Socket 754: September 2003 To June 2004

Three different CPU versions were produced for Socket 754 when the Athlon64 was introduced: the original Clawhammer core with 1 MB L2 cache, then the same core with a halfway-disabled cache, and the Newcastle with its 512 kB L2 cache and smaller die surface. And starting in 2005, it will be joined by the Sempron with only a 256 kB L2 cache.

All CPUs for Socket 754 only work with a single DDR400 memory interface, which adds up to a maximum memory transfer rate of 3 GB/s. A memory expansion of more than a gigabyte caused frequent problems. The processors work with a 200 MHz hyper transport channel, maximum heat loss is 89 watts and clock speeds range from 1.8 GHz to 2.4 GHz. Further increases in speed are not planned for this socket. Available chipsets come from NVIDIA in the form of the nForce 3 150/250, VIA with K8T800 and from SIS with the 755FX. All CPUs to date are based on a 130 nm process.

Socket 754 only has a memory interface. This causes problems when expanding memory by a considerable amount.

An AMD Athlon64 3400+, open, with a die surface of 17.5 mm x 11.5 mm

With the Athlon64 3700+, Socket 754 bids adieu after less than two years of existence.

Socket 754: AMD Athlon64, Sempron

Board: Asus K8N-E Deluxe (nForce 3 250 GB)
RAM: DDR400 (PC3200)

Asus K8N-E Deluxe with nForce 3 250 GB chipset

Related articles:

• Athlon64 3700+
• Athlon64 3400+
• Athlon64 3200+