Processors Sockets/Chipsets

PC upgraders on a budget can now start garnering the benefits of 64bit computing  as AMD and Intel have announced value priced 64bit processors.  This means that eagle-eyed wallet watchers  are no longer relegated to using 32bit software.  Compared to 32 bit applications, 64bit programs run faster and allow for more efficient multitasking applications.  Beside form 64bit enabled and branded AMD64 formerly x86-64 these new chips also support SSE3 technology, which uses multimedia instructions to boost applications  and gaming performance.  And with Intel’s new socket 775 form factor, the company has reduced the complexity and the manufacturing cost of the new processors.  The heart of AMD’s new AM2 is the new built-in memory controller that operates at specified speeds for achieving more performance.

775 Processors
Intel’s latest CPU socket 775 a.k.a Socket T and LGA 775.  LGA which stands for Land Grid Array means that the pins are on the motherboard, not on the processor.  The new pin type has better power distribution.  Previous 478pin processors had issues regarding broken pins upon inserting the processor to the motherboard, engineers at Intel help solve this problem by coming up with the design of removing the pins form the CPU replacing them with an array of gold contact points and relocating the pins into the motherboard itself.  All motherboards based on the 775 socket feature a metal shim (a load plate), locking the processor into place protecting and  locking the processor into place.

AM2 Processors
The first processors cores that supported the socket AM2 from AMD was a single core processor– the Athlon and Sempron and the dual core Athlon 64 X2 and Athlon 64 FX.  Socket AM2 processors embedded with SSE3 instructions were developed with 90nm technology.  Socket AM2 processors incorporate a revamped memory controller capable of taking with todays technology’s emerging DDR2 memory standard.  AMD has cooked up a new CPU socket and a new entire lineup of new CPU’s in order to make DDR2 possible, from humble Sempron’s to the fire breathing Athlon 64 FX-62.  AMD has also equipped in its new lineup of CPU’s with a new number of new tools that brings the kinds of performance necessary to keep AMD in the lead.


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