Socket 939 Processor’s Arrive!!

Introduction

After months of waiting AMD enthusiasts finally have another option available for their processor selection — Socket 939. As of today, AMD is releasing the following four processors:

AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 (939-pin)

AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (939-pin)

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ (754-pin)

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (939-pin)

Although these processors are based on a new socket and core design there really isn’t that much that has changes. The memory controller is still on the die, but the socket 939 processors do not require you to use registered memory in your system. By running standard unbuffered moduleswe are expecting to see a performance gain in the memory bandwidth along with lower memory pricing. One of the other major changes is the HyperTransport link has been bumped from 800MHz to 1GHz. This increase translates into an increase from 6.4 GB/s to 8 GB/s on the HT bandwidth. Now that you know what is coming out today and what the major changes are we can look at the CPU we are testing today — the 3800+ (939-pin).

939-PIN A64 Tech Specs:

• L1 Cache Size: 64KB data + 64KB instruction = 128KB
• Total L2 Cache Size: 512KB (exclusive) [“Newcastle” core]
• CPU Core Frequency: 2.20GHz for 3500+, 2.40GHz for 3800+
• CPU to Memory Controller: 2.20GHz for 3500+, 2.40GHz for 3800+
• Memory Controller: Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller
• Types of Memory: PC1600, PC2100, PC2700 and PC3200 DDR memory
• HyperTransport Links: 1
• HyperTransport Spec: 2GHz
• Effective data bandwidth: Up to 14.4 GB/sec (8GB/sec HyperTransport bandwidth plus 6.4GB/sec memory bandwidth)
• Packaging: 939-pin organic micro-PGA
• Fab location: AMD’s Fab 30 wafer fabrication facility in Dresden, Germany
• Process Technology: 130nm (.13-micron) Silicon on Insulator (SOI)
• Approximate Transistor count: 68.5 million
• Approximate Die Size: 144mm2 Nominal Voltage: 1.50 V
• Max Ambient Case Temp: 70 degrees Celsius
• Max Thermal Power: 89 W Max Icc (processor current): 57.4 A

The new 939-Pin 3800+ & the old 940-Pin FX-53 :

With the processors flipped over it can be noticed that the 939 pin processor is indeed missing one pin, but also has the pins arranged differently.

CPU-Z shots of the 2.4GHz Socket 939 NewCastle in action:

Everything looks good when viewing the processor under CPU-Z version 1.22!

Now that you know what processor we are looking at and how this is just a basic speed increase let’s take a look at some real numbers!