Intel Atom Z2560 socket: BGA 617

What the Atom Z2560 is

Intel Atom Z2560 is a dual core Clover Trail Plus phone and tablet SoC that Intel launched in February 2013 at Mobile World Congress. It uses the Saltwell core design on a 32 nm process, running at 1.6 GHz with Hyper-Threading for 4 threads. The cache is 1 MB L2 (512 KB per core). Power is 3 W for the whole SoC. Graphics come from PowerVR SGX544MP2 (400 MHz).

The two Saltwell cores each carry Hyper-Threading, so threads double cores at 4. Saltwell is an in order design with Burst Technology that lifts short clocks for touch response. The SoC integrates a dual channel LPDDR2 controller, PowerVR graphics and phone I/O on die, which suits small bodies with soldered memory. It is a 32 bit design, so modern 64 bit app support is the binding limit.

At 3 W the Atom Z2560 belongs to the Atom Z2500 Clover Trail Plus group. The 1.6 GHz rating suits calls, messaging, reading and video on small displays with passive cooling. Devices pair it with eMMC storage and soldered LPDDR2. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows how to confirm the package before ordering parts.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Atom Z2560 solders to BGA 617 with 617 balls in a 14 by 14 mm footprint and cannot be moved to another board. Phone and tablet makers qualify each model with a specific board and Android build, so even another Clover Trail Plus part is not a drop in upgrade. Boards follow phone layouts with soldered storage and memory throughout.

Firmware decides service results more than speed. The board build must list the exact Atom Z2560 string, and Android support stays on older branches for this 32 bit family. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide notes that soldered phone parts have no desktop mount pattern. Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works covers Intel pairing basics.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is lpddr2-1066, two channels, up to 2 gb, soldered next to the SoC. The dual channel layout feeds the PowerVR graphics block that shares system RAM. Capacity locks at purchase, with 1 GB common on phones and 2 GB on larger tablets.

I/O is on device rather than PCIe slots. Storage, wireless, cameras, sensors and touch controllers follow the device wiring, so the maker spec sheet is the final word on ports. USB and display output vary by model, and there is no graphics card slot to consider.

Cooling uses the phone or tablet chassis, fully passive at 3 W. There is no fan curve to adjust and no retail heatsink to fit. Sustained speed follows case temperature, so a warm pocket throttles sooner than a cool desk.

Upgrade paths

There is no CPU upgrade path on soldered BGA 617. The Atom Z2560 cannot be removed, so a faster Clover Trail Plus part means a new board or a new device. Within the family the Z2520, Z2560 and Z2580 differ mainly in rated clocks, which rarely justifies a board hunt on a 32 bit Android branch.

A platform move means a new phone or tablet. Current devices use 64 bit SoCs with LPDDR4 or newer memory and current OS support, which no BGA 617 board can reach. Batteries and displays age with the board as well, so a whole device replacement usually beats a board swap. Recycle the old device through a proper e waste path once data is wiped.