BGA 617 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
BGA 617 is the Intel soldered package for Clover Trail Plus Atom phone and tablet SoCs. It carries 617 contacts in a 14 by 14 mm footprint and solders directly to the board. Intel launched the Z2500 series in February 2013 at Mobile World Congress, with dual Saltwell cores, Hyper-Threading and PowerVR graphics.
Quick facts
| Maker | Intel |
|---|---|
| Package type | BGA |
| Contacts | 617 |
| Package size | 12 × 12 mm (Penwell) and 14 × 14 mm (Clover Trail Plus) |
| Introduced | February 2013 |
| Status | Legacy |
| Memory | LPDDR2-800 or LPDDR2-1066, two channels, up to 1 or 2 GB by model |
| PCIe from the CPU | On-device I/O from the SoC (lane layout varies by board design) |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
| Replaces | Medfield |
| Replaced by | BGA 1380 |
Overview
The package combines two Saltwell CPU cores with four threads, a PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics block, and a dual channel LPDDR2 controller on one die. That integration suits small phones and tablets, where one soldered chip covers compute, graphics and memory control within a 3 W envelope. Clocks run from 1.2 GHz on the Z2520 to 2.0 GHz on the Z2580.
BGA 617 was superseded by Bay Trail-T on BGA 1380 with quad Silvermont cores and Intel graphics. Because the chip and memory both solder down, the device is bought as a whole. A board replacement is the only CPU upgrade path, which rarely makes sense against a newer phone or tablet.
Penwell came first on the same 617-ball count in a smaller 12 by 12 mm FC-MB4617 package. The single core Saltwell SoCs with Hyper-Threading launched with Medfield phones in 2012, followed by the Lexington Z2420 at 1.2 GHz in January 2013, with PowerVR SGX540 graphics at 400 MHz and LPDDR2-800 memory. Clover Trail Plus moved to 14 by 14 mm with dual cores and SGX544MP2 graphics. The ball count matches, but boards and firmware never mix across the two designs.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penwell | Atom Z2400 series Medfield/Lexington | 2012 to 2013 | Saltwell single core SoCs with Hyper-Threading and PowerVR SGX540 graphics, including the Z2420 at 1.2 GHz and the Z2480 with burst to 2.0 GHz, in a 12 by 12 mm FC-MB4617 package. |
| Clovertrail | Atom Z2500 series Clover Trail Plus | 2013 | Saltwell dual core SoCs with Hyper-Threading and PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics, launched in February 2013 on BGA 617, including the Z2520, Z2560 and Z2580. |
| Cloverview | Atom Z2760 Clover Trail tablet | 2012 | Saltwell dual core tablet SoC with Hyper-Threading and PowerVR SGX545 graphics at 533 MHz, launched in September 2012 on BGA 617 in a 14 by 14 mm FC-MB4760 package. |
Soldered package
BGA 617 processors solder with 617 balls and cannot be removed or replaced. There is no retention lever, no pin grid and no aftermarket mounting choice. Thermal design uses the phone or tablet chassis and spreader sized for the 3 W envelope, with burst behavior tuned per device.
Because the chip cannot be swapped, the practical check before buying a used Clover Trail Plus device is the condition of the whole unit. Battery health, display wear, storage size and Android build support matter more than the exact Z2500 model. These 32 bit SoCs run older Android builds, so app support is the binding limit.
Memory and I/O
BGA 617 designs use LPDDR2-1066 in two 32 bit channels up to 2 GB, soldered next to the SoC. The dual channel layout feeds the PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics block that shares system RAM. Capacity locks at purchase, with 1 GB common on phones and 2 GB on larger tablets.
I/O is on device rather than PCIe slots. Storage, wireless, cameras, sensors and touch controllers follow the device wiring, so the maker spec sheet is the final word on ports. USB and display output vary by model, and there is no graphics card slot to consider.
Platform lifecycle
BGA 617 covers Clover Trail Plus from February 2013. Intel moved phones and tablets to Bay Trail-T with 64 bit Silvermont cores, then to later Atom and Core M lines. New compatible boards are therefore used or old stock, not current retail.
For a working Clover Trail Plus device the practical path is care: free storage, a fresh battery where service allows, and realistic app expectations on a 32 bit platform. A platform move means a new phone or tablet with a 64 bit SoC and current OS support. The How to find your CPU socket type guide explains how to confirm the package before ordering parts.
CPUs on BGA 617
7 processor pages in the database, newest first.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base / boost | TDP | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Atom Z2520 | 2 / 4 | 1.2 GHz | 3 W | Feb 2013 |
| Intel Atom Z2560 | 2 / 4 | 1.6 GHz | 3 W | Feb 2013 |
| Intel Atom Z2580 | 2 / 4 | 2.0 GHz | 3 W | Feb 2013 |
| Intel Atom Z2420 | 1 / 2 | 1.2 GHz | 3 W | Jan 2013 |
| Intel Atom Z2480 | 1 / 2 | 1.4 / 2.0 GHz | 3 W | Sep 2012 |
| Intel Atom Z2760 | 2 / 4 | 1.8 GHz | 3 W | Sep 2012 |
| Intel Atom Z2460 | 1 / 2 | 1.6 GHz | 3 W | Jun 2012 |
Frequently asked questions
Can a BGA 617 processor be replaced or upgraded?
No. The chip solders with 617 balls. A faster phone or tablet means a new board or a new device. Memory is also soldered in these designs.
What memory does BGA 617 use?
LPDDR2-1066 in two 32 bit channels up to 2 GB. The memory is soldered, so capacity locks at purchase. Two channels feed the PowerVR graphics block best.
What is the difference between BGA 617, Clover Trail and Bay Trail-T?
Clover Trail Plus on BGA 617 uses dual Saltwell cores with Hyper-Threading and PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics for phones and small tablets. Clover Trail on a different package covers the earlier Z2760 tablet part. Bay Trail-T on BGA 1380 moves to quad Silvermont cores with Intel HD Graphics. The packages never interchange.
Does Clover Trail Plus have Hyper-Threading?
Yes, unlike Bay Trail. Clover Trail Plus uses two Saltwell cores with Hyper-Threading for four threads. Bay Trail Silvermont cores have no Hyper-Threading, so threads equal cores.
What is the difference between Penwell and Clover Trail Plus on BGA 617?
Penwell uses one Saltwell core with Hyper-Threading and SGX540 graphics in a 12 by 12 mm package. Clover Trail Plus uses two Saltwell cores with Hyper-Threading and SGX544MP2 graphics in a 14 by 14 mm package. Both solder with 617 balls, but boards never interchange.
Sources and verification
- Intel Atom Processor Z2520 Specifications (ARK)
- Intel Atom Processor Z2580 Specifications (ARK)
- List of Intel Atom processors (Wikipedia)
- Intel Atom Z2420 Specifications (ARK)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .