4 Different AMD processors Use Socket-A, So What?s up with Intel?

[Olias]

It's obvious to me that Intel doesn't care about the little guy...

AMD
Socket ?A? - Duron
Socket ?A? - Athlon
Socket ?A? - Athlon XP
Socket ?A? - Athlon XP (thoroughbred)

Intel:
Socket 370 - Pentium 3 coppermine
Socket-370 - Pentium 3 Tualatin (requires new chipset/motherboard)
Pentium 4 - Socket 423
Pentium 4 - Socket 478

 

[madthumbs]

Intel sells chipsets.

 

[Pariah]

AMD CPU's may use the same socket, but that doesn't mean every CPU works in every socket A motherboard. Because of this, it doesn't really matter that they use the same socket, a smaller form factor like socket 478 would be nice too. A pentium 3 and 4 are completely different generations, which never share the same socket. Intel has had 2 P4 sockets, AMD had two Athlon form factors, slot and socket, looks like they're even to me.

 

[mastertech01]

True, but Ill be damned if you dont have to get an updated mobo for every one of those SOCKET A processors just because VIA is such a poor chipset and AMD chipsets are always being upgraded.. IE 760, 761, MP, MPX, etc. Conflicts and woes galore have always been a plague for those hot little SOCKET A CLONES. So grin a bear it.. its really about the same rate of upgrade for MOST people.

Intel is just more expensive all around and likely will stay that way as long as they are NUMERO UNO.

But AMD is getting better everyday.

 

[Sharkmeat]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!what was the question.Spell Technology and you have your answer.
Little guy!!!what does that mean alot of littles guys 5 feet 2 buy Intel that have more money than 6 foot 6 big guys LOL.

 

[SteelCityFan]

Motherboard upgrades are pretty much required anyway. Unless of course you are still running PC100 SDRAM with an ATA66 Hard Drive, AGP 2X, etc with your Athlon XP. I would have bought a new motherboard even if I could have dropped a P4 into my old P3V4X. It just does not make sense to stay with old motherboard technology just because the CPU will work.

 

[dowxp]

Originally posted by: SteelCityFan
Motherboard upgrades are pretty much required anyway. Unless of course you are still running PC100 SDRAM with an ATA66 Hard Drive, AGP 2X, etc with your Athlon XP. I would have bought a new motherboard even if I could have dropped a P4 into my old P3V4X. It just does not make sense to stay with old motherboard technology just because the CPU will work.

yah.. i would like running my opetron on my Abit kT7 assuming theres a bios supporting it..

 

[Sohcan]

It's obvious to me that Intel doesn't care about the little guy...

How convenient of you to include the P3, yet ignore the K6's Socket 7 and the Athlon Classic's Slot A. Or, for that matter, to differentiate the Socket A Athlon into the Duron, T-Bird, XP, and T-Bred, yet include Willamette, Northwood, and P4 Celeron as a single "Pentium 4 - Socket 478."

And I'm sure AMD's in it "for the little guy" rather than to make money. Excuse me while I roll my eyes again.

 

[AndyHui]

People here are so biased and one sided it's not funny.

 

[oldfart]

People here are so biased and one sided it's not funny.

 

[joohang]

Originally posted by: oldfart

People here are so biased and one sided it's not funny.

 

[Innoka]

Is there really the need for such cynicism aimed against simple facts? Stop trying to predict the future of AMD policies. They show a history of using form factors for longer than Intel and undercutting them in cost, and that is that.
I do not believe that Intel will allow their 0.09 process Pentium 4 to run on Socket 478. Do you?

 

[Woodchuck2000]

People here are so biased and one sided it's not funny.

so very true...

I'd actually prefer it if Amd had some kind of physical difference in their CPUs so it's easier to tell what will work on which motherboards. My A7v (original) would fit an XP, but it sure as hell won't run it.

(Edit)
Oh and by the way, from Pentium class upwards (ignoring the Pentium Pro):
AMD: Socket 7 -> (super 7) -> Slot A -> Socket A -> (later rev. Socket 7)
Intel: Socket 7 -> Slot 1 -> Socket 370 -> (tualatin socket370) -> Socket 453 -> Socket 478

Intel gets through more sockets, but let's face it - a K62/3 won't work in an old TX motherboard, and an XP won't work in my A7v.
Also, voltage aside, thoroughbred chips are functionally identical to palomino chips so there's no difference there. There really isnt much of a distinction between AMD and Intel.

 

[MadRat]

If you look closer at Socket-A then you'll have to revamp those ideas about a single Socket-A. First off the initial jump to .18-micron in Palomino (from the Thunderchicken) CPUs required a new socket. The newer core would not run on the older sockets due to electrical differences. Then even before that you had a bus speed upgrade from 100fsb to 133fsb, again requiring a different socket-A board.

The socket hardware has been the same but the pinouts have slightly changed over the life of the Socket-A project.

Edit:

<<Intel gets through more sockets, but let's face it - a K62/3 won't work in an old TX motherboard>>

Why not? I guess something is wrong with the K6-2/450 (75fsb x 2@6) I put into one.

<<...and an XP won't work in my A7v.>>

I've wondered if those danes that figured out the XP multipliers beyond 20X used an A7V. They successfully were able to post Palominoes on pre-133fsb boards as "unrecognized Athlon" using high multipliers. I'm sure if there is a will there is a way to do it.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

Madrat;
Oops, typo - I didnt mean TX, I meant the previous intel socket 7 chipset (HX I think.) It was just meant to illustrate the point that even though the socket is the same, newer CPUs won't work with older motherboards.

Have you got a link for the people running XPs in an A7v - I'd be interested in seeing how it's done, as I'd never heard of anyone having success stories with it.

 

[oldfart]

I've got a K6-3+ 450 running in an HX chipset mobo.

This argument is so old and so inaccurate. Motherboard chipset technology evolves just like everything else does. Most of the time when doing a major system upgrade, you want a new mobo anyway to take advantage of the new features (DDR, USB 2.0, improved overclocking, PCI/AGP lock, etc etc).

Olias if you are going to post, at least try to be accurate. You are obviously not familiar with the different Intel CPU's, or just chose not to include them.

Socket 370 - Pentium 3 coppermine
Celeron
Celeron Coppermine

Socket-370 - Pentium 3 Tualatin (requires new chipset/motherboard)
Celeron Tualatin
PIII-S

Pentium 4 - Socket 478
Pentium 4 Williamette
Pentium 4 Northwood
Pentium 4 Celeron

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

I think the jist is the original post was that if you were to buy a socket A mobo today, not last years stuff...but brand new, right now....you could run all of AMD`s chips all the way back to the slot athlon which would include

spitfire core duron
t-bird core athlon
Palomino core MP
Morgan core Duron
XP athlon
XP athlon (t-bred)

Intels chips do not allow you to do the same thing

 

[AndyHui]

You can run all Socket 370 processors in a Tualatin board, from the most powerful Pentium III-S right back to the PPGA Celeron 300A.

You cannot compare Socket 370 to Socket 423/478 because they are different architecture.

Are you able to run an Athlon on a board designed to run a K6-x? I don't think so.

It was known right back from the very beginning when the Pentium 4 was announced that Socket 423 was going to be interim. We all knew that Socket 478 was coming afterwards relatively quickly, so you cannot accuse anyone of duplicity here. All you needed to do was wait.

 

[viper007]

Originally posted by: Sohcan

It's obvious to me that Intel doesn't care about the little guy...

How convenient of you to include the P3, yet ignore the K6's Socket 7 and the Athlon Classic's Slot A. Or, for that matter, to differentiate the Socket A Athlon into the Duron, T-Bird, XP, and T-Bred, yet include Willamette, Northwood, and P4 Celeron as a single "Pentium 4 - Socket 478."

And I'm sure AMD's in it "for the little guy" rather than to make money. Excuse me while I roll my eyes again.

What are you an idiot? The K6 and the Athlon classic Slot A CPU's arent being made anymore, infact they havent been in production for some time! If I check the LATEST prices, id be correct in saying that Tutalian pentium 3's and celersons have are using a 370 socket format.

AMD only have one universal socket through all their CPU range, unlike INTEL!!

Oh btw...*uck you

Oh btw, you can have a week off for that.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[MadRat]

Intel:

Socket 370 (PPGA only)
Socket 370+ (PPGA, FCPGA support)
Socket 370T (PPGA, FCPGA, FCPGA2 support)

Socket 432 (Williamette)
Socket 478 (Williamette, Northwood, Celeron-4)

AMD:

Socket A (Spitfire-100, Thunderchicken-100, Morgan-100)
Socket A (Spitfire-100, Thunderchicken-100, Thunderchicken-133, Morgan-100, Palomino-133)
Socket A (Spitfire-100, Thunderchicken-100, Thunderchicken-133, Morgan-100, Palomino-133, Thoroughbred-133)
Socket A (Spitfire-100, Thunderchicken-100, Thunderchicken-133, Morgan-100, Palomino-133, Thoroughbred-133, Barton-133)

 

[AndyHui]

viper007: I'd think twice before calling sohcan and idiot.

What are you an idiot? The K6 and the Athlon classic Slot A CPU's arent being made anymore, infact they havent been in production for some time! If I check the LATEST prices, id be correct in saying that Tutalian pentium 3's and celersons have are using a 370 socket format.

AMD only have one universal socket through all their CPU range, unlike INTEL!!

Based on what you are saying, Socket 423 should not be included in this comparison as Socket 423 processors have not been manufactured for a while either.

The Pentium III and Celeron processors are a different architecture, which is why it is valid to include the K6-x processors, as these are a different architecture to K7 units.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

viper007: I'd think twice before calling sohcan and idiot.

Ditto

It's worth noting however:
With the new celeron based on the willamette core coming, all of intel's desktop solutions will be socket 478.
All the socket 370 chips (except the P-III tualatin) will be phased out. Anyway, the Tualatin is primarily intended for the server market as it produces little heat and is proven technology.

In fact, when the clawhammer chips start appearing it'll be AMD with separate platforms for high end and low end desktop solutions.

(Speaks an AMD-lover who loves playing devil's advocate )

 

[mastertech01]

I dont think I even saw slot one mentioned here..Or slot A

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: Innoka
They show a history of using form factors for longer than Intel and undercutting them in cost, and that is that.

um, i think that is because they have to. they dont (or at least, didn't) have the market share to force frequent changes or the brand recognition for high prices.

Originally posted by: AndyHui
viper007: I'd think twice before calling sohcan and idiot.

ditto

 

[aka1nas]

I wouldn't count the two slot interfaces as there was a definate reason to switch from them for both companies(Onboard L2 cache to On-die L2 cache). Socket 423 was a joke though. It doesn't make much sense to not design the socket with the extra pin layouts like AMD did with socket A. Unless you want to force consumers to upgrade their mobo. The fact is that a socket A platform will be able to accept most Athlon based CPUs provided that is capable of the neccessary voltages. Everything else can usually be fixed through the BIOS. While I personally would probably want to upgrade the board, many people would not want to go through the expense of upgrading the cpu, mobo, and probably RAM all at once. Socket A is nice because their is a very good chance they can start by just popping in a faster chip and maybe upgrading more as needed.