AMD Athlon XP 2500+ socket: Socket 462

What the Athlon XP 2500+ is

The AMD Athlon XP 2500+ is a 1833 MHz single-core desktop processor from February 2003. It runs one K7 Barton core at 1833 MHz with no turbo, so 1 core gives 1 thread. Cache is 512 KB of L2 on a 130 nm process. Power is rated at 68.3 W in a Socket 462 package with part number AXDA2500DKV4D on a 333 MT/s front side bus with an 11x multiplier at 1.65 V. The cpu_list 68 W value matches the table 68.3 W after rounding, and the table value is used here.

Barton doubles Thoroughbred cache from 256 KB to 512 KB at the same 130 nm base, which is why Barton 2500+ parts at 1833 MHz outperform Thoroughbred 2600+ parts at 2133 MHz in cache sensitive tasks despite lower clocks. AMD placed the 2500+ as the entry Barton in February 2003 with the 2800+ and 3000+ above it. The chip supports MMX, Extended MMX, SSE, 3DNow and Enhanced 3DNow. OEM 2500+ variants at 1867 MHz on a 266 MT/s bus and 1800 MHz on a 400 MT/s bus share the number with different bus tuning, so part numbers separate the retail 333 MT/s version covered here.

Cache per clock made the 2500+ a value favorite. The 512 KB L2 keeps more working data on die than 256 KB Thorton parts at higher frequency, which shows in games and encoding. That is why the 2500+ remained a common Socket 462 upgrade long after faster Barton parts launched.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Athlon XP 2500+ Barton fits Socket 462 DDR boards with a 333 MT/s bus and Barton BIOS support. It needs DDR slots with 333 MT/s chipset paths and Model 10 microcode. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers pairing rules.

Mainstream DDR towers with 333 MT/s chipsets are the natural match. Boards listing Barton 2500+ accept the chip with a 68.3 W cooler. Older 266 MT/s boards need a BIOS check for 333 MT/s Barton operation. OEM bus variants need their own board paths.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is DDR through the board chipset in a single channel, matched to the 333 MT/s bus. The CPU has no controller.

A 333 MT/s bus ties the CPU to the chipset, while AGP and PCI hang off the chipset. No PCIe lanes originate on the die. Cooling uses the socket lug clip with a 68.3 W heatsink. Fresh paste and normal airflow suit the envelope.

Upgrade paths

On Socket 462 the steps are the Athlon XP 2600+ Barton at 1917 MHz and the 2800+ at 2083 MHz with the same 512 KB cache. Thorton 2400+ parts at 2000 MHz offer similar clocks with half the cache. Beyond Socket 462 a move to Socket 754 needs a new board. The 2500+ lifts with the lever, so swaps need no solder work.