenom X3 85503 / 32.2 GHz95 WApr 2008
AMD Phenom X3 86503 / 32.3 GHz95 WApr 2008
AMD Phenom X3 87503 / 32.4 GHz95 WApr 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9600B4 / 42.3 GHz95 WApr 2008
AMD Phenom X3 84003 / 32.1 GHz95 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X3 86003 / 32.3 GHz95 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9100e4 / 41.8 GHz65 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X4 95504 / 42.2 GHz95 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X4 96504 / 42.3 GHz95 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9750 (125W)4 / 42.4 GHz125 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9750 (95W)4 / 42.4 GHz95 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9850 BE4 / 42.5 GHz125 WMar 2008
AMD Phenom X4 9600 BE4 / 42.3 GHz95 WDec 2007
AMD Phenom X4 95004 / 42.2 GHz95 WNov 2007
AMD Phenom X4 96004 / 42.3 GHz95 WNov 2007

Frequently asked questions

Which processors fit Socket AM2+?

Phenom II AM2+ parts with 940 pins, including Deneb quads such as the Phenom II X4 920 at 2.8 GHz and the Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition at 3.0 GHz, plus Heka triples such as the Phenom II X3 715 Black Edition at 2.8 GHz covered here. AM3 versions with 938 pins also boot on many AM2+ boards after a BIOS update, but AM2+ chips never fit AM3 because they lack a DDR3 controller. Check the board CPU list, including Socket AM3 pages for the AM3 side.

Is Socket AM2+ the same as Socket AM3?

No. The AM2+ socket has 940 contacts and the AM3 socket has 941 contacts in a different key layout, while AM2+ processors carry 940 pins against 938 on AM3. An AM3 processor fits an AM2+ board with DDR2 after a BIOS update in many cases. An AM2+ processor does not fit AM3 and forcing it can damage the board, which AMD warranty does not cover.

What memory does Socket AM2+ use?

DDR2 only, up to PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066), in two channels. One memory type runs at a time and ECC UDIMMs work on boards that wire it. A move to DDR3 means a move to Socket AM3 with a new board.

How many PCIe lanes does Socket AM2+ provide?

No lanes come from these CPUs. HyperTransport 3.0 links tie the CPU to the chipset at up to 2.6 GHz, while PCIe slots hang off the 700 series chipset. Board manuals show slot wiring because lane splits differ by model.

Sources and verification

  1. Socket AM2+ (Wikipedia)
  2. List of AMD Phenom processors (Wikipedia)
  3. Phenom II X3 (WikiChip)

Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .