AMD Duron 900 socket: Socket 462

What the Duron 900 is

The AMD Duron 900 is a 900 MHz single-core desktop processor from April 2001. It runs one K7 Spitfire core at 900 MHz with no turbo, so 1 core gives 1 thread. Cache is 64 KB of L2 on a 180 nm process. Power is rated at 39.5 W in a Socket 462 package with part number D900AUT1B on a 200 MT/s front side bus with a 9x multiplier at 1.60 V. The cpu_list 40 W and April 2001 values match the table 39.5 W and April 2, 2001 after rounding, and the table values are used here.

Spitfire Model 3 runs cache at reduced speed against Thunderbird full-speed cache, which is why Duron 900 parts trail Athlon 900 parts at the same 900 MHz despite sharing frequency. AMD sold the 900 at 129 dollars in April 2001. The chip supports MMX and Enhanced 3DNow without SSE, which separates Spitfire Duron parts from Morgan Duron parts with SSE at similar clocks.

Small cache with a slow bus defines the budget Duron trade. The 200 MT/s link with 64 KB suits office tasks while keeping die cost low. That is why the 900 shipped in value towers with SDRAM memory and integrated graphics.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Duron 900 fits Socket 462 value desktops with a 200 MT/s bus and Spitfire support. It needs Model 3 microcode. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers pairing rules.

Budget SDRAM towers are the natural match. Boards listing Spitfire Duron 900 accept the chip with a 39.5 W cooler.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is SDRAM or DDR through the board chipset, matched to the 200 MT/s bus. The CPU has no controller.

A 200 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 39.5 W heatsink.

Upgrade paths

On Socket 462 the steps are Duron 950 Spitfire parts at 950 MHz. Morgan Duron 900 parts offer SSE as a larger lift at the same clocks. Athlon Thunderbird parts add cache as successors. The 900 lifts with the lever, so swaps need no solder work.