Slot 2 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
Slot 2 is the Intel 330-lead slot connector that carried Pentium II Xeon and Pentium III Xeon cartridges for servers and workstations. It uses a Single Edge Contact cartridge with full-speed L2 cache up to 2 MB and up to four-way multiprocessing.
Quick facts
| Maker | Intel |
|---|---|
| Package type | Slot |
| Contacts | 330 |
| Package size | n/a |
| Introduced | April 1998 |
| Status | Legacy |
| Memory | Registered SDRAM through the board chipset |
| PCIe from the CPU | Front side bus 100 to 133 MT/s to the chipset; expansion hangs off the chipset |
| Cooler mounting holes | Cartridge and retention cage |
| Replaces | Socket 8 |
| Replaced by | Socket 603 |
Overview
The slot served high-end servers from April 1998 with Tanner and Cascades Xeon parts from 400 MHz to 1000 MHz. Its extra pins over Slot 1 carry the cache and multiprocessing signals that server boards need.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanner | Pentium III Xeon Tanner | 1999 | 250 nm server parts with 512 KB to 2 MB of L2 cache, including the 500 MHz part with 512 KB at 36 W from March 1999 and the 550 MHz part with 2 MB at 34 W from August 1999. |
| Cascades | Pentium III Xeon Cascades 256KB | 1999 to 2000 | 180 nm server parts with 256 KB of full-speed L2 cache on a 133 MT/s bus, including the 866 MHz part at 29.6 W from April 2000 and the 1000 MHz part at 30.8 W from August 2000. |
| Cascades-2M | Pentium III Xeon Cascades 2M | 2000 to 2001 | 180 nm server parts with 2 MB of full-speed L2 cache on a 100 MT/s bus, including the 900 MHz part at 36 W from March 2001 in 2.8 V and 5V-12V variants. |
| Drake | Pentium II Xeon Drake | 1998 to 1999 | 250 nm server cartridges with up to 2 MB of L2 cache, including the 450 MHz part with 2 MB at 46.7 W from January 1999. |
Who Slot 2 serves
Slot 2 targets multiprocessor Xeon servers with registered memory and PCI-X expansion. Boards with 440GX chipsets pair the slot with ECC SDRAM and server management. Cartridge guides and retention cages carry the heavy SECC package.
Memory and cooling
Memory is registered SDRAM through the server chipset with ECC paths. Cooling uses cartridge heatsinks locked to the retention cage with server airflow from front to back. Twin and quad boards need matched stepping pairs for stable SMP.
CPUs on Slot 2
31 processor pages in the database, newest first.
Frequently asked questions
Which processors fit Slot 2?
Cascades Pentium III Xeon server parts with up to 2 MB of full-speed L2 cache, including the 900 MHz part with 2 MB at 36 W from March 2001 in 2.8 V and 5V-12V regulator variants covered here.
Is Slot 2 the same as Slot 1?
No. Slot 2 is a 330-lead server slot for Xeon cartridges with full-speed cache, while Slot 1 is a 242-lead desktop slot. Forcing a cartridge can damage the board.
What memory does Slot 2 use?
Registered SDRAM through the board chipset, commonly PC100 and PC133 ECC pairs on 440GX boards. The board sets the exact type.
How many PCIe lanes does Slot 2 provide?
No lanes come from these CPUs. A 100 MT/s bus ties the cartridge to the board chipset, while PCI and AGP hang off the chipset.
Sources and verification
- Slot 2 (Wikipedia)
- List of Intel Xeon processors P6-based Cascades (Wikipedia)
- Pentium III Xeon 500 and 550 MHz datasheet SC330 (Intel)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .