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Socket Upgrades

Questions

1. I have a 486-based motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
2. I have a 273-pin Socket 4 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
3. I have a 320-pin Socket 5 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
4. What the heck is a Socket 6 Motherboard?
5. I have a 321-pin Socket 7 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
6. I have a 387-pin Socket 8 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
7. I have a 242-lead Slot 1 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
8. I have a 370-pin Socket 370 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
9. What about Slot 2?
10. I have a 242-lead Slot A motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
11. I have a 462-pin Socket A motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
12. I have a 423-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
13. I have a 478-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
14. I have a 754-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
15. I have a 940-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
16. I have a 939-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
17. I have a Socket AM2 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
18. I have a Socket AM2+ motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
19. I have a 775-ball Socket T motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
20. I have a Socket 775 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
21. I have a Socket 771 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?

Answers

1. I have a 486-based motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
   • Socket 6 is listed below.
   • Motherboards which support the 80486 processor come in a few different flavors. The original was a 168-pin socket that could accept SX and DX processors. The second socket (Socket 1) has 169 pin holes, and was most often used as a secondary 'upgrade' socket alongside the original processor. This socket takes the Intel OverDrive processors (ODP). Socket 2 and Socket 3 were used both as a stand alone sockets and as upgrade sockets. These are the larger sockets (with 4 rows of holes instead of just three), and can accept the Intel Pentium OverDrive processor PODP5V 63 and 83 (P24T).
     • All 486 Sockets (486 Socket, Socket 1, Socket 2, Socket 3)
       1. 486SX 16, 20, 25, 33, 50, 66.
       2. 486DX 25, 33, 40, 50, 66, 75, 80, 100, 120.
       3. Intel OverDrive 486DXODPR 25, 33, 50, 66, 75, 100.
       4. CCT 586 Adapter
          • AMD 486DX4 100.
          • AMD 5x86-133 133.
       5. Computer Nerd RA4 Adapter
          • AMD 486DX 80, 100, 120.
          • AMD 5x86-133 133, 150, 160.
          • Cyrix 5x86 100, 120, 133.
          • Intel 486DX4 100.
       6. Evergreen 586 Adapter
          • AMD 5x86-133 100, 133.
       7. Gainbery 5x86-133 Adapter (went out of business)
          • AMD 5x86-133 100, 133.
       8. Kingston Turbochip 133 Adapter
          • AMD 5x86-133 100, 133.
       9. PowerLeap PL/586-133 Adapter
          • AMD 5x86-133 100, 133.
       10. Trinity Works P5x-133 Adapter
           • AMD 5x86-133 64, 80, 100, 133.
     • 169-pin Socket 1
       1. Intel OverDrive 486SXODP 25, 33, 50.
       2. Intel OverDrive 486DXODP 25, 33, 50, 66, 75, 100.
     • 238-pin Socket 2
       1. Intel OverDrive 486SXODP 25, 33, 50.
       2. Intel OverDrive 486DXODP 25, 33, 50, 66, 75, 100.
       3. Intel Pentium OverDrive 63, 83.
     • 237-pin Socket 3
       1. AMD 5x86-133 100, 133.
       2. Cyrix 5x86-133 100, 133.
       3. Intel OverDrive 486SXODP 25, 33, 50.
       4. Intel OverDrive 486DXODP 25, 33, 50, 66, 75, 100.
       5. Intel Pentium OverDrive 63, 83.
     
     
   • The variety of 486 processors is truly enormous. The generic '486' name represents processors made by AMD, Cyrix, IBM, Intel, SGS Thomson, Texas Instruments, and a few others. It's best to concentrate on a few top performers that will work in your motherboard. The motherboard manual and information from the system manufacturer can be invaluable in determining which processors are compatible. Intel has a drawing of various 486 sockets.
     
     
   • Note that there are some 486 motherboards with a surface mounted processor and no upgrade socket. There is no upgrade path at all for these beasts.
     
     
   • Surface Mounted CPU and 169-pin OverDrive Socket
     • In a motherboard that has a surface mounted CPU and a 169-pin upgrade socket, the only choices are the Intel 486 OverDrive (ODP), Trinity Works version of the 5x86, and the Evergreen 586. The Trinity Works adapter has an unusual 169^th pin which prevents the chip from being inserted incorrectly (it also has a socket extender so it will fit into 168-pin sockets). For the OverDrive, the best bet would be the 100MHz version (provided a 33MHz bus speed is available on the motherboard).
     
     
   • Original 168-pin Socket and No OverDrive Socket
     • For the 486 motherboard with the 168-pin socket and no upgrade socket, the AMD or Cyrix 5x86 chips are an excellent choice. The chips provide very good performance nearing that of a Pentium processor. But these chips are both 3.3 or 3.45 volt while the 486 Socket is 5 volt only, so an adapter would have to be used. Also, both use write-back cacheing for the L1 (on-chip) cache. This will cause problems for older motherboards (only the later versions of the Socket 3 motherboard support this feature), so write-back mode will need to be disabled. The Computer Nerd, Gainbery, and Trinity Works adapters do this automatically, but I'm not sure about the others. Note that the Cyrix 5x86 chip handles the write-back/write-through cache issue better than the AMD 5x86. The 100 and 120MHz versions of the DX4 will also run well here. Because it runs at 5 volts, a DX4 OverDrive (ODPR) would also be an option. But beware that most regular DX4 chips are 3.3 volts only.
       
       
     • The 169-pin stand alone version of this socket (Socket 1) would allow all of the above options plus the 169-pin OverDrive processors (ODP).
     
     
   • Original 168-pin Socket and 169-pin OverDrive Socket
     • For a 486 board that has an original 168-pin socket plus the 169-pin 'upgrade' socket, there are a couple more possibilities. The 169^th pin is a KEY pin to prevent an OverDrive (ODP) processor from being inserted incorrectly. These chips come in a wide variety of speeds (25 up to 100). Although upgrading with anything less than a DX4-75 is probably not worth bothering with. Going from a 486SX-33 to a 486DX2ODP-66 would show some performance gain, but not enough to justify the cost. Replacing the original processor with the AMD or Cyrix 5x86 chip is probably the best option here. Although a voltage adapter will be required for either.
     
     
   • Original 168-pin Socket and 238-pin OverDrive Socket 2
     • 486 motherboards with the 168-pin socket and a Socket 2 upgrade socket will accept all 5 volt chips, all the 5x86 chips (with voltage adapter), the OverDrives (ODP, and ODPR), plus the Pentium OverDrive for 486 (P24T). The 5x86 chips still will not be able to operate with write-back cache, but will still be slightly faster than the P24T (although not in floating point performance). Note that the P24T may require an interposer to disable write-back mode on the L1 cache.
     
     
   • Original 168-pin Socket and 237-pin OverDrive Socket 3
     • In 486 motherboards with the 168-pin socket and a Socket 3 upgrade socket, all of the listed processors are possibilities (even the low voltage versions). A jumper will allow for voltage selection. But you still need to be careful with write-back cache mode on the AMD 5x86 and Pentium OverDrive (not all motherboards support this feature). An interposer may be required to disable write-back mode on the P24T.
     
     
   • 238-pin Socket 2
     • The stand alone Socket 2 can accept all 5 volt processors. Write-back cache is still a problem, however.
     
     
   • 237-pin Socket 3
     • The stand alone Socket 3 will take all processors listed above. Although the write-back cache can still be a limiting factor since it wasn't supported on all Socket 3 motherboards. These boards will have a jumper to select 3.3/3.45 volts or 5 volts, depending on the processor. 3.3-volt processors include the AMD Enhanced DX2, Enhanced DX4, and 5x86; Cyrix's DX2, DX4, and 5x86; and Intel's DX4 and DX4WB. Some Intel DX4 chips are 5 volts, however. The Intel OverDrive processors are all 5 volt.
     
     
   • Some motherboards with an upgrade socket (169, 237, or 238 pin) have a jumper to disable the onboard processor. This feature may allow a CPU that does not have the upgrade pin (which disables the onboard processor) to work in the upgrade socket provided the correct pinout is supplied to the chip. YMMV (your mileage may vary) with this option.
     
     
   • Be careful with the voltages. Some Socket 3 motherboards can switch between 3.3/3.45 volts and 5 volts, but the others are 5-volt only. Cyrix's DX2, DX4, and 5x86 are 3.3v or 3.45v. As are AMD's Enhanced DX2, DX4, and 5x86. And Intel's DX4 chip is 3.3 volt only.
     
     
   • A BIOS upgrade may be needed for some of these upgrades, particularly with the Pentium OverDrive and Cyrix 5x86. Also, if the AMD 5x86 is recognized as a Cyrix 5x86, a BIOS upgrade is essential. AMD states that the chip will seem to work correctly, but will eventually develop stability problems.
     
     
   • 486 processors which are faster than 33MHz should have a heatsink. A heatsink and fan combination is recommended for 100MHz and faster processors.
     
     
   • Intel no longer lists the OverDrive (ODP) processor upgrades on its main OverDrive Upgrade page, and they're no longer on the server either. They listed DX4 OverDrive compatibility with selected OEM manufacturers, but deleted them when they redid their support page. {sigh}
     
     
   • Also, Intel ended production of the Pentium OverDrive for 486 (P24T) on March 31, 1998.
     
     
   • Please see the Processor Upgrades section of this FAQ for more information on the 5x86 and P24T chips.
   • This Old 486 - Computer Craft's excellent overview of upgrading a 486.
   
   
   
2. I have a 273-pin Socket 4 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
   • Socket 4 motherboards hold the original Pentium processor (the 60 and 66MHz versions). These processors run on 5 volts, and are well known for the massive amount of heat they produce. The motherboard can deliver 50, 60, and 66MHz bus speeds, and does not have a clock multiplier setting (it can't be set by jumpers on the mainboard since the CPUs only have a single internal multiplier, and no multiplier (BF) pins).
     
     
   • These motherboards can be upgraded with the Pentium OverDrive 120 and 133 chips, but may require the use of an interposer in order to function reliably.
     • Intel Pentium 60, 66
     • Intel Pentium OverDrive 120, 133.
     • Computer Nerd RA3 Adapter
       1. Cyrix/IBM 6x86 PR150+, PR166+.
       2. Intel Pentium 100, 120, 133, 150, 166.
     • Evergreen AcceleraPCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 333, 366, 400, 433, 466
     • PowerLeap PL/54C Adapter
       1. Intel Pentium 100, 120, 133, 150, 166, 200.
     • PowerLeap PL/54C-MMX Adapter
       1. AMD K6 150, 166, 180, 200, 210, 233.
       2. IDT C6 150, 180, 200.
       3. Intel Pentium 150, 166, 180, 200.
       4. Intel Pentium w/ MMX 150, 166, 180, 200, 210, 233.
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/AT ISA Adapter
       1. Most all Socket 7 chips.
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/PCI PCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 300, 333, 366, 400, 433, 466, 500, 533.
       2. Intel Pentium III 500, 550, 600.
     • Trinity Works P6x Adapter (no longer produced)
       1. AMD K5 PR133, PR166.
     
     
   • One of the best upgrades for a Socket 4 systems is to change both the motherboard and processor. Going from a Pentium-60 (with a 51 iCOMP rating) up to an inexpensive Pentium MMX-233 (203 iCOMP) or even Pentium II-233 (267 iCOMP) will provide a significant increase in speed. It might also allow for future upgrades in that same motherboard. However, there may be some compatibility snafus.
     
     
     1. The new motherboard may not fit. Many of the mass-manufactured systems from large OEMs (such as AST, Gateway, IBM, Packard Bell, etc.) used proprietary (non-standard) size motherboards and cases. In order to fit a new motherboard, the case would need to be an AT-style case (ATX wasn't around at the time the Pentium-60 and -66 systems were sold). Checking how many integrated components your motherboard has can quickly tell you if your case is non-standard. AT-style boards only have the 5-pin DIN keyboard connector integrated into the board. The other I/O connectors (serial, parallel) attach to the motherboard via cables. If these other ports are integrated, then your mainboard (and therefore your case) is non-standard and would need to be replaced with a standard AT or ATX-style case in order to fit a new board into it. You can see my ATX page as well as The PC Guide for more on the different standards. If you're unsure of what you have, you should ask the system or motherboard manufacturer. Although they may be interested in selling you a new (and usually very expensive) proprietary motherboard that will actually fit into your case. But this will cause the same upgrade dilemma sometime down the road. If at all possible, stick with standard components.
        
        
     2. Another hangup with replacing the motherboard is the old integrated video card. A lot of systems came with 'onboard video' that isn't really all that fast anymore (and wasn't even at the time it was sold). This definitely won't travel up to the new motherboard. So that would have to be replaced too, which could get a bit expensive. Also, a few Socket 4 boards had VESA local bus video cards on them. While this is a removable video card, no current motherboard carries the VLB connector.
        
        
     3. Excessive heat can also be a problem for older systems. While the Pentium-60 and -66 chips running at 14.6 watts and 16 watts, respectively, weren't exactly known as cool-running chips, the newest processors can sometimes hit upwards of 30 watts of heat dissipation. This kind of heat isn't something older system fans and cases were meant to handle. Excessive heat can be a pain the the butt; locking up the system at the most in-opportune times. Remember Murphy's Law:
        
        
        • Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will."
        • Murphy's Corollary: " ... and at the worst possible moment."
        • O'Toole's Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
     
     
   • Another upgrade possibility is to use a third-party voltage adapter. Computer Nerd, and PowerLeap make Socket 4 adapters that can fit a variety of CPUs into a Socket-4 board. You may be able to go as high as 233MHz. But unfortunately, it may not be as easy as plug-n-play. You should check on their sites for system compatibility lists as well as discussion boards on their products. A few of the incompatibility problems include:
     
     
     1. BIOS incompatibility. Using a processor with a larger, faster L1 cache may not work without getting a third-party BIOS upgrade. The BIOS' timing loop for testing CPU speed can be thrown completely off, and not allow the computer to boot. Also, the BIOS may shut off the L1 or L2 cache if it cannot properly identify the chip for 'better' compatibility with the unknown chip.
        
        
     2. Excessive amperage. Not all processors may work with a voltage adapter that draws its power from the motherboard. The newer chips run at a much lower voltage but usually draw more amperage which the mobo may not be able to handle. A voltage adapter that draws its power directly from the power supply, and not through the socket can solve this problem.
        
        
     3. As mentioned above, excessive heat in older systems can cause serious reliability concerns, and can just be a royal pain.
     
     
   • A third option is to go with the old standby: the Intel OverDrive processor. It's generally the easiest upgrade. In fact it's often plug-n-play. Although in a few systems, an interposer may be required. But the 120 and 133MHz OverDrives aren't a particularly speedy upgrade. The Pentium-60 has an iCOMP 2.0 rating of 51 while the 133MHz OverDrive is only an 84. Hardly Earth-shattering. But in the end, it may be the only upgrade available. Although be aware that Intel no longer manufactures this OverDrive, so finding one may prove difficult.
     
     
   • One other option (which may be the easiest and cheapest) is to simply change the video card. If you have an open PCI slot, even putting in an inexpensive new video card can provide more of a performance boost than upgrading the processor. While a new graphics card won't turn your Pentium-60 into a Pentium-II system, it can certainly give a much smoother, more responsive 'feel' to the computer. It will also travel up to a new motherboard when you finally decide to move up. And it can even make that 14" monitor look much better (well ... on second thought ... maybe not). ;-)
     
     
   • Intel ended production of the Pentium OverDrives 120 and 133 (P5T) on March 31, 1998.
   
   
   
3. I have a 320-pin Socket 5 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
   • Socket 5 motherboards were originally designed to handle what is now called the 'Pentium Classic' processor. These include Pentium 75 through Pentium 133. These motherboards can deliver a variety of voltages:
     • STD: 3.3v (3.135v ~ 3.465v) - Standard Voltage.
     • VR: 3.38v (3.300v ~ 3.465v) - Voltage Regulated.
     • VRE: 3.52v (3.450v ~ 3.600v) - Voltage Regulated Extended.
     
     
   • The socket has bus speeds of 50, 60, and 66MHz. There are generally only two possibilities for multipliers (1.5x and 2.0x), although a few boards may include the 2.5x and 3.0x settings. This socket type does not support the newer split voltage chips and only dissipates 15 watts of power (compared to 17 watts for Socket 7). A list of possible processors:
     • AMD K5 PR75, PR90, PR120, PR133.
     • IDT Winchip 240.
     • IDT Winchip-2 240.
     • IDT Winchip-2A 166, 200, 222, 233.
     • Intel Pentium 75, 90, 100, 120, 133.
     • Intel Pentium OverDrive 125, 150, 166.
     • Intel Pentium OverDrive with MMX technology 150, 166, 180.
     • CCT 686 Adapter
       1. AMD K5 100.
       2. AMD K6 166, 200
       3. IBM 6x86 PR166+
       4. Intel Pentium w/MMX 166, 200
     • Concept Manufacturing VA55C Adapter
       1. AMD K6 166.
       2. Cyrix/IBM 6x86L PR120+, PR150+, PR166+.
       3. Intel Pentium w/ MMX 166, 200.
     • Evergreen PR166+ Adapter
       1. Cyrix 6x86L PR166+.
     • Evergreen MxPro Adapter
       1. IDT C6 (Winchip) 180, 200.
       2. AMD K6 233.
     • Evergreen Spectra Adapter
       1. IDT C6+ (Winchip-2) 233.
       2. AMD K6-2 333, 400.
     • Evergreen AcceleraPCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 333, 366, 400, 433, 466
     • Kingston TurboChip Adapter
       1. AMD K6 200.
       2. AMD K6-2 333.
       3. AMD K6-2 366.
       4. Intel Pentium MMX 233.
     • PowerLeap PL/OD54C Adapter
       1. Intel Pentium 120, 133, 150, 166, 180, 200.
     • PowerLeap PL-ProMMX Adapter
       1. AMD K6 150, 166, 180, 200, 210, 233, 266, 300.
       2. AMD K6-2 266, 300, 333, 366, 400.
       3. Cyrix/IBM 6x86L 150, 166.
       4. Cyrix/IBM 6x86MX 166, 200, 233.
       5. Intel Pentium 150, 166, 200.
       6. Intel Pentium w/ MMX 150, 166, 175, 200, 210, 233.
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/AT ISA Adapter
       1. Most all Socket 7 chips.
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/PCI PCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 300, 333, 366, 400, 433, 466, 500, 533.
       2. Intel Pentium III 500, 550, 600.
     • Trinity Works P7x Adapter (no longer produced)
       1. AMD K5 PR133, PR166.
     
     
   • The AMD K5 chip may function in socket 5 motherboards without the use of an adapter, but the K5 processor gives off a great deal of heat which the socket may not be able to deal with effectively. So proper cooling is a must. The AMD K5 requires a 3.52v setting (VRE). A BIOS upgrade will be necessary to allow the K5 chip to function in an Intel manufactured motherboard. However the chip will always be identified as a Pentium processor, regardless of whether or not a BIOS upgrade is used. Note that the K5 PR-100 draws too many amps and dissipates too much heat to work reliably in a Socket 5 board.
     
     
   • The IDT Winchip and Winchip-2 run at either standard (3.3v) or VRE (3.52v) voltage, and can make good candidates for upgrading a Socket 5 board. But the limited multipliers on many Socket 5 boards limits the choice in chips to ones that use a 4.0x multiplier [The Winchip CPUs interpret 1.5x as 4.0x] such as 240 (60x4) and 266 (66x4). A BIOS upgrade may also be needed.
     
     
   • Like the Winchip-2, the Winchip-2A reinterprets the 1.5x and 2.0x multipliers. On the 2A, 1.5x is interpreted as 3.5x. On a 66MHz bus, this allows a 233MHz chip. The 2.0x multiplier is interpreted as an unusual 3.33x. So 166, 200, and 222MHz (50, 60, 66MHz bus, respectively) are possible with the Winchip-2A. And like it's Winchip-2 cousin, it runs on either a 3.3v or 3.5v voltage. BIOS incompatibility is usually less problematic with the Winchips than other non-Intel chips, but this varies from board to board. Sometimes the only way to know is to try it.
     
     
   • While the 6x86 chips are single voltage, be aware that the original Socket 5 motherboard specification allowed motherboards to handle only 4.33 amps at 3.3 volts and dissipate up to 15 watts of power (heat). All of the Cyrix 6x86 chips draw more power and give off more heat than the motherboards were designed for. Sticking a 6x86 into a Socket 5 board may work, but it will likely be stressing the board beyond its limits. Although it's possible that your motherboard manufacturer overdesigned their motherboards. You can contact them to determine if your board is rated to handle the Cyrix 6x86 chip.
     
     
   • Even with a voltage adapter, the PR133+ and PR200+ versions of the Cyrix/IBM 6x86L chip will not function at their rated speeds in a Socket 5 board because the motherboard cannot supply the correct bus speeds to the processors. Bus speed can not be controlled by a socket adapter. The 75MHz versions of the Cyrix/IBM 6x86MX PR166 and PR200 processors also will not function at its normal operating speed because of the lack of support for a 75MHz bus speed.
     
     
   • Even though it runs at nearly standard voltage, the 3.2v/3.3v split voltage AMD K6-233 processor will likely have heat problems with these motherboards. Even with an adapter to adjust for the voltage and multiplier settings, the chip simply pulls too much juice through the socket and gives off too much heat to operate reliably. Although there are some Socket 5 motherboards with Socket 7 specifications (17 watts power dissipation, minimum 5 amps supply), it still isn't enough for the K6-233.
     
     
   • Because of heat concerns, the 200MHz Pentium OverDrive with MMX is likely not compatible with Socket 5 motherboards (unless the motherboard was over-engineered to support Socket 7 specifications). See Socket Requirements for 200MHz OverDrive for more information.
     
     
   • Intel OverDrive processors are only compatible with Socket 5 motherboards that have the ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket (with the lever) because they will not fit into those with the 296-pin LIF socket (no lever). The OverDrive chips have 320 pins.
     
     
   • Note that some Socket 5 motherboards have a limit of 120MHz (60x2.0).
   
   
   
4. What the heck is a Socket 6 Motherboard?
   • Beats me. They were supposed to be the final upgrade option for 486-class processors. They have a 235-pin ZIF and support low voltage (3.3v and 3.45v) processors such as the Intel 486DX4-75 and 100. I don't know if any were ever produced.
   
   
   
5. I have a 321-pin Socket 7 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
   • There are actually three versions of the Socket 7 motherboard. The original socket was unable to support split voltage processors such as the 6x86L and various MMX-compatible processors. The second type of board supports various split-voltages (2.8v and 2.9v in particular) and sometimes has all three multiplier pins. The newest, called Super-7, has a full range of voltages from 2.0v up through 3.5v in 0.1v increments, all three multiplier pins, supports 100MHz bus speeds, and adds an AGP graphics slot.
     
     
   • The processors available are:
     • AMD K5 PR75, PR90, PR100, PR120, PR133, PR150, PR166, PR200.
     • AMD K6 166, 200, 233, 266, 300.
     • AMD K6-2 266, 300, 333, 350, 366, 380, 400, 450, 475, 500, 533, 550.
     • AMD K6-III 400, 450.
     • Cyrix/IBM 6x86 PR90+, PR120+, PR133+, PR150+, PR166+, PR200+.
     • Cyrix/IBM 6x86L PR120+, PR133+, PR150+, PR166+, PR200+.
     • Cyrix/IBM 6x86MX PR166, PR200, PR233, PR266.
     • Cyrix M-II 300, 333, 366, 400, 433.
     • IBM 6x86MX 300, 333.
     • IDT Winchip 180, 200, 225, 240.
     • IDT Winchip-2 225, 240.
     • IDT Winchip-2A 200, 233, 266.
     • Intel Pentium 75, 90, 100, 120, 133, 150, 166, 180, 200.
     • Intel Pentium OverDrive 125, 150, 166.
     • Intel Pentium with MMX technology 166, 200, 233.
     • Intel Pentium OverDrive with MMX technology 150, 166, 180, 200.
     • CCT 686 Adapter
       1. AMD K5 100.
       2. AMD K6 166, 200, 233
       3. IBM 6x86 PR166+
       4. Intel Pentium w/MMX 166, 200, 233
     • Computer Nerd RA5 Adapter
       1. AMD K6 166, 200, 233
       2. Cyrix/IBM 6x86L PR120+, PR133+, PR150+, PR166+, PR200+.
       3. Intel Pentium w/ MMX 166, 200, 233
     • Concept Manufacturing VA55C Adapter
       1. AMD K6 166.
       2. Cyrix/IBM 6x86L PR120+, PR133+, PR150+, PR166+, PR200+.
       3. Intel Pentium w/ MMX 166, 200, 233.
     • Evergreen PR166+ Adapter
       1. Cyrix 6x86L PR166+.
     • Evergreen MxPro Adapter
       1. IDT C6 (Winchip) 180, 200.
       2. AMD K6 233.
     • Evergreen Spectra Adapter
       1. IDT C6+ (Winchip-2) 233.
       2. AMD K6-2 333, 400.
     • Evergreen AcceleraPCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 333, 366, 400, 433, 466
     • Kingston TurboChip Adapter
       1. AMD K6 200.
       2. AMD K6-2 333.
       3. AMD K6-2 366.
       4. Intel Pentium MMX 233.
     • PowerLeap PL-ProMMX Adapter
       1. AMD K6 150, 166, 180, 200, 210, 233, 266, 300.
       2. AMD K6-2 266, 300, 333, 366, 400.
       3. Cyrix/IBM 6x86L PR120+, PR133+, PR150+, PR166+, PR200+.
       4. Cyrix/IBM 6x86MX PR166, PR200, PR233.
       5. Intel Pentium w/ MMX 150, 166, 175, 200, 210, 233.
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/AT ISA Adapter
       1. Most all Socket 7 chips.
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/PCI PCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 300, 333, 366, 400, 433, 466, 500, 533.
       2. Intel Pentium III 500, 550, 600.
     
     
   • Not all Socket 7 motherboards support the unusual 40, 55, 75, 83, and 95MHz bus speeds found in various processors.
     
     
   • The AMD K5, AMD K6, and Cyrix 6x86 processors require significant cooling to keep them stable. A large heatsink using thermal compound and a good ball bearing fan are highly recommended.
     
     
   • Many of the above processors have split (dual) voltage. For example, the Pentium with MMX requires a 2.8v/3.3v setting. The first number indicates the core voltage delivered to the processor. The second number is the I/O voltage. These processors can be damaged if placed in the older Socket 7 boards that run only on single plane voltages (either Standard 3.3 or VRE 3.5). A voltage adapter must be used.
     
     
   • Intel OverDrive processors are only compatible with Socket 7 motherboards that have the ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket (with the lever) because they will not fit into those with the 296-pin LIF socket (no lever). The OverDrive chips have 320 pins.
     
     
   • Socket 7 adds some more voltage possibilities over Socket 5. But the older Socket 7 boards will not have the split-rail (dual voltage) capability.
     • STD: 3.3v (3.135v ~ 3.465v) - Standard Voltage.
     • VR: 3.38v (3.300v ~ 3.465v) - Voltage Regulated.
     • VRE: 3.52v (3.450v ~ 3.600v) - Voltage Regulated Extended (B-step).
     • VRE: 3.5v (3.400v ~ 3.600v) - Voltage Regulated Extended (C2-step and later).
     • VRT: (2.9v_core / 3.3v_I/O) - split Voltage Reduction Technology (mobile only).
     
     
   • Newer Socket 7 motherboards have a wide variety of selectable core voltages. Some even go as low as 1.3v ranging up to 3.5v to fit various types of processors.
     
     
   • The AMD K5 processor uses some unusual multipliers to achieve its proper operating speed. When jumpered to 1.5x or 2.0x on the motherboard, the K5 interprets this setting as 1.5x. When jumpered to 2.5x on the motherboard, the K5 interprets this as 1.75x. And when jumpered to 3.0x on the motherboard, the K5 interprets this as 2.0x. Despite what is written on the motherboard or in the manual, it is the processor that actually determines what multiplier to use. The processor does not determine the voltage or bus speed settings, but it does control the multiplier. That is how the AMD 5x86-133 is able to have a jumper setting of 2.0x on the motherboard interpreted as 4.0x internally. The Intel Pentium with MMX 233 and AMD K6-233 also use this scheme to re-define the 1.5x multiplier on Socket 7 boards as 3.5x. Newer Socket 7 boards add another multiplier pin (BF2) to allow for multipliers as high as 5.5x, but it is still up to the processor to interpret the setting for itself. So, no, you can't overclock that 233MHz Pentium w/ MMX to 366MHz (66x5.5). The processor simply does not support that multiplier. See the Motherboard Multiplier Settings chart on the Processor Speeds page for more info on what multipliers are available to which processors.
     
     
   • The AMD K6-2 at speeds faster than 350MHz draws more than 10 amps at its maximum (as does the K6-III). This can be a problem for pre-Super-7 motherboards that max out at 10 amps. Contact your motherboard manufacturer for info on whether your board is rated to handle these processors.
   
   
   
6. I have a 387-pin Socket 8 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
   • Socket 8 motherboards are Intel's proprietary socket that only take the Intel Pentium Pro processor. The socket is a unique modified staggered pin grid array. The Pentium Pro is Intel's high-end server chip, so you will often see dual and even quad configurations on Socket 8 boards. The Pentium Pro is not only physically and electrically dissimilar to its Socket 7 cousins, but it also uses entirely different chipsets than the other CPUs.
     
     
   • The processors available are:
     • Intel Pentium Pro 150, 166, 180, 200.
     • Intel Pentium II OverDrive 300, 333.
     • Evergreen AcceleraPCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 333, 366, 400, 433, 466
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/AT ISA Adapter
       1. Most all Socket 7 chips.
     • PowerLeap PL-Renaissance/PCI PCI Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 300, 333, 366, 400, 433, 466, 500, 533.
       2. Intel Pentium III 500, 550, 600.
     
     
   • The 150 and 180MHz chips run on a 60MHz bus. The 166 and 200MHz chips have a 66MHz bus speed. The Pentium Pro receives either 3.1v, 3.3v, or in a few cases, 3.5 volts. In most cases, the processor will program the motherboard's voltage regulator module (VRM) to the correct voltage although older chips may not support this feature. In that case, the motherboard would need to have jumpers on the motherboard to manually set the voltage. Some motherboards can only use the VID (Voltage ID) feature to program the VRM, so chips that don't support this feature will not work in these motherboards.
     
     
   • The Pentium Pro chips come with varying L2 cache sizes.
     
     
   • Since The Pentium Pro supports dual and quad processing, problems related to different processor steppings and even the mixing of L2 cache sizes can sometimes occur. It's best to get two matched chips. Although if one was bought originally with the system and the second is an upgrade, finding a match for the older CPU can be very difficult. The best source of information about whether two or more dissimilar chips will work in a motherboard is the motherboard manufacturer. As a rule of thumb, one stepping difference is generally acceptable. Two steppings is pushing it. Note that some revisions of some operating systems may be more forgiving than others. A little more information can be found in the Mixing Steppings section on the General Info page of this FAQ.
     
     
   • The only other chip that exists for Socket 8 is Intel's Pentium II OverDrive. The OverDrive is loosely based on the Pentium II Deschutes processor. Although, unlike the current Pentium II, the chip's L2 cache is integrated onto the CPU, and runs at core speed. The OverDrive upgrades 60MHz-based systems (150MHz and 180MHz) to 300MHz (60x5.0). And 66MHz-based systems (166MHz and 200MHz) will go up to 333MHz (66x5.0). The chip has its own heatsink and fan and should be plug-and-play with most Socket 8 systems. Although a BIOS upgrade may be required. The Pentium II OverDrive is the only OverDrive chip that supports dual processing.
   
   
   
7. I have a 242-lead Slot 1 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
   • Slot 1 motherboards are a proprietary Intel design (other CPU manufacturers are prevented from designing processors for this slot). The CPUs available include:
     • Intel Pentium II 233, 266, 300 (Klamath)
     • Intel Pentium II 266, 300, 333, 350, 400, 450 (Deschutes)
     • Intel Pentium III 450, 500, 533B, 550, 600B (Katmai)
     • Intel Pentium III 533EB, 550E, 600E, 600EB, 667, 700, 733, 750, 800, 800EB, 850, 866, 933, 1.0, 1.0B, 1.13 (Coppermine)
     • Intel Celeron 266, 300 (Covington)
     • Intel Celeron 300A, 333, 366, 400, 433 (Mendocino)
     • Evergreen Performa Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 400, 500 (Mendocino)
     • New Wave Upgrades NW Slot-T Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 1.2G, 1.3G, 1.4G (Tualatin)
       2. Intel Pentium III 1.13S, 1.26S, 1.4G (Tualatin)
     • PowerLeap PL-iP3 Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 533A, 566, 600, 633, 667, 700, 733, 766, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1.0G (Coppermine-128)
       2. Intel Pentium III 500E, 533EB, 550E, 600E, 600EB, 650, 667, 700, 733, 750, 800, 800EB, 850, 866, 900, 933, 1.0, 1.0B (Coppermine)
     • PowerLeap PL-iP3/T Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 533A, 566, 600, 633, 667, 700, 733, 766, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1.0G, 1.1G (Coppermine-128)
       2. Intel Celeron 1.2G (Tualatin)
       3. Intel Pentium III 500E, 533EB, 550E, 600E, 600EB, 650, 667, 700, 733, 750, 800, 800EB, 850, 866, 900, 933, 1.0, 1.0B, 1.1, 1.13 (Coppermine)
       4. Intel Pentium III 866, 933, 1.0B, 1.13 (Coppermine-T)
       5. Intel Pentium III 1.13A, 1.2, 1.33 (Tualatin)
       6. Intel Pentium III-S 700, 1.0B, 1.13, 1.26 (Tualatin)
     
     
   • Slotket converters may also allow socketed Celeron and Coppermine chips to work in Slot 1 motherboards.
     
     
   • The Pentium II is related to the Pentium Pro but instead of having its L2 cache integrated onto the chip, it is placed on the circuit board that the chip itself is mounted to. Current Pentium II chips have a maximum of 512KB of L2 cache and the cache only runs at half the processor speed. For a full-speed cache, Slot 2 would need to be used. The Deschutes processor comes in two flavors: one for Slot 1 and one for Slot 2. Unfortunately, Slot 1 and Slot 2 processor are not compatible with each other (even though they're based on the same chip) because of physical, electrical, and chipset differences.
     
     
   • Pentium II chips are based on either a 66 or 100MHz bus speed. The 100MHz chips require a 100MHz-compatible motherboard and chipset (such as the Intel 440BX/ZX) to support them. Pentium III chips come in 100 and 133MHz flavors with the 133MHz chips requiring a 133MHz capable chipset (such as the Intel 810e or 820 or VIA Apollo Pro-133). The later releases of the Pentium II and III chip have had their multipliers limited to what the chip itself is supposed to run at (a 300MHz chip has a maximum 4.5x multiplier). If set to run at a higher multiplier, the chip reverts to 2.0x. This helps with preventing the remarking of chips, but tends to annoy overclockers. See Windwalker's page on disabled multipliers for more details. All chips currently being manufactured are clock-locked at their given multiplier; lower multipliers are no longer available.
     
     
   • The original Pentium II (Klamath) runs at 2.8 volts for most of the chip and 3.3 volts for the L2 cache pins. These chips (especially the 300MHz version) put off a tremendous amount of heat (a maximum of 43 watts for the 300MHz chip) and require serious cooling efforts. The newer Deschutes chip, on the other hand, runs at a nice cool 2.0v/3.3v, and the Katmai runs at 1.8v/3.3v. Like the Pentium Pro processor, the Pentium II uses the VID feature to program the voltage regulator module to deliver the proper voltage to the chip.
     
     
   • The Pentium Pro shares the same chipsets as the Pentium II, but is not physically compatible with the motherboards. However, some motherboard manufacturers make an adapter slot where one or two Pentium Pro chips can be installed onto the adapter and then the adapter is inserted into the slot. This adapter has its own chipset onboard and is, for the most part, only compatible with specific motherboards made by that manufacturer. An adapter from one company will not likely be compatible with the Slot 1 motherboard from another.
     
     
   • Most Pentium-II based motherboards come in the ATX form factor and require a different case and power supply from the AT-style boards.
   
   
   
8. I have a 370-pin Socket 370 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
   • Like their Slot 1 cousins, Socket 370 motherboards are a proprietary Intel design (other CPU manufacturers are prevented from designing processors for this socket (actually the P6 bus entirely)). Current chips:
     • Intel Celeron 300A, 333, 366, 400, 433, 466, 500, 533 (Mendocino)
     • Intel Celeron 533A, 566, 600, 633, 667, 700, 733, 766, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1.0G, 1.1G (Coppermine-128)
     • Intel Celeron 900A, 1.0A, 1.1A, 1.2G, 1.3G, 1.4G (Tualatin)
     • Intel Pentium III 500E, 533EB, 550E, 600E, 600EB, 650, 667, 700, 733, 750, 800, 800EB, 850, 866, 900, 933, 1.0, 1.0B, 1.1, 1.13 (Coppermine)
     • Intel Pentium III 866, 933, 1.0B, 1.13 (Coppermine-T)
     • Intel Pentium III 1.0B, 1.13A, 1.2, 1.33, 1.4 (Tualatin-256)
     • Intel Pentium III-S 700, 1.13, 1.26, 1.4 (Tualatin-512)
     • VIA Cyrix-III 533, 550, 600, 667, 700 (Samuel)
     • VIA C3 733A, 750A, 800A (Samuel 2)
     • VIA C3 800A, 850A, 866A (Ezra)
     • VIA C3 800T, 866T, 933T, 1.0T (Ezra-T)
     • New Wave Upgrades NW 370T Adapter
       1. Intel Celeron 1.2G, 1.3G, 1.4G (Tualatin)
       2. Intel Pentium III 1.13S, 1.26S, 1.4G (Tualatin)
     • PowerLeap Neo S370 Adapter
       1. Intel Pentium III 500E, 533EB, 550E, 600E, 600EB, 650, 667, 700, 733, 750, 800, 800EB, 850, 866, 933, 1.0B (Coppermine).
     
     
   • The slotted concept was originally used by Intel as a cost saving measure. The Pentium Pro chip with its two (or three) cavity design holding the core CPU and its full speed L2 cache was an expensive chip to manufacture. A slot design allowed the L2 cache to be made by third-party manufacturers and mounted separately; greatly reducing the overall cost of manufacture as well as saving a good deal of wafer space. But as chip designs shrunk into 0.25µ and 0.18µ territory, it then became cheaper to produce CPU plus cache all on the same chip die, which is what the Celeron does.
     
     
   • To further reduce the cost of their "low-end" Socket, Intel designed lesser expensive chipsets to be paired with the Celeron. Originally the 66-MHz based 440EX and later the 440ZX-66 (there's also a 100MHz version) were intended to keep the boards at a low cost and lower performance. But there are a variety of board makers that didn't follow Intel's wishes and stuck 100MHz 440BX chipsets into their Socket 370 boards. While not yet useful, the 100MHz boards may end up supporting non-Intel CPUs and eventually even Intel's initial Coppermine chips based on a 100MHz bus. It's hard keeping all those pesky motherboard makers in line. :-) And one (ABit) even went so far as to produce a dual S-370 board, a feature the Celeron chips aren't supposed to support!
     
     
   • The socketed Celeron, while having more pins, is actually the same physical size as the various Socket 7 chips and takes the same heatsink as a Socket 7 motherboard. Though it would be best to get a heatsink that was designed for the Celeron specifically or use a good one rated for the AMD K6-233 or K6-2-400. The Celerons can put off a good deal of heat. Naturally, thermal compound is also a must.
     
     
   • Some Socket 370 motherboards come in the micro-ATX form factor, a smaller version of the standard ATX.
     
     
   • While initially only intended for the low end Celeron, S-370 has ended up being used as the socket for Intel's power desktop chip: the Pentium III Coppermine. The Coppermine comes with 256KB of on-Die L2 and Intel's SSE SIMD instructions. But be careful about assuming that the Coppermine chip will automatically work in your existing Socket-370 motherboard. The Coppermine runs at 1.6 volts, requires a 100MHz bus, and even has a slightly different pinout from its Celeron cousin. Contact your motherboard manufacturer for compatibility information.
     
     
   • VIA has announced its Cyrix-III chip, based on the Samuel (aka C5, aka Winchip-4) CPU core for Socket 370 boards. The original Cyrix-III was to be based on the Cyrix Joshua core (aka Gobi, aka Jedi, aka Cayenne), but was never released.
   
   
   
9. What about Slot 2?
   • Slot 2 is Intel's server version of the Slot 1 board. Like Slot 1, it accepts the Deschutes-based Pentium II processor called the Xeon. However, Slot 2 has 330 leads connecting the chip with the socket. So a Deschutes processor that works in Slot 1 will not be physically or electrically compatible with Slot 2 motherboards. The reverse is also true.
     
     
     • Intel Pentium II Xeon 400, 450 (Drake)
     • Intel Pentium III Xeon 500, 550 (Tanner)
     • Intel Pentium III Xeon 600, 667, 700, 733, 800, 866, 900, 933, 1.0B (Cascades)
     
     
   • The Slot 2 Pentium II processors run the onboard L2 cache at full processor speed and may have larger (1MB and 2MB) L2 cache sizes than Slot 1 Pentium II chips. Slot 2 requires a different chipset (Intel 440GX or 450NX) than the Slot 1 board. If you're seriously considering spending gobs of money on a Slot 2 chip in order to get the fastest x86 chip around, you might want to think twice before investing that kind of money. Even though its L2 cache runs at full core speed, a single 400MHz Xeon processor is not significantly faster than its 400MHz Slot 1 counterpart. The performance difference isn't even in the double digits. The Xeon processor was designed for 4- and 8-way servers, not for the ultimate gaming machine or even work station.
   
   
   
10. I have a 242-lead Slot A motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Physically similar to Intel's Slot 1, Slot-A is electrically different and houses AMD's Athlon processor.
      • AMD Athlon 500, 550, 600, 650, 700 (K7)
      • AMD Athlon 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1G (K75)
      • AMD Athlon 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1G (Thunderbird)
    
    
    
11. I have a 462-pin (actually 453) Socket A motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket A is a less expensive version of AMD's Slot A platform. It takes both the Athlon and Duron processors.
      • AMD Athlon 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1.0G, 1.1G, 1.2G, 1.3G, 1.33G, 1.4G (Thunderbird)
      • AMD Athlon MP 1.0G, 1.2G, 1500+, 1600+, 1800+, 1900+, 2000+, 2100+ (Palomino)
      • AMD Athlon MP 2000+, 2200+, 2400+, 2600+ (Thoroughbred)
      • AMD Athlon MP 2800+ (Barton)
      • AMD Athlon XP 1500+, 1600+, 1700+, 1800+, 1900+, 2000+, 2100+ (Palomino)
      • AMD Athlon XP 1600+, 1700+, 1800+, 1900+, 2000+, 2100+, 2200+, 2400+, 2600+, 2700+, 2800+ (Thoroughbred)
      • AMD Athlon XP 2500+, 2600+, 2800+, 3000+, 3200+ (Barton)
      • AMD Athlon XP 2000+, 2200+, 2400+ (Thorton)
      • AMD Sempron 2200+, 2300+, 2400+, 2500+, 2600+, 2800+ (Thoroughbred)
      • AMD Sempron 2200+, 2400+, 2500+, 2600+, 2800+ (Thorton)
      • AMD Sempron 3000+ (Barton)
      • AMD Duron 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950 (Spitfire)
      • AMD Duron 1.0G, 1.1G, 1.2G, 1.3G (Morgan)
      • AMD Duron 1.4G, 1.6G, 1.8G (Applebred)
      
      
    • Socket A has a layout that allows for 462 pins, but only has 453 pin holes to prevent the accidental insertion of an Intel Pentium III Celeron chip.
      
      
    • Mobile Athlon/Duron chips have a different pinout from other Socket A chips, and so are not compatible with existing desktop systems.
    
    
    
12. I have a 423-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket 423 holds Intel's first incarnation of its Pentium 4 processor.
      • Intel Pentium 4 1.3G, 1.4G, 1.5G, 1.6G, 1.7G, 1.8G, 1.9G, 2.0G (Willamette)
      • New Wave Upgrades NW 478 Adapter
        1. Intel Celeron (Northwood-128)
        2. Intel Pentium 4 (Northwood)
      • PowerLeap P4/N
        1. Intel Celeron (Northwood-128)
        2. Intel Pentium 4 (Northwood)
      
      
    
    
    
13. I have a 478-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket 478 is a micro-PGA socket that holds Intel's Pentium 4 processor.
      • Intel Pentium 4 1.4G, 1.5G, 1.6G, 1.7G, 1.8G, 1.9G, 2.0G (Willamette)
      • Intel Pentium 4 1.6A, 1.8A, 2.0A (low-wattage Northwood)
      • Intel Pentium 4 1.6A, 1.8A, 2.0A, 2.2G, 2.26G, 2.4G, 2.4B, 2.4C, 2.5G, 2.53G, 2.6G, 2.66G, 2.8G (Northwood)
      • Intel Pentium 4 2.6C, 2.8C, 3.0C, 3.06G, 3.2C, 3.4C (Northwood-HT)
      • Intel Pentium 4 2.26A, 2.4A, 2.4E, 2.8A, 2.8E, 3.0E, 3.2E, 3.4E (Prescott)
      • Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.2G, 3.4G (Gallatin)
      • Intel Celeron 1.7G, 1.8G (Willamette)
      • Intel Celeron 1.6G, 1.8G, 2.0G, 2.1G, 2.2G, 2.3G, 2.4G, 2.5G, 2.6G, 2.7G, 2.8G (Northwood)
      • Intel Celeron D 310, 315, 320, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350 (Prescott)
      • PowerLeap P4P
        1. Intel Celeron (Prescott)
        2. Intel Pentium 4 (Prescott)
      
      
    
    
    
14. I have a 754-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket 754 holds AMD's Athlon 64 processor.
      • AMD Athlon 64 2800+, 3000+, 3200+, 3400+, 3700+ (Clawhammer)
      • AMD Athlon 64 2800+, 3000+, 3200+, 3400+ (Newcastle)
      • AMD Sempron 2600+, 2800+, 3000+, 3100+, 3300+ (Paris)
      • AMD Sempron 2500+, 2600+, 2800+, 3000+, 3100+, 3300+, 3400+ (Palermo)
      
      
    
    
    
15. I have a 940-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket 940 holds AMD's Athlon 64 FX processor (as well as the Opteron). Memory used on this socket must be buffered.
      • AMD Athlon 64 FX 51, 53 (Sledgehammer)
      
      
    
    
    
16. I have a 939-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket 939 holds AMD's Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 FX processor. Unbuffered memory can be used with this socket.
      • AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 3800+ (Newcastle)
      • AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (Sledgehammer)
      • AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
      • AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 3200+, 3500+ (Winchester)
      • AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 3200+, 3500+, 3800+ (Venice)
      • AMD Athlon 64 FX 53, 55 (Sledgehammer)
      • AMD Athlon 64 FX 57 (Sledgehammer)
      • AMD Athlon 64 FX 60, 62 (Toledo)
      • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 4200+, 4600+ (Manchester)
      • AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+, 4800+, 5000+ (Toledo)
      • AMD Sempron 3000+, 3200+, 3400+, 3500+ (Palermo)
      
      
    
    
    
17. I have a Socket AM2 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket AM2 holds AMD's Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2, and Sempron processors. This socket supports DDR2 memory (and DDR for the legacy Toledo chip). It also has 940 pins, but is not compatible with Socket 940 processors (or vice-versa).
      • AMD Athlon 64 LE-1600, LE-1620, 3000+, 3200+, 3500+, 3800+, 4000+ (Orleans)
      • AMD Athlon 64 3500+ EE, 3800+ EE (Lima)
      • AMD Athlon 64 FX 62 (Toledo)
      • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 4000+, 4200+, 4400+, 4600+, 4800+, 5000+, 5200+, 5400+, 5600+, 6000+, 6400+ (Windsor)
      • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+, 4000+, 4050e, 4200+, 4400+, 4450e, 4600+, 4800+, 4850e, 5000+, 5200+, 6000+ (Brisbane)
      • AMD Athlon X2 BE-2300, BE-2350, BE-2400 (Brisbane)
      • AMD Phenom 9500, 9600 (Agena)
      • AMD Phenom X3 8400, 8600 (Toliman)
      • AMD Phenom X4 9100e, 9150e, 9350e, 9550, 9650, 9750, 9850, 9950 (Agena)
      • AMD Business-Class Athlon 1640B (Brisbane)
      • AMD Business-Class Athlon X2 4450B, 5000B, 5200B, 5400B (Brisbane)
      • AMD Business-Class Phenom X3 8600B (Toliman)
      • AMD Business-Class Phenom X4 9600B (Agena)
      • AMD Sempron 2800+, 3000+, 3200+, 3400+, 3500+, 3600+ (Manila)
      • AMD Sempron LE-1100, LE-1150, LE-1200, LE-1250 (Sparta)
      
      
    • Phenom processors are technically compatible with Socket AM2 motherboards, but actual compatibility varies on a board-by-board basis (contact the manufacturer). Hypertransport 3.0 will not be available, however, in an AM2 board.
    
    
    
18. I have a Socket AM2+ motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket AM2+ is an update of AMD's Socket AM2. AM2+ is physically the same as AM2 while adding support for Hypertransport 3.0, and it remains backwards compatible with older CPUs. Likewise, new Phenom processors, which are natively compatible with AM2+ motherboards, are also backwards compatible with some older AM2 boards (check with the manufacturer).
      • AMD Athlon 64 LE-1600, LE-1620, 3000+, 3200+, 3500+, 3800+, 4000+ (Orleans)
      • AMD Athlon 64 3500+ EE, 3800+ EE (Lima)
      • AMD Athlon 64 FX 62 (Toledo)
      • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 4000+, 4200+, 4400+, 4600+, 4800+, 5000+, 5200+, 5400+, 5600+, 6000+, 6400+ (Windsor)
      • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+, 4000+, 4050e, 4200+, 4400+, 4450e, 4600+, 4800+, 4850e, 5000+, 5200+, 6000+ (Brisbane)
      • AMD Athlon X2 BE-2300, BE-2350, BE-2400 (Brisbane)
      • AMD Phenom 9500, 9600 (Agena)
      • AMD Phenom X3 8400, 8450, 8600, 8650, 8750 (Toliman)
      • AMD Phenom X4 9100e, 9150e, 9350e, 9550, 9650, 9750, 9850, 9950 (Agena)
      • AMD Business-Class Athlon 1640B (Brisbane)
      • AMD Business-Class Athlon X2 4450B, 5000B, 5200B, 5400B (Brisbane)
      • AMD Business-Class Phenom X3 8600B (Toliman)
      • AMD Business-Class Phenom X4 9600B (Agena)
      • AMD Sempron 2800+, 3000+, 3200+, 3400+, 3500+, 3600+ (Manila)
      • AMD Sempron LE-1100, LE-1150, LE-1200, LE-1250 (Sparta)
      
      
    
    
    
19. I have a 775-ball Socket T motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket T, a 775-ball LGA socket holds Intel's Pentium 4 processor
      • Intel Pentium 4 2.8A, 505, 515 (Prescott)
      • Intel Pentium 4 505J, 515J, 519J (Prescott w/ NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium 4 506 (Prescott w/ EM64T and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium 4 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 (Prescott w/ Jackson HT)
      • Intel Pentium 4 520J, 530J, 540J, 550J, 560J, 570J (Prescott w/ Jackson HT and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium 4 521, 531, 541, 551, 561, 571 (Prescott w/ Jackson HT, EM64T, and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium 4 3.2E, 3.4E, 3.6E (Prescott w/ EM64T)
      • Intel Pentium 4 3.2F, 3.4F, 3.6F, 3.8F (Prescott server w/ Jackson HT and EM64T)
      • Intel Pentium 4 630, 640, 650, 660, 670 (Prescott 2M w/ Jackson HT, EM64T, and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium 4 662, 672 (Prescott 2M w/ Jackson HT, EM64T, NX bit, and VT)
      • Intel Pentium 4 631, 641, 651, 661 (Cedar Mill w/ Jackson HT, EM64T, and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium D 805, 820, 830, 840 (Smithfield w/ EM64T and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium D 915, 945 (Presler w/ EM64T and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium D 920, 930, 940, 950, 960 (Presler w/ EM64T, NX bit, and VT)
      • Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.4G, 3.46G (Gallatin)
      • Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73G (Prescott 2M w/ Jackson HT, EM64T, and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840 (Smithfield w/ Jackson HT, EM64T, and NX bit)
      • Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 955, 965 (Presler w/ Jackson HT, EM64T, NX bit, and VT)
      • Intel Celeron-D 325J, 330J, 335J, 340J, 345J (Prescott w/ NX bit)
      • Intel Celeron-D 326, 331, 336, 341, 346, 351, 355 (Prescott w/ EM64T and NX bit)
      • Intel Celeron-D 347, 352, 356, 360, 365 (Cedar Mill w/ EM64T and NX bit)
      
      
    
    
    
20. I have a Socket 775 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket 775 holds Intel's Core 2 CPUs.
      • Intel Core 2 Duo E4300, E4400, E4500, E4600, E4700 (Allendale)
      • Intel Core 2 Duo E6300, E6320, E6400, E6420, E6540, E6550, E6600, E6700, E6750, E6850 (Conroe)
      • Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 (Wolfdale)
      • Intel Core 2 Duo E8190, E8200, E8300, E8400, E8500 (Wolfdale)
      • Intel Pentium E2140, E2160, E2180, E2200, E2220 (Conroe)
      • Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 (Conroe)
      • Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, Q6700 (Kentsfield)
      • Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700, QX6800, QX6850 (Kentsfield)
      • Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300, Q9450, Q9550 (Yorkfield)
      • Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, QX9770 (Yorkfield)
      • Intel Celeron-D 420, 430, 440 (Conroe-L)
      • Intel Celeron E1200 (Conroe)
      
      
    • While Socket 775 is derived from Intel's 775-ball Socket T and shares the same physical layout, Socket 775 has a slightly different pinout arrangement, so not all existing boards may accept the new 775-ball Core 2 processor.
    
    
    
21. I have a Socket 771 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
    • Socket 771 holds various Intel Xeons (not shown here), as well as select Core 2 chips.
      • Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (Harpertown)