Socket Geek

Socket FT1 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit

Socket FT1 is the AMD soldered package for Zacate, the Bobcat based E-Series APUs for netbooks and nettops. It is a ball grid array with 413 contacts listed as BGA-413, and the APU solders directly to the board. AMD put Bobcat into production in the first quarter of 2011 with E-Series parts at 18 W or less for low power markets.

Quick facts

MakerAMD
Package typeBGA
Contacts413
Package sizen/a
IntroducedJanuary 2011
StatusLegacy
MemoryDDR3-1066, single 64-bit channel
PCIe from the CPUPCIe 2.0 lanes from the APU, board dependent
Cooler mounting holesNot applicable (soldered)
ReplacesNone
Replaced bySocket FT3

Overview

The package exists for small machines without sockets. Two Bobcat cores with 512 KB of L2 cache each run 1.48 GHz on the E1-1500 and 1.75 GHz on the E2-2000. Graphics scale from Radeon HD 7310 at 529 MHz to HD 7340 at up to 700 MHz with turbo. Memory stays single channel 64-bit DDR3. The Fusion controller hub functions ride on board for USB and SATA.

Because the die solders to the board there is no board choice and no later swap. Netbook makers tune single heat pipes for 18 W sustained with bursts to GPU turbo. Buyers pick E1 for basic browsing or E2 for slightly faster play at the same power. Successor Jaguar moved low power APUs to FT3 with quad cores in 2013.

Ontario brought the same Bobcat architecture to small notebooks at 9 W with the C-70, while Hondo shrank it to a 4.5 W fanless tablet envelope with the Z-60 for Windows 8 launch devices in October 2012. Both solder to the same 413-ball package with single channel DDR3, so the board design rather than the socket name decides battery life and display size.

Processor generations

CodenameMarketing nameYearsNotes
OntarioC-Series Bobcat APUs2012Dual core Bobcat APUs with Radeon HD 7290 graphics for small notebooks at 9 W, including the C-70 with burst to 1.33 GHz.
ZacateE-Series Bobcat APUs2011 to 2013Dual core Bobcat APUs with Radeon HD 6200 series graphics for netbooks at 18 W, launched in January 2011 with later 2013 speed steps.
HondoZ-Series Brazos-T tablet APU2012Dual core Bobcat tablet APU with Radeon HD 6250 graphics at 4.5 W for fanless Windows 8 tablets, including the Z-60.
DesnaZ-Series Desna tablet APU2011Dual core Bobcat tablet APU with Radeon HD 6250 graphics at 5.9 W for early tablets, including the Z-01.

Who Socket FT1 serves

Socket FT1 fits netbooks, nettops and embedded boxes from 2011 to 2013 where price and battery decide the design. The 18 W envelope with small fans suits sealed school and travel bodies. The E1-1500 covers browsing and documents while the E2-2000 adds GPU turbo for light games at the same 18 W.

Within the family the choice is clocks against graphics at fixed power. The E2-2000 leads on CPU and GPU turbo for slightly smoother video. Both share single channel DDR3 and soldered mounting, so screen and SSD decide feel more than APU tiers.

Memory and PCIe

Memory support is single channel 64-bit DDR3-1066 class SODIMMs on netbook boards. One channel caps bandwidth for both CPU and Radeon graphics, so SSD choice matters for feel. Size locks where soldered, commonly 2 GB to 4 GB in these bodies.

PCIe 2.0 lanes from the APU serve Wi-Fi and card readers on netbook boards. Laptop wiring rarely needs more, since SATA SSDs and USB cover everyday loads. There is no Thunderbolt path on these designs, so external graphics are not an option.

CPUs on Socket FT1

14 processor pages in the database, newest first.

ProcessorCores / threadsBase / boostTDPLaunched
AMD E1-15002 / 21.48 GHz18 WJan 2013
AMD E2-20002 / 21.75 GHz18 WJan 2013
AMD Z-602 / 21.0 GHz4.5 WOct 2012
AMD C-702 / 21.0 / 1.33 GHz9 WSep 2012
AMD E1-12002 / 21.4 GHz18 WJun 2012
AMD E2-18002 / 21.7 GHz18 WJun 2012
AMD C-602 / 21.0 / 1.33 GHz9 WAug 2011
AMD E-3002 / 21.3 GHz18 WAug 2011
AMD E-4502 / 21.65 GHz18 WAug 2011
AMD Z-012 / 21.0 GHz6 WJun 2011
AMD C-301 / 11.2 GHz9 WJan 2011
AMD C-502 / 21.0 GHz9 WJan 2011
AMD E-2401 / 11.5 GHz18 WJan 2011
AMD E-3502 / 21.6 GHz18 WJan 2011

Frequently asked questions

Can a Socket FT1 processor be replaced or upgraded?

No. The APU solders with 413 balls. A faster machine means a new board or a new netbook. Buyers lock CPU, graphics and memory at order time.

Which processors fit Socket FT1?

Ontario C-Series parts such as the C-70, Zacate E-Series APUs such as the E1-1200 and E2-1800, and the Hondo Z-60 tablet APU. Later Jaguar APUs need Socket FT3 and desktop AM1 parts need their own socket. The packages never interchange.

What memory does Socket FT1 use?

Single channel DDR3 SODIMMs, commonly DDR3-1066 with DDR3-1333 on E2-1800 class designs. Paired operation does not apply since the controller runs one 64-bit channel. Memory size locks where soldered.

What PCIe does Socket FT1 provide?

PCIe 2.0 lanes from the APU for Wi-Fi and storage on netbook boards. Exact wiring follows the laptop design, so maker specs decide slot speed.

Sources and verification

  1. Bobcat microarchitecture (Wikipedia, Socket FT1 BGA-413 Zacate data)
  2. Jaguar microarchitecture (Wikipedia, Bobcat to Jaguar succession)
  3. AMD Z-Series APU launch press release (Oct 2012)

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