BGA 2963 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
BGA 2963 is AMD ball grid array package with 2963 balls for the Ariel processor sold as the 4800S Desktop Kit in January 2023. The kit is a Micro ATX board built around Xbox Series X APU silicon with the integrated GPU disabled, carrying 16 GB of GDDR6 soldered to the board. Laptop makers do not use this package, and there is no socketed upgrade path.
Quick facts
| Maker | AMD |
|---|---|
| Package type | BGA |
| Contacts | 2,963 |
| Package size | n/a |
| Introduced | January 2023 |
| Status | Legacy |
| Memory | Soldered GDDR6, 16 GB on the 4800S Desktop Kit at 7000 MT/s, quad-channel, board dependent with no DIMM slots |
| PCIe from the CPU | PCIe Gen4 x4 for graphics on kit boards plus an NVMe slot and Wi-Fi, 16 SoC lanes limited to 4 usable |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
| Replaces | None |
| Replaced by | None |
Overview
The platform pairs 8 Zen 2 cores with soldered GDDR6 at 7000 MT/s in four channels for high bandwidth with higher latency than DDR4 DIMMs. Actual memory technology depends on the board, since the processor supports multiple types but retail kit boards fix GDDR6 with no slots. For expansion the kit provides a PCIe 4.0 x4 link for graphics, an M.2 slot for NVMe storage, a slot for Wi-Fi, four SATA ports and USB from the board chipset.
Ariel on BGA 2963 follows the earlier 4700S Desktop Kit built around PlayStation 5 silicon. The 4800S resolves the older kit limits with an NVMe slot, four SATA ports, a stronger cooler and a usable PCIe 4.0 x4 graphics link that holds up with midrange cards. Boards for AM4 use DIMMs and different chipsets, while BGA ST1 covers the smaller Van Gogh handheld package, so BGA 2963 remains the console-silicon desktop kit socket.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ariel | 4800S Desktop Kit | 2023 | Zen 2 8-core APU from Xbox Series X silicon with graphics disabled, sold on a Micro ATX board with 16 GB GDDR6 and a Wraith Stealth class cooler. |
Memory and expansion on BGA 2963 boards
Memory is fixed at purchase because GDDR6 is soldered. The 4800S Desktop Kit carries 16 GB of GDDR6 at 7000 MT/s in four channels, which gives high sequential bandwidth for graphics-style transfers but higher access latency than DDR4 DIMMs. Cache is smaller than on desktop Ryzen, with 8 MB of L3 against 32 MB on Vermeer 6-core parts, so large transfers spill to GDDR6 sooner. There are no DIMM slots for later additions.
Expansion centres on a PCIe 4.0 x4 graphics slot that performs well with midrange cards despite the narrow link, plus an M.2 NVMe slot for storage, a Wi-Fi slot and four SATA ports for drives. USB and audio come from the A77E board chipset. Builders should plan storage around one fast NVMe plus SATA bulk, since lane count cannot match AM4 desktop boards.
Cooling and board design
Every BGA 2963 processor is soldered with no retention lever, so cooler choice belongs to the kit maker. The 4800S Desktop Kit ships with a Wraith Stealth class cooler on board studs for 65 W with a 100 C case limit. Replacement follows the kit manual for stud spacing and backplate access, since desktop AM4 brackets do not map to this board.
Because the socket is not socketed in the desktop sense, configuration happens at purchase. Core count, graphics capability and memory size are fixed for the life of the board. A buyer who expects heavier GPU work should budget for a discrete card up front, since the on-die GPU is disabled and no later APU swap is possible.
Identifying BGA 2963 against AM4 and BGA ST1
BGA 2963 uses 2963 balls for console-derived desktop kits with GDDR6 and no DIMMs. AM4 uses 1331 pins with DDR4 DIMMs for Ryzen desktop and embedded parts, so boards and chips do not cross. BGA ST1 uses 1140 balls with LPDDR5 for Van Gogh handhelds such as the Steam Deck line.
Marketing can confuse because the 4800S Desktop Kit behaves like a desktop PC once Windows and a graphics card are installed. The AMD specification page lists the socket as BGA 2963 and the memory as board dependent, and that line decides fit. When a support list names 4800S it means this soldered kit board, not an AM4 drop-in chip.
CPUs on BGA 2963
1 processor page in the database, newest first.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base / boost | TDP | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD 4800S | 8 / 16 | 3.6 / 4.0 GHz | 65 W | Jan 2023 |
Frequently asked questions
Can a BGA 2963 processor be replaced or upgraded?
No. The APU is soldered to the kit board. Upgrading means replacing the board, so choose graphics and storage at build time.
What memory does BGA 2963 use?
Soldered GDDR6, 16 GB at 7000 MT/s in four channels on the 4800S Desktop Kit. There are no DIMM slots.
How many PCIe lanes does BGA 2963 provide?
PCIe Gen4 x4 for graphics on kit boards plus NVMe and Wi-Fi slots. The SoC holds 16 lanes but the kit wires 4 for the GPU slot.
What is the difference between BGA 2963 and AM4?
BGA 2963 is a 2963-ball soldered package for Ariel console-silicon kits with GDDR6. AM4 is a 1331-pin socket with DDR4 DIMMs for Ryzen desktop and embedded chips.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .