AMD Opteron 142 socket: Socket 940

What the Opteron 142 is

The AMD Opteron 142 is a 1.6 GHz single-core server processor from May 2004. It runs one K8 core at 1.6 GHz with no turbo, so 1 core gives 1 thread. Cache is 1 MB of L2 on a 130 nm process. Power is rated at 82 W in a Socket 940 package with part number OSA142CEP5AT in the CG stepping.

The 142 steps above the 1.4 GHz 140 with the same 1 MB cache and 82 W envelope, using a 200 MHz system clock with an 8x multiplier at 1.50 V and an 800 MHz HyperTransport link. AMD listed the CG revision at 178 dollars in May 2004, against 292 dollars for the earlier B3 revision in June 2003. The chip supports MMX, SSE, SSE2, Enhanced 3DNow, NX bit and AMD64 with registered PC3200 DDR on CG parts. Early B3 parts top out at PC2700.

Model spacing shows the SledgeHammer cadence. Each 200 MHz lift from 140 to 142 to 144 keeps cache and power flat, so buyers paid for clocks alone. That flat power is why a board qualified for the 140 normally accepts the 142 with the same heatsink and airflow.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Opteron 142 fits Socket 940 single-processor server boards with registered DDR memory and SledgeHammer 100 series BIOS support. It needs a 940-pin server board, not a Socket 939 desktop board. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers pairing rules.

Single-socket entry servers are the natural match. Boards listing the 140 normally accept the 142 with no cooling change, since both sit at 82 W. Dual-processor designs need 200 series parts such as the 242 at the same 1.6 GHz, even though clocks match. Unlisted boards may boot yet misreport power without the right BIOS.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is registered DDR with ECC through the on-chip controller. CG parts reach PC3200, early parts reach PC2700. Only registered modules boot on Socket 940 server boards.

HyperTransport at 800 MHz connects the CPU to the server chipset, while PCIe or PCI-X slots hang off the chipset. No PCIe lanes originate on the die. Cooling uses vendor qualified 82 W server heatsinks with front to back rack airflow. Paste condition and fan control decide stability under sustained load. DDR2 needs Socket F with a new board.

Upgrade paths

On Socket 940 the steps are the Opteron 144 at 1.8 GHz and the 146 at 2.0 GHz with the same cache and power for single-socket boards. The 140 EE at 30 W suits dense racks trading clocks for power. Venus 100 series 90 nm parts offer SSE3 successors where listed. A move to Socket F needs DDR2 boards. The 142 lifts with the lever, so swaps need no solder work.