Socket A

Socket 462 (also known as Socket A, not to be confused with the socket of the same name used for the PPC G3 processors) is a zero insertion force pin grid array (PGA) CPU socket used for AMD processors ranging from the Athlon Thunderbird to the Athlon XP/MP 3200+, and AMD budget processors including the Duron and Sempron. Socket A also supports AMD Geode NX embedded processors (derived from the Mobile Athlon XP). It compliments (and later supersedes) the prior Slot A CPU interface used in some Athlon Thunderbird processors. The front-side bus frequencies supported for the AMD Athlon XP and Sempron are 133 MHz, 166 MHz, and 200 MHz. Socket A supports 32-bit CPUs only.

The socket is a zero insertion force pin grid array type with 462 pins, hence the name "Socket 462" printed on the CPU socket. About nine pins in the socket are blocked to discourage accidental insertion of Socket 370 CPUs on Socket A motherboards.

Socket A was replaced by Socket 754 and Socket 939 during 2003 and 2004 respectively, except for its use with Geode NX processors.

Technical specifications

Support of processor clock-speeds between 600 MHz (Duron) to 2333 MHz (Athlon XP 3200+)

Double data rate 100, 133, 166 and 200 MHz front-side bus on Duron, XP and Sempron processors, based on the Alpha 21264 EV6 bus.

Initially launched with 100 MHz FSB support in the earliest chipsets it evolved stepwise to faster 200 MHz FSB while maintaining pin compatibility throughout its lifetime.