AM3+ socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
AM3+ is the AMD desktop socket introduced in October 2011 for the FX processors, which use the Bulldozer design and its Piledriver successor. It is a pin grid array socket with 942 contacts for processors that carry the pins. AMD replaced it with the AM4 socket in 2016, so it was the home of the Bulldozer era FX line.
Quick facts
| Maker | AMD |
|---|---|
| Package type | PGA |
| Contacts | 942 |
| Package size | n/a |
| Introduced | October 2011 |
| Status | Legacy |
| Memory | DDR3 |
| PCIe from the CPU | None from the CPU. PCIe comes from the chipset |
| Cooler mounting holes | 48 × 96 mm |
| Replaces | AM3 |
| Replaced by | AM4 |
Overview
The socket was designed to stay friendly to older chips. It accepts the AM3 processors that came before it, such as the Phenom II and Athlon II, as well as the new FX models. The reverse does not hold, since FX processors were not made for AM3 sockets and the key pins differ.
AM3+ boards use DDR3 memory, and the processors do not provide PCIe lanes themselves. Graphics cards and drives connect through the chipset instead, which is a major difference from Ryzen platforms. The practical effects show up in the sections below.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zambezi | FX-4100 to FX-8150 | 2011 | The first Bulldozer processors. They work on AM3+ boards with the 9 series chipsets. |
| Vishera | FX-4300 to FX-9590 | 2012 and later | Piledriver processors, including the FX-8350. Most boards need a BIOS update. |
| Delhi | Opteron 3300 series | 2012 to 2013 | Piledriver server processors on Socket AM3+, including the 8 core Opteron 3365 at 65 W. They boot on 9 series boards that list the model. |
| Zurich | Opteron 3200 series | 2012 | Bulldozer server processors on Socket AM3+, including the 8 core 3280 at 65 W and the 4 core 3260 HE at 45 W. They boot on 9 series boards that list the model. |
Chipsets for AM3+
9 series
The chipsets designed for AM3+. They launched with the Zambezi processors.
| Chipset | Segment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 990FX | Enthusiast | Supports multiple graphics cards. |
| 990X | Performance | |
| 970 | Mainstream |
Compatibility between AM3 and AM3+
The two sockets are close relatives and the rules run in one direction. An AM3+ board accepts AM3 processors, as long as the BIOS knows the model. An AM3+ processor is meant for AM3+ boards only. AMD built the FX chips for the newer socket, and the key pin placement on them differs from the older one.
Older boards with AM3 chipsets sometimes received a new socket revision and a BIOS update that made them AM3+ capable, but that depends on the exact board model. Look the board up on the maker's CPU support list, and do not assume it from the chipset name.
Power and cooling
The FX line was known for high power ratings. The FX-8350 carries a 125 W thermal rating, and the top models went higher, so the board's power regulation and the cooler both matter more than on a low power chip. Budget boards with small voltage regulators can run hot with an eight core FX processor installed, and some makers do not list those models as supported.
Coolers for AM2, AM3 and AM3+ share the same 48 × 96 mm mounting pattern, so a cooler from an older AMD build usually carries over. The pattern differs from AM4, which uses 54 × 90 mm, so an AM3+ cooler needs an adapter or a new bracket on an AM4 board.
Memory and platform limits
AM3+ boards use DDR3. AMD rated the FX-8350 for DDR3-1866, and boards commonly offered four slots. Because the processor has no PCIe controller, the graphics slot is tied to the chipset. The 990FX chipset supports several graphics cards and is the usual pick for multi graphics systems on this socket.
The platform cannot move to DDR4 or to PCIe lanes provided by the processor. A move to DDR4 means a move to AM4, with a new board and new modules. The AMD FX-8350 is covered on its own page.
CPUs on AM3+
36 processor pages in the database, newest first.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base / boost | TDP | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD FX-6330 | 6 / 6 | 3.6 / 4.2 GHz | 95 W | Dec 2015 |
| AMD FX-8310 | 8 / 8 | 3.4 / 4.3 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2014 |
| AMD FX-8320E | 8 / 8 | 3.2 / 4.0 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2014 |
| AMD FX-8370 | 8 / 8 | 4.0 / 4.3 GHz | 125 W | Sep 2014 |
| AMD FX-8370E | 8 / 8 | 3.3 / 4.3 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2014 |
| AMD FX-9370 | 8 / 8 | 4.4 / 4.7 GHz | 220 W | Jun 2013 |
| AMD FX-9590 | 8 / 8 | 4.7 / 5.0 GHz | 220 W | Jun 2013 |
| AMD Opteron 3365 | 8 / 8 | 2.3 / 3.3 GHz | 65 W | Jun 2013 |
| AMD FX-4350 | 4 / 4 | 4.2 / 4.3 GHz | 125 W | Apr 2013 |
| AMD FX-6350 | 6 / 6 | 3.9 / 4.2 GHz | 125 W | Apr 2013 |
| AMD Opteron 3320 EE | 4 / 4 | 1.9 / 2.5 GHz | 25 W | Dec 2012 |
| AMD Opteron 3350 HE | 4 / 4 | 2.8 / 3.8 GHz | 45 W | Dec 2012 |
| AMD Opteron 3380 | 8 / 8 | 2.6 / 3.6 GHz | 65 W | Dec 2012 |
| AMD FX-8350 | 8 / 8 | 4.0 / 4.2 GHz | 125 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-4120 | 4 / 4 | 3.9 / 4.1 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-4150 | 4 / 4 | 3.8 / 4.0 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-4300 | 4 / 4 | 3.8 / 4.0 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-4320 | 4 / 4 | 4.0 / 4.2 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-6120 | 6 / 6 | 3.6 / 4.2 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-6130 | 6 / 6 | 3.6 / 3.9 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-6300 | 6 / 6 | 3.5 / 4.1 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-8140 | 8 / 8 | 3.2 / 4.1 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-8170 | 8 / 8 | 3.9 / 4.5 GHz | 125 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-8300 | 8 / 8 | 3.3 / 4.2 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-8320 | 8 / 8 | 3.5 / 4.0 GHz | 125 W | Oct 2012 |
| AMD FX-4130 | 4 / 4 | 3.8 / 4.0 GHz | 125 W | Aug 2012 |
| AMD Opteron 3250 HE | 4 / 4 | 2.5 / 3.5 GHz | 45 W | Mar 2012 |
| AMD Opteron 3260 HE | 4 / 4 | 2.7 / 3.7 GHz | 45 W | Mar 2012 |
| AMD Opteron 3280 | 8 / 8 | 2.4 / 3.5 GHz | 65 W | Mar 2012 |
| AMD FX-4170 | 4 / 4 | 4.2 / 4.3 GHz | 125 W | Feb 2012 |
| AMD FX-6200 | 6 / 6 | 3.8 / 4.1 GHz | 125 W | Feb 2012 |
| AMD FX-4100 | 4 / 4 | 3.6 / 3.8 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2011 |
| AMD FX-6100 | 6 / 6 | 3.3 / 3.9 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2011 |
| AMD FX-8100 | 8 / 8 | 2.8 / 3.7 GHz | 95 W | Oct 2011 |
| AMD FX-8120 | 8 / 8 | 3.1 / 4.0 GHz | 125 W | Oct 2011 |
| AMD FX-8150 | 8 / 8 | 3.6 / 4.2 GHz | 125 W | Oct 2011 |
Frequently asked questions
Which processors fit AM3+?
AMD FX processors, and AM3 processors such as the Phenom II and Athlon II when the board's BIOS supports them.
Can an FX processor run in an AM3 motherboard?
AMD did not design FX processors for AM3 sockets. Treat the two as separate unless the board maker explicitly lists the processor.
Does AM3+ support DDR4?
No. AM3+ boards use DDR3.
Does an AM2 cooler fit AM3+?
Usually yes. AM2, AM3 and AM3+ share the 48 × 96 mm mounting pattern.
What replaced AM3+?
AM4, which launched in 2016 and uses a different pin layout, DDR4 memory and a new cooler mounting pattern.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .