BGA 437 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit

BGA 437 is Intel soldered ball grid array package for the large package Atom Z5xxP Silverthorne handheld family. It carries 437 balls in a 22 × 22 mm FCBGA package for Bonnell single core SoCs with Hyper-Threading. Wikipedia lists the Z510P, Z510PT, Z520PT and Z530P parts with BGA 437 as the socket and March 2, 2009 as the launch date at 2.2 W.

Quick facts

MakerIntel
Package typeBGA
Contacts437
Package size22 × 22 mm
IntroducedMarch 2009
StatusLegacy
MemoryDDR2 single channel via the Poulsbo companion
PCIe from the CPUNo PCIe from the CPU; expansion from the Poulsbo companion
Cooler mounting holesNot applicable (soldered)
ReplacesBGA 441
Replaced byNone

Overview

The package pairs a Bonnell core with two threads, 512 KB of L2 cache and a 400 or 533 MT/s front side bus to the Poulsbo companion. P suffix parts use the large package at 22 mm against 13 by 14 mm on small package parts, and T suffix parts add industrial temperature range. That split suits handheld vendors with different board densities.

Like every soldered Intel BGA package, BGA 437 trades replacement for integration. Small package Silverthorne parts without P live on BGA 441 instead.

Processor generations

CodenameMarketing nameYearsNotes
SilverthorneAtom Z5xxP series2009Bonnell single core handheld SoCs with Hyper-Threading in the large 22 mm package, from the 1.1 GHz Z510P to the 1.6 GHz Z530P at 2.2 W from March 2009.
DiamondvilleAtom N200 and 300 series2008 to 2009Bonnell netbook and nettop parts in the 22 mm package, from the 1.6 GHz N270 at 2.5 W to the dual-core 1.6 GHz 330 at 8 W from June 2008.
StealeyA100 and A110 McCaslin parts2007 to 200890 nm Dothan-derived single cores with 512 KB of L2 cache for MIDs and UMPCs, including the 600 MHz A100 and the 800 MHz A110 at 3 W from June 2007.

A soldered package for handhelds

BGA 437 follows the same rule as every BGA package on this site: the processor is soldered once at the factory and stays with the board for life. A handheld designer qualifies one SKU for the whole production run. Intel marks the Z5xxP parts as mobile with tray supply.

The large package choice suits boards that need the 22 mm footprint and industrial options. Compatibility depends on firmware, so a board revision needs a BIOS that knows the exact sSpec stepping such as SLGPQ on the Z510P.

Memory, expansion and cooling

Memory on BGA 437 runs through the Poulsbo companion in single channel DDR2. The board fixes the memory type and size, so check the vendor design before committing. ECC is not part of these SKUs.

Expansion and display also hang off Poulsbo, with GMA500 class graphics on the companion rather than the CPU. Boards that need more than the companion offers cannot add lanes, so the block diagram of the exact board decides real expansion.

Cooling has no retail answer on BGA 437. The 2.2 W envelope suits passive spreaders in sealed handhelds, and mounting follows the board maker specification.

CPUs on BGA 437

10 processor pages in the database, newest first.

ProcessorCores / threadsBase / boostTDPLaunched
Intel Atom Z510P1 / 21.1 GHz2.2 WMar 2009
Intel Atom Z510PT1 / 21.1 GHz2.2 WMar 2009
Intel Atom Z520PT1 / 21.33 GHz2.2 WMar 2009
Intel Atom Z530P1 / 21.6 GHz2.2 WMar 2009
Intel Atom N2801 / 21.67 GHz2.5 WFeb 2009
Intel Atom 2301 / 21.6 GHz4 WJun 2008
Intel Atom 3302 / 41.6 GHz8 WJun 2008
Intel Atom N2701 / 21.6 GHz2.5 WJun 2008
Intel A1001 / 10.6 GHz3 WJun 2007
Intel A1101 / 10.8 GHz3 WJun 2007

Frequently asked questions

Can a BGA 437 processor be replaced or upgraded?

No. The processor is soldered to the board in the 437-ball FCBGA package. Upgrading means replacing the board or module.

Which processors fit BGA 437?

Atom Z5xxP Silverthorne parts in the large 22 mm package, including the 1.1 GHz Z510P and Z510PT, the 1.33 GHz Z520PT and the 1.6 GHz Z530P, all at 2.2 W with Hyper-Threading. Small package parts without P live on BGA 441 instead.

What memory does BGA 437 use?

DDR2 single channel through the Poulsbo System Controller Hub companion. The board design fixes the memory.

What expansion does BGA 437 provide?

No lanes come from the CPU. Expansion and display run through the Poulsbo companion, so the board diagram decides real options.

Sources and verification

  1. List of Intel Atom processors (Wikipedia)
  2. Intel Atom Z510P (WikiChip)
  3. Intel Atom Z5xx for Embedded (Intel)

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