[XP] AM2 and single core processors

[stevejr]

What am I missing here? I thought AM2 meant dual core but at Newegg there are AM2 processors that are just single core.. .

For example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103198

I looked at them and they seem to be more for a business type or maybe HTPC system, but I'm still confused about AM2 with single core..

[bistro]

I gave up a long, long time ago trying to make sense of AMD's naming conventions. Best thing to do is read the fine print. BTW, that particular chip can be found at the bottom of AMD's stock barrel. I wouldn't bother.

AMD chip list

[stevejr]

Oh no..I had no intention of buying that chip.. ..just trying to figure out that AM2/single core situation...weird!

Actually...I am trying to convince myself that I really, really, just have to build myself a nice dual core system. I have been looking at the Black Edition..a super o/c'er...but it's price has jumped up some,now at $99.99. .

But, then I saw the 4800+ Brisbane 2.5 for just $61.00. It doesn't have the unlocked multiplier like the Black Edition but if I could ease that chip up to around 2.9 or so, then I would be satisfied with that.

I don't absolutely, positively, "can't live without it" have to have a dual core ...other priorities are certainly ahead of this....so maybe by the time Fall gets here, the prices for the other components necessary for a dual core will keep going down. I'm not a gamer so the quad cores don't interest me....a nicely o/c'ed dual core...good board...decent vid card...fits the bill for me.

Heck....the old socket A that I built for my daughter has an o/c'ed mobile running very stable at 2350Mhz with 1 Gb of PC3200...and it's plenty quick for basic internet stuff.

[SuperSparks]

AM2 is the specification for the socket that the CPU fits into. It has nothing at all to do with how many cores the CPU has, or stuff like that -only what the pin assignments are.

[puterfixer]

According to the AM2 launch campaign (see anandtech's article), AM2 was the first AMD socket designed to take advantage of DDR2 memory. It was initially named M2 (Wikipedia reference), but then changed to AM2 so that it is not confused with the Cyrix MII processor. M2 could hint "Memory DDR2".

The next socket on the line, AM3, confirms my supposition: it will support DDR3 memory.

So the name is not linked to the number of cores.

[stevejr]

Very good, thanks SS & puterfixer...the fog is starting to lift from my brain... . I did some Googling myself and read that the AM2 is a 940 pin chip that uses DDR2 memory.

So...a dual core chip is a 940 pin chip that is internally divided into two cores (??)...and that uses DDR2 memory.

[SuperSparks]

So...a dual core chip is a 940 pin chip that is internally divided into two cores (??)...and that uses DDR2 memory.

Not exactly, AM2 is a 940-pin socket. You need a CPU with the correct number of pins to fit into it, but that CPU can have any number of cores, or use any type of RAM. There is nothing to say that a dual-core CPU has to have that many pins. And in the case of AMD the RAM is governed by the memory-controller that is built into the CPU, which just happens to be DDR2 in the case of all the ones that fit socket AM", AFAIK.

[stevejr]

"...and the fog continues to lift..."

Thanks...I have a better grasp of the AM2 lingo...

[rbc1100]

Like the others have said AM2 is just a newer socket to replace the 939 pin cpu's. The 939 pin units use DDR1 and the AM2 units use DDR2. I would opt for at least a dual core system my self. I just built a new computer with a 939 4800 X2 AMD cpu. Asus nforce 4 sli mainboard with dual GFX cards and three gigs of Corsair DDR1 ram. I know its pretty much obsolete but its darned fast and I built it for a good price.

[stevejr]

Another confusing question....wasn't the advantage of 939 over 754 the ability of 939 to use DDR2 ram? When I built my system in my sig, I was encouraged to go 939 ( couldn't quite afford difference between 754 & 939), because .....?. I thought it was the ability of 939 to use DDR2 ram.

Oh well...no big deal...just more curiosity on my part.

rbc1100.."obsolete" is certainly a relative term. Like you, my "old & obsolete" 754 system is purring right along...doing just fine for surfing, little bit of burning ( I know...faster systems burn faster ), basic stuff like that. Of course, multitasking is definitely faster with dual core...and that's the reason I will eventually build a dual core system.

And like I mentioned earlier, even the socket A that I have is almost as quick as my 754...it actually boots up faster... with very little difference in the number of programs that each has to load.

Of course, having cable broadband helps things along quite nicely.!

[puterfixer]

Nope, Socket 939 was not able to use DDR2 memory.

Socket 754 allowed the memory controller in the CPU to use up to 3 DDR DIMMs on a single channel. The "upgrade" to Socket 939 introduced the Dual Channel architecture, but still relied on DDR memory. Only Socket AM2 added support for DDR2 memory.

Socket 939 had a brief existence between 754 and AM2. Just when 939 it became mature and easily available, AMD was already clear on its scheduled end of life. Many buyers postponed their shopping plans instead of painting themselves in a corner for limited future upgrades.

[rbc1100]

I still have a couple of socket A systems alive and well. One is a Barton core 3200 one of the last made with the unlocked multiplyer. The other in my sons computer is a 2800 Barton also with the unlocked mult. Surprisingly enough they both run really well. My 3200 runs almost as well as the girl freinds 64 bit 3500. The 2800 is not far behind. Puterfixer said it all. My new build was going to based on the AM2 but I had Alot of Corsair XMS DDR1 ram and got good buys on parts for a 939 X2 system, so thats what I built. I am not disapointed with my choice as its runs much better than I expected.