Socket A

Socket 462 / A

Type	PGA-ZIF
Chip form factors	Ceramic Pin Grid Array (CPGA) Organic Pin Grid Array (OPGA)
Contacts	453
FSB protocol	EV6
FSB frequency	100 MHz, 133 MHz, 166 MHz and 200 MHz equivalent to FSB200, FSB266, FSB333 and FSB400 (Double data rate Bus)
Voltage range	1.1 - 2.05 V
Processors	AMD Athlon (650 MHz - 1400 MHz) AMD Athlon XP (1500+ - 3200+) AMD Duron (600 MHz - 1800 MHz) AMD Sempron (2000+ - 3300+) AMD Athlon MP (1000 MHz - 3000+)
This article is part of the CPU socket series

Socket A (also known as Socket 462) is the 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. The socket is a zero insertion force pin grid array type with 453 pins (nine pins are blocked in the socket to prevent accidental insertion of Socket 370 CPUs, hence the number 462). The front side bus frequencies supported for the AMD Athlon XP and Sempron are 133 MHz, 166 MHz, and 200 MHz.

AMD recommends that the weight of a Socket A CPU cooler does not exceed 10.6 ounces (300 gram). Heavier coolers may result in damage to the die when the system is not properly handled.

Socket A is considered a discontinued architecture (replaced by Socket 754, Socket 939 and later Socket AM2), although microprocessors and motherboards are still in circulation.

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 DEC Alpha EV6 bus.