Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
• Socket 754 features single-channel memory controller; Socket 940, 939, and AM2 feature dual-
channel memory controller.
• 128KB L1 cache.
• 512KB or 1MB of on-die full-speed L2 cache.
• Support for AMD64 (also called IA-32e or x86-64) 64-bit extension technology (extends 32-
bit x86 architecture).
• Up to 3.2GBps (Socket 754) or 4GBps (Socket 940, 939, and AM2) Hypertransport link to
chipset North Bridge.
• Addressable memory size up to 1TB, greatly exceeding the 4GB or 64GB limit imposed by 32-
bit processors.
• SSE2 (SSE plus 144 new instructions for graphics and sound processing).
• Multiple low-power states.
• 130-nanometer (see
Figure 3.40
)
, 90nm, or 65nm cores.
Figure 3.40. AMD Athlon 64 die (130-nanometer process, 106 million transistors, 193 sq. mm).
Photo courtesy of AMD.
The Athlon 64 FX differs from the standard Athlon 64 in the following ways:
• Supports only Socket 940, 939, or AM2.
• Has dual-channel DDR or DDR2 memory controller with ECC support.
• Socket 940 versions require registered memory.
• Features speeds from 2.2GHz to 2.8GHz.
• 1MB L2 cache (standard).
Although AMD has been criticized by many, including me, for its confusing performance-rating
processor names in the Athlon XP series, AMD also uses this naming scheme with the Athlon 64.
AMD developed its own chipsets for the Athlon 6 but also encouraged chipset development by third
parties, including ATI (which AMD acquired in 2006 for both its chipset and GPU design
experience).
