AMD FX-6100 socket: AM3+

What the FX-6100 is

AMD FX-6100 is a six core Zambezi processor that AMD released in October 2011 for socketed desktops. It uses the Bulldozer core design on a 32 nm process, running at 3.3 GHz base with Turbo Core to 3.9 GHz. The chip holds three Bulldozer modules with six threads, 6 MB of L2 with 2 MB per module, and 8 MB of shared L3. Power is 95 W. All FX parts ship unlocked. The retail box carries part number FD6100WMW6KGU. The Orochi die holds about 1.6 billion transistors on 319 mm², with 16 KB of L1 data per core plus 64 KB of L1 instructions per module. The unlocked multiplier spans 4x to 19.5x on a 200 MHz reference clock.

Three modules with a tall 600 MHz turbo range cover threaded home work and games of the period. Half loaded bursts reach 3.9 GHz while full loads sit lower. The 600 MHz turbo span is the widest in the six core range for single thread bursts. The unlocked multiplier invites tuning on 990FX boards with strong delivery.

Towers pair it with 970, 990X or 990FX boards, 8 GB of DDR3 and a discrete card. Six threads at 95 W suit multitasking without the heat of eight core parts. The three module layout shares floating point units per module, which suits integer heavy office threads. The 3.9 GHz maximum turbo leads the six core range for single thread bursts. The LGA, PGA and BGA: CPU package types explained guide places this PGA desktop part against BGA mobile forms.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The FX-6100 drops into AM3+ on 9 series boards. The 942-pin socket accepts 940-pin AM3+ chips and 938-pin AM3 chips, while AM3+ chips never fit AM3 boards. On AM3+ boards only DDR3 works, since no AM3+ board wires DDR2 slots. The maker CPU list decides each board BIOS.

Power at 95 W suits standard tower boards with a full size cooler. The 970 chipset covers single card builds while 990FX suits two card rigs. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers AMD pairing rules.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is DDR3 up to 1866 MT/s, two channels, up to four DIMMs. Two matched modules feed six threads. HyperTransport 3.0 links tie the CPU to the chipset at up to 5200 MT/s. The SB950 Southbridge adds SATA and USB around the CPU. The SB950 Southbridge adds SATA and USB.

PCI Express slots come from the 9 series chipset with PCIe 2.0. A mainstream card of the era pairs without waste.

Cooling follows the 95 W rating with a stock heatsink or tower cooler. Tuning through the unlocked multiplier wants extra headroom.

Upgrade paths

On Socket AM3+ the FX-6100 can move to eight core Zambezi or Vishera parts on the same board. Memory, storage and the graphics card carry over. An eight core step is the FX-8100 class on the same socket. Vishera six core parts add efficiency on the same DDR3 DIMMs where the BIOS lists them.

A platform move to DDR4 sockets needs a new board and RAM. Keep the AM3+ tower for tuned duty.