AM2, AM2+, and AM3

The Difference in socket AM3 is kinda confusing. The Sockets - AM3 has 941 pin holes, but the AM3 processor has 938. Am2/+ Socket has 940 pin holes and the processor has 940.

On a AM3 socket, with the locking lever on the right, the place that has missing pin holes, the top left 2 missing holes and bottom right 2 missing holes have been moved up one row. Plus a Added pin hole has been added to the lower left, but is not used at this time

Thats the reason the AM2/+ processor will not fit. The AM3 processor has missing pins where the holes have been moved, hence the reason it has 938 pins not 940 like a AM2/+ processor.

AM2/+
sockel-m2.jpg


AM3
socketam3.jpg


AM3 on the left
am3vsam2.jpg
 
Last edited:
bomberboysk said:
future socket am3 processors may use 941 pins.
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My guess would be that. But it would end the backward compatibility. Straight up AM3/DDR3 socket. Dont know how much more room on the memory controller it takes up for having a controller for DDR2 and DDR3. Dropping DDR2 might save them some die space. Maybe dropping the DDR2 controller gives them the opportunity for a Quad controller;)
 
StrangleHold said:
My guess would be that. But it would end the backward compatibility. Straight up AM3/DDR3 socket. Dont know how much more room on the memory controller it takes up for having a controller for DDR2 and DDR3. Dropping DDR2 might save them some die space. Maybe dropping the DDR2 controller gives them the opportunity for a Quad controller;)
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Hopefully, would love to see amd stomp intel's i7 just to get the pricing more competitive between the two.
 
Dont really now how they would work out a quad controller. Have 8 memory slots on a board would be kinda asinine:D. With 4 slots, something like unganged mode, one 64 bit controller for each core. Ganged mode for a single 256 bit controller.
 
StrangleHold said:
Dont really now how they would work out a quad controller. Have 8 memory slots on a board would be kinda asinine:D. With 4 slots, something like unganged mode, one 64 bit controller for each core. Ganged mode for a single 256 bit controller.
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8 memory slots=bragging rights hehe.
 
It would start getting rather tight though, I wish they had bigger boards even now... To be able to spread out features etc.
 
Stildawn said:
It would start getting rather tight though, I wish they had bigger boards even now... To be able to spread out features etc.
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Especially with the memory, because on the amd boards right now, the clip is positioned in such a way, that tower heatsinks such as the S1283 and the TRUE are horizontal rather than vertical, and can cover up memory slots.
 
Stildawn said:
Yeah luckly mine just fits lol.
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You can actually mount a few coolers the other way, but it required buying an adapter to change the am2 clip to a socket 775 style retention system, and then you need to get the bolt thru kit for whatever heatsink you have..
 
wow I just read all of that and it was interesting and informative! Do you guys thing nvidia might slip up and stink in the future?
 
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