Socket M2, the 940 pin DDR2-ready Athlon 64 Socket, will launch a little bit later than we originally expected with mass production just starting in late April. However, even though the launch has been slightly delayed from the original March timeframe, there is still good news for those on DDR1; Socket 939 will stick around well into Q1'07 on the performance desktop - and well beyond that for Sempron. In fact, AMD's latest roadmap goes all the way to Q2'07 with Socket 939 Sempron.

The new Pacifica enabled DDR2 processor code names expected to launch during the end of Q2'06 will be:

  • Windsor: Dual Channel DDR2, Pacifica enabled Socket M2 dual core
  • Orleans: Dual Channel DDR2, Pacifica enabled Socket M2
  • Manila: Dual Channel DDR2 Sempron, Socket M2

The new chips will debut on NVIDIA's recently announced M2 platform, complete with MCP55 and C51XE. Straight from AMD's latest roadmap, here are a list of all the newest products, cores and launch dates:

AMD Desktop Roadmap
Product Core Socket Launch Date
Athlon 64 FX-62 Windsor M2 Q2'06
Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor M2 Q4'06
Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Windsor M2 Q2'06
Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Windsor M2 Q2'06
Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor M2 Q2'06
Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor M2 Q2'06
Athlon 64 4000+ Orleans M2 Q2'06
Athlon 64 3800+ Orleans M2 Q2'06
Athlon 64 3500+ Orleans M2 Q2'06
Sempron 3800+ Manila M2 Q3'06
Sempron 3600+ Manila M2 Q2'06
Sempron 3500+ Manila M2 Q2'06
Sempron 3400+ Manila M2 Q2'06
Sempron 3200+ Manila M2 Q2'06
Sempron 3000+ Manila M2 Q2'06


Other interesting noteables include the lack of any new Socket 939 SKUs. Hopefully Socket M2 sticks around long enough to actually get one or two different processors on the same board like in the old days of Socket 462. In fact, even though the roadmap explicitly claims that Socket 939 Semprons will show up before the end of the year, the only new Semprons listed are Socket M2.

We hope this M2 roadmap isn't the whole picture. There are obviously quite a few of us who have Socket 939 motherboards still - and some new chips to give Intel's Presler and Cedar Mill 65nm processors a run for their money would be great.



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  • JarredWalton - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    HyperTransport is not related to the RAM speed. There is no reason to assume that the CPU bus/HT bus will change from 200 MHz. The roadmaps are still stating 1000 MHz HyperTransport, and while 3x333 is 1000 MHz, 5x200 will also get you there. The memory controller already runs asynchronously to the HT speed - regardless of what memory speed you run. There is no "1:1 overclocking" on AMD platforms. Consider:

    3800+ = 12X200 = 2400 MHz
    RAM = CPU/6 = DDR800
    RAM = CPU/8 = DDR600
    RAM = CPU/9 = DDR533
    RAM = CPU/12 = DDR400
    RAM = CPU/15 = DDR320
    RAM = CPU/18 = DDR266

    So my bet is that M2 chips remain as 200 MHz increments, HyperTransport remains at 200 MHz base speed, and the only thing that changes is the CPU divider that generates the memory speed. However, as with your figures, this is only a guess. Maybe they will move to a 333 MHz base bus speed. I'd be surprised, but anything is possible.
  • xenon74 - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Hm, I always thought that relation between CPU and Memory was more of a ratio than a divider and CPU base frequency reacts as kind of a baseline.
    DDR400 200MHz 1
    DDR366 183MHz 11/12
    DDR333 166MHz 5/6
    DDR300 150MHz 3/4
    DDR266 133MHz 2/3

    DDRII-667 333MHz 1
    DDRII-600 300MHz 9/10
    DDRII-533 266MHz 4/5
    DDRII-500 250MHz 3/4
    DDRII-466 233MHz 7/10

    In this case ratio stays at every given stock CPU frequency (2GHz, 2.2GHz,...).
    Situation is quite different with divider usage - as it changes according to CPU frequency and frankly I think that's not very likely.

    Nevertheless I speculate of 333 mostly because of PC Welt article.



  • JarredWalton - Friday, November 4, 2005 - link

    Ratios were the way of most previous chipsets and CPUs - socket 775, 478, 462, 423, 370, etc. When AMD moved the memory controller onto the CPU, the ratio system suddenly became meaningless. The memory still runs at a ratio, but it's a ratio of the CPU speed. CPU-Z will report the memory divider on socket 754/939/940. Usually, it's the same as the CPU multiplier, but if you want to run the RAM slower or faster, it can be a lot of other values.
  • Jep4444 - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    i dont think we can guess the Socket M2 Fx so easily because they will have a higher HTT than 200mhz
  • tfranzese - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    quote:

    Other interesting noteables include the lack of any new Socket 939 SKUs. Even though the AMD roadmap clearly states the Socket 939 will stick around into Q1'07, the only new processor we actually see between now and then is the FX-??. Hopefully Socket M2 sticks around long enough to actually get one or two different processors on the same board like in the old days of Socket 463. In fact, even though the roadmap explicitly claims that Socket 939 Semprons will show up before the end of the year, the only new Semprons listed are Socket M2.


    If my memory is correct, it was socket 462.
  • Googer - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    quote:

    Other interesting noteables include the lack of any new Socket 939 SKUs. Even though the AMD roadmap clearly states the Socket 939 will stick around into Q1'07, the only new processor we actually see between now and then is the FX-??. Hopefully Socket M2 sticks around long enough to actually get one or two different processors on the same board like in the old days of Socket 463. In fact, even though the roadmap explicitly claims that Socket 939 Semprons will show up before the end of the year, the only new Semprons listed are Socket M2.



    Motherboards are so cheap I just wonder why any one worries about getting so much life out of them?

    Oh and FYI, it is socket 462 not 463 aka Socket A.
  • phaxmohdem - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    Ahh Socket 463 the good ol' days :) I must have missed that one though, went straight from 462 to socket 940. I've heard those 463 socket chips will give an FX-57 a run for their money when overclocked to 8.6756 GHz though.. Higher or lower than that however and you're running with the PII's :(
  • JarredWalton - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    Typo fixed. Thanks!
  • Pete84 - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    Agreed, I was wondering what they were referencing, then I realized it was Socket A.
  • nserra - Thursday, November 3, 2005 - link

    Isn’t FX64 misleading for AMD64 FX64?

    What was the problem with FX61? FX63?

    And the end of high speed single core is really necessary.
    Only if dual core lags behind 200Mhz clock of single core. But if it’s at a rate of 400Mhz, I think I would keep both.

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