A+ Core Hardware

Micro Processors, and Socket Types:

Micro processor, also called CPU (Central Processing Unit), is a major component of a micro computer. We discuss various CPUs starting from Pentium IV, and onwards.

• Socket 478
• Socket 423
• Socket 370
• Socket 8
• Socket 7
• Socket A
• Slot A
• Slot 2
• Slot 1

Socket 478:

Socket 478 is a PGA socket used by Intel Pentium 4 microprocessor family (not all P IV family processors support Socket 478)..

Socket type: Socket 478 (mPGA478B)

Front Bus Frequencies: 400 MHz - 800 MHz (100 MHz - 200 MHz QDR)

Socket size: 1.38" x 1.38" (3.5 x 3.5 cm)

Number of contacts: 478

Compatible package types:

478-pin micro FC-PGA
478-pin micro FC-PGA2

Compatible processors:

Processors Intel Pentium 4 (1.4 - 3.4 GHz)
Intel Celeron (1.7 - 3.2 GHz)
Celeron D (to 3.2 GHz)
Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition (3.2, 3.4 GHz)

This socket has currently been replaced with socket 775.

Socket 423:

The socket was used for low-end Pentium IV processors below 2000MHz frequencies. It became obsolete with the advent of Socket 478.

Number of Contacts: 423

Compatible package type: Organic Land Grid Array (OLGA)

Front Bus Speed: 100 MHz FSB

Compatible Processors:  Intel Pentium 4 (1300 MHz - 2000 MHz)

Socket 370:

Socket 370 (PGA370) is a PGA socket compatible with Intel Celeron and Pentium III processors in Pin Grid Array (PGA) package.

Socket 370	Processor package

Salient Features:

Compatible package types:

370-pin Plastic Pin Grid Array (PPGA); 370-pin Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array (FC-PGA)
370-pin Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array (FC-PGA2)

Number of contacts: 370
Front Bus Frequencies:  66, 100 and 133 MHz

Supported Processors include the following:

Intel Celeron (PPGA, 300–533 MHz)
Intel Celeron (FC-PGA, 533–1100 MHz)
Intel Celeron (FC-PGA2, 900–1400 MHz)
Intel Pentium III (FC-PGA, 500–1133 MHz)
Intel Pentium III Tualatin (FC-PGA2)
Celeron Tualatin (FC-PGA2)
VIA C3 (FC-PGA)

Socket 8:

Socket 8  was used for a very limited number of processor types. The socket is being no more used by newer processors.

Number of Contacts: 387
Front Bus Speed : 66-75 MHz

Supported Processors include the following:

Pentium Pro 150~200, Pentium II OverDrive 300~333

Socket 7:

Socket 7 was introduced by Intel for Pentium 133 - 200 MHz processors. It is also used in Pentium MMX processor family.

Socket 7	Compatible Processor

Salient Features:

Compatible package types:

296-pin staggered Plastic Pin Grid Array (PPGA)
296-pin staggered Ceramic Pin Grid Array (CPGA or SPGA)
296-pin Flip-Chip staggered Ceramic Pin Grid Array
321-pin ceramic Ping Grid Array (CPGA)

Number of contacts: 321
Front Bus Frequencies:  66 - 83 Mhz System Clock

Supported Processors include the following:

AMD K5 (75 MHz - 200 MHz); AMD K6 (166 MHz - 300 MHz)
AMD K6-2 (200 MHz - 570 MHz)
AMD K6-III (333 MHz - 550 MHz)
Cyrix 6x86, 6x86L and 6x86MX (90 MHz - 266 MHz)
Cyrix MII (233 MHz - 433 MHz)
Intel Pentium (non-MMX) (75 MHz - 200 MHz)
Intel Pentium MMX (166 MHz - 233 MHz)

Socket A (Socket 462):

Socket A (also called Socket 462) is a PGA socket compatible with AMD K7 family of processors.

Socket A	Processor for Socket A

Bus Frequencies: 100 MHz, 133 MHz, 166 MHz and 200 MHz

Number of contact pins: 462 pin holes

Compatible Processors include the following:

AMD Athlon (650 MHz - 1400 MHz)
AMD Athlon XP (1500+ - 3300+)
AMD Duron (600 MHz - 1800 MHz)
AMD Sempron (2000+ - 3300+)
AMD Athlon MP (1000 MHz - 3000+)

Compatible package types:

462-pin ceramic Pin Grid Array (PGA) package, 462-pin organic PGA.

Slot A:

Slot A is used by AMD's Athlon family of processors. It has 242 contacts, physically similar to that of Intel's Slot 1. But Slot A is electrically different from that of Slot 1.

Slot 2:

Slot 2 is a 330 contact version of Slot 1. Intel's Xeon processor uses Slot 2. The Slot 2 cartridge may house as many as four processors and an L2 cache.

Slot 1:

Slot 1 is a Slot-type connector. This connector is compatible with Pentium II family of processors, and some of low-end Celeron processors. Pentium III was the last microprocessor family that used the Slot 1.

Pentium IV family of processors do not use Slot 1.

Number of Contacts: 242

Processors types supported include the following:

Intel Celeron (SECC, 233-466 MHz)
Processors Intel Pentium II (SECC, 233-450 MHz)
Intel Pentium III (SECC2, 450-1133 MHz)

Compatible package types:

Single Edge Processor Package (SEPP)
Single Edge Connector Cartridge (SECC)
Single Edge Connector Cartridge 2 (SECC 2)