Intel Atom P5931B socket: BGA 2106
The Intel Atom P5931B uses the BGA 2106 package, soldered with 2106 balls. It is a 12-core Snow Ridge network processor at a fixed 2.2 GHz, and the soldered chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 2106
- Launched
- March 2020
- Cores and threads
- 12 and 12
- Base power
- n/a
- Codename
- Snow Ridge
- Segment
- Embedded
- Family
- Intel Atom
- Clocks
- 2.2 / 2.2 GHz
Intel Atom P5931B specifications
| Cores | 12 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 12 |
| Core architecture | Tremont (Snow Ridge) |
| Clocks | 2.2 GHz fixed (no boost) |
| Cache | 13.5 MB L2, no L3 |
| Manufacturing process | 10 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s with ECC, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 32 lanes (16x PCIe 3.0 plus 16x PCIe 2.0) |
| Integrated graphics | None (board management graphics where present) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Supported, DDR4 ECC |
| Package | BGA2106 soldered, 47.5 × 47.5 mm |
| Cooler in the box | None (board heatsink) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Atom P5931B needs a motherboard with a BGA 2106 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 2106 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 2106 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 2,106 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 47.5 × 47.5 mm |
| Introduced | 2020 |
| Memory | DDR4 with ECC, 2 channels, up to 256 GB (2400 or 2933 MT/s by SKU) |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Atom P5931B is
The Atom P5931B is a 12-core network processor that Intel listed in the first quarter of 2020 with the Snow Ridge P5000 range for base transceiver stations. Its Tremont cores run a fixed 2.2 GHz without boost across 12 threads with no Hyper-Threading. Cache is 13.5 MB of L2 with no L3, and the 10 nm process suits small cell workloads.
The chip targets compact appliances that need a dozen cores with full accelerators at lower power than 16-core parts. Fixed clocks keep radio timing steady, since no turbo table shifts behavior under load. The BGA2106 package solders to the board with 2106 balls in a 47.5 by 47.5 mm flip chip, so there is no socket retention.
QuickAssist accelerates crypto and compression inline, while USB, SATA and UART cover board management. The multiplier is locked. The 85 C maximum with minus 40 C minimum suits rooftop units as well as indoor closets.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The P5931B fits BGA 2106 only. The chip solders to the network board, so there is no socket retention and no later processor upgrade. Board support is fixed to the BGA2106 platform with DDR4 ECC memory and a SKU matched lane layout.
Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete appliances rather than separate parts. A buyer who needs more cores in the same footprint steps to the Intel Atom P5942B with 16 cores. A buyer who needs fewer cores looks at the Intel Atom P5921B with 8 cores.
The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains why embedded compatibility lives in board design files rather than a CPU support list. For service, a failed processor means a board replacement through the vendor.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s across two channels to 128 GB with ECC. Population follows the board layout with DIMM or soldered memory per appliance design. Twelve cores share the channels with room for buffers and virtual functions.
The SoC provides 32 PCIe lanes as 16 Gen3 plus 16 Gen2 for NICs, NVMe and storage controllers. Boards split the lanes across Ethernet ports and drives, with the exact split fixed per design. Cooler mounting uses no desktop pattern. Cooling follows the appliance thermal design with a board heatsink and chassis airflow.
Twelve cores without Hyper-Threading suit steady small cell loads. Each core keeps its own L2 slice from the shared 13.5 MB pool, which keeps jitter low under traffic. QuickAssist offload matters more than headline clocks for IPsec heavy templates.
Upgrade paths
On the same BGA2106 footprint there is no CPU upgrade path, since the chip is soldered. Owners who need different density move to another BGA2106 board with a P sibling rather than a chip swap. Radio count and memory size remain the practical choices.
Within Snow Ridge P, the step up is the Intel Atom P5942B for 16 cores, while the step down is the Intel Atom P5921B for 8 cores with a single memory channel. All four share 2.2 GHz fixed clocks and BGA2106, so the choice is core count and channels rather than speed.
Moving past BGA2106 entirely means a new board on Xeon D or Xeon Scalable with more lanes and channels. For buyers choosing in 2020, the P5931B suited 12-core small cells, while larger parts asked more power for density. The range shares Snow Ridge and 10 nm, but each SKU ships soldered to its own board.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Atom P5931B use?
It uses BGA 2106, soldered with 2106 balls. The chip cannot be removed, so an upgrade means replacing the board.
What memory does the P5931B support?
DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s with ECC in two channels to 128 GB. Population follows the board layout per appliance design.
Can the P5931B boost above 2.2 GHz?
No. The chip runs a fixed 2.2 GHz without turbo or Hyper-Threading. Deterministic clocks suit radio templates.
How does the P5931B differ from the P5942B?
The P5931B has 12 cores with 13.5 MB L2, while the Intel Atom P5942B has 16 cores with 18 MB L2. Both share 2.2 GHz fixed clocks and BGA2106.
Sources and verification
- Intel Atom Processor P5931B specifications (Intel ARK)
- List of Intel Atom processors - Snow Ridge (Wikipedia)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .