Socket AM3

Socket AM3 is a CPU socket for AMD processors. AM3 was

Socket AM3
launched on February 9, 2009 as the successor to Socket AM2+,
alongside the initial grouping of Phenom II processors designed
for it.[1] The sole principal change from AM2+ to AM3 is
support for DDR3 SDRAM. The fastest CPU for socket AM3 is
the Phenom II X6 1100T.

Like the previous AMD socket, the "AM3 Processor Functional

Data Sheet" (AMD document number 40778) has not been made
publicly available. The "Family 10h AMD Phenom™ Processor
Product Data Sheet" (document 446878) has,[2] but contains
only a brief list of features of the Phenom, and does not contain
any substantive technical data regarding socket AM3.

Compatibility
Socket AM3 breaks compatibility with AM2/AM2+ processors Release date February 2009
due to a subtle change in key placement. The AM3 socket has Type PGA-ZIF
941 pin contacts in a different layout[3] while AM2+ processors Chip form PGA
have 940 pins. Tom's Hardware removed the two obstructing key factors
pins from an AM2+ Phenom processor in order to fit it into an
Contacts 941 (Socket)
AM3 socket. The processor did not work in the AM3 socket, but 938 (CPU)
still worked in an AM2+ socket, suggesting that compatibility
FSB protocol HyperTransport 3.x
issues run deeper than merely the key pins.[4] It is likely because
the built-in memory controller in AM2/AM2+ processors only FSB 200 MHz System
supports DDR2 (unlike AM3 processors, which support both frequency clock
DDR2 & DDR3 memory).[5] In fact, a few motherboards were HyperTransport up
manufactured that supported both DDR2 and DDR3, however to 2.6 GHz
only one type could be used at a time. Despite using an AM3 Processors Phenom II
socket and despite using a northbridge and southbridge found on Athlon II
AM3 motherboards, they support any AM2, AM2+, or AM3 Sempron
processor.[6] Opteron 1380 Series
Predecessor AM2+
As AM3 processors also support DDR2, they are backwards-
Successor AM3+
compatible with Socket AM2/AM2+, contingent upon a BIOS
update for the motherboard. Manufacturers including Asus,[7]
This article is part of the CPU socket
Gigabyte,[8] and others have labeled existing AM2/AM2+ boards
series
as being "AM3 Ready" or similar, indicating that BIOS support
is provided for the specified boards. This allows existing
AM2/AM2+ systems to upgrade the CPU without having to upgrade any other components.

Heatsink
The 4 holes for fastening the heatsink to the motherboard are placed in a rectangle with lateral lengths of
48 mm and 96 mm for AMD's sockets Socket AM2, Socket AM2+, Socket AM3, Socket AM3+ and
Socket FM2. Cooling solutions should therefore be interchangeable.

Socket AM3+
AM3+ is a modification of the AM3 socket. It has one additional pin for new Bulldozer-based AM3+
processors and is backwards-compatible with AM3 processors. It broke backwards-compatibility between
AM3+ processors and AM2 and AM2+ motherboards because the processors do not support DDR2
memory.

See also
CPU Socket
Athlon II
Phenom II
List of AMD Phenom microprocessors
List of AMD FX microprocessors

References
1. The Phenom II X4 810 & X3 720: AMD Gets DDR3 But Doesn't Need It (http://www.anandtec
h.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3512), AnandTech, 2009-02-09, retrieved 2012-01-10
2. Phenom II Processor - Product Data Sheet (http://support.amd.com/us/Processor_TechDocs/
46878.pdf) (PDF), Amd.com, retrieved 2012-01-10
3. MSI Releases AM3 Gaming Series Motherboards (https://hothardware.com/News/MSI-Relea
ses-AM3-Gaming-Series-Motherboards/), Hothardware.com, 2009-01-22, retrieved
2012-01-10
4. Modding And Overclocking–Doable? : Socket AM3: AMD's Phenom II Gets DDR3 (http://ww
w.tomshardware.com/reviews/socket-am3-phenom,2148-4.html), Tomshardware.com, 2009-
02-09, retrieved 2012-01-10
5. AMD Phenom II - DDR2 vs. DDR3 Performance (https://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1782/a
md_phenom_ii_ddr2_vs_ddr3_performance/index.html), Tweaktown.com, 2009-03-11,
retrieved 2012-01-10
6. MSI Unveils DDR2+DDR3 Combo Motherboard (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/MSi-E
ight-Memory-Slots,7214.html), Tom's Hardware, 2009-03-07, retrieved 2014-12-31
7. ASUS Motherboards Now Supports AMD AM3 Processors (http://event.asus.com/mb/AM3%
5FCPU%5FSupport/), Event.asus.com, retrieved 2012-01-10
8. "Gigabyte: Products: Motherboard" (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Prod
ucts_List.aspx?VenderType=AMD&CPUType=socket+am3). Gigabyte Technology.

External links
DailyTech post about Socket AM3 (https://web.archive.org/web/20070608124829/http://www.
dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3169)
List of first bunch of Socket AM3 CPUs (https://web.archive.org/web/20090419222819/http://
www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-phenom-ii-x4_3.html#sect0)
 Socket AM3 review (https://web.archive.org/web/20090212065503/http://xbitlabs.com/article
s/cpu/display/phenom-ii-x4-810.html)

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