Socket 940 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
Socket 940 is the AMD pin grid array socket for 64-bit Opteron server processors and early Athlon 64 FX parts. It holds 940 contacts for OPGA packages measuring 40 × 40 mm. AMD built it around a DDR controller with registered memory only, succeeding Socket A for servers, with Socket F as the DDR2 successor.
Quick facts
| Maker | AMD |
|---|---|
| Package type | PGA |
| Contacts | 940 |
| Package size | 40 × 40 mm |
| Introduced | 2003 |
| Status | Legacy |
| Memory | Registered DDR, through the on-chip controller |
| PCIe from the CPU | HyperTransport 1000 MT/s to the chipset; PCIe slots hang off the board chipset |
| Cooler mounting holes | Board specific (server heatsink) |
| Replaces | Socket A |
| Replaced by | Socket F |
Overview
The socket matters for this batch because Athens single-core parts such as the 3 GHz 856 with 1 MB of L2 cache at 92.6 W use Socket 940 eight-processor boards. Italy dual-core 200 series parts such as the 2.2 GHz 275 HE at 55 W and Egypt 800 series parts such as the 2.2 GHz 875 HE at 55 W also use Socket 940 server boards with registered DDR slots.
Memory is registered DDR only through the on-chip controller. Cooling uses server vendor heatsinks for the exact chassis, so a processor swap stays within the thermal design the board was qualified for.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | Opteron 800 Athens | 2004 to 2006 | 90 nm single-core 800 series parts with 1 MB of L2 cache, including the 3 GHz 856 at 92.6 W from April 2006. |
| Italy | Opteron 200 Italy | 2005 to 2007 | 90 nm dual-core 200 series parts with 1 MB per core, including the 2.2 GHz 275 HE at 55 W from February 2006 and the 2.6 GHz 285 at 95 W from March 2006. |
| Egypt | Opteron 800 Egypt | 2005 to 2007 | 90 nm dual-core 800 series parts with 1 MB per core, including the 2.2 GHz 875 HE at 55 W from February 2006 and the 2.6 GHz 885 at 95 W from March 2006. |
| Venus | Opteron 100 Venus | 2004 to 2005 | 90 nm single-core 100 series parts with 1 MB of L2 cache for single-processor servers, including the 2 GHz 146 at 67 W. |
| Troy | Opteron 200 Troy | 2004 to 2005 | 90 nm single-core 200 series parts with 1 MB of L2 cache for dual-processor servers, from the 2 GHz 55 W 246 HE to the 2.8 GHz 92 W 254. |
| SledgeHammer | Athlon 64 FX SledgeHammer | 2003 to 2004 | 130 nm single cores with 1 MB of L2 cache, including the 2.2 GHz FX-51 at 89 W from September 2003 and the 2.4 GHz FX-53 at 89 W from March 2004 for Socket 940 desktops and workstations. |
Who Socket 940 serves
Socket 940 fits registered DDR servers that pair an Athens, Italy or Egypt Opteron with a board that lists the exact model. The Italy 275 HE and Egypt 875 HE at 55 W suit dense racks, while the 285 and 885 at 2.6 GHz suit performance nodes at 95 W. Every installation needs the server maker CPU list because multiprocessor support is board specific.
Memory and cooling
Memory on Socket 940 is registered DDR only through the on-chip controller. Unbuffered desktop modules do not fit server boards. Expansion hangs off the board chipset because these CPUs provide no PCIe lanes. Cooling uses the server vendor heatsink for the exact TDP, from 55 W HE parts to 95 W standard parts.
CPUs on Socket 940
53 processor pages in the database, newest first.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base / boost | TDP | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Opteron X2 290 | 2 / 2 | 2.8 GHz | 95 W | 2007 |
| AMD Opteron X2 890 | 2 / 2 | 2.8 GHz | 95 W | 2007 |
| AMD Opteron 856 | 1 / 1 | 3.0 GHz | 92 W | Apr 2006 |
| AMD Opteron X2 285 | 2 / 2 | 2.6 GHz | 95 W | Mar 2006 |
| AMD Opteron X2 885 | 2 / 2 | 2.6 GHz | 95 W | Mar 2006 |
| AMD Opteron X2 275 HE | 2 / 2 | 2.2 GHz | 55 W | Feb 2006 |
| AMD Opteron X2 875 HE | 2 / 2 | 2.2 GHz | 55 W | Feb 2006 |
| AMD Opteron X2 270 HE | 2 / 2 | 2.0 GHz | 55 W | Dec 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 870 HE | 2 / 2 | 2.0 GHz | 55 W | Dec 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 280 | 2 / 2 | 2.4 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 865 | 2 / 2 | 1.8 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 870 | 2 / 2 | 2.0 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 875 | 2 / 2 | 2.2 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 880 | 2 / 2 | 2.4 GHz | 95 W | Sep 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 146 | 1 / 1 | 2.0 GHz | 67 W | Aug 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 254 | 1 / 1 | 2.8 GHz | 92 W | Aug 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 854 | 1 / 1 | 2.8 GHz | 92 W | Aug 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 260 HE | 2 / 2 | 1.6 GHz | 55 W | Aug 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 265 HE | 2 / 2 | 1.8 GHz | 55 W | Aug 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 860 HE | 2 / 2 | 1.6 GHz | 55 W | Aug 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 865 HE | 2 / 2 | 1.8 GHz | 55 W | Aug 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 265 | 2 / 2 | 1.8 GHz | 95 W | May 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 270 | 2 / 2 | 2.0 GHz | 95 W | May 2005 |
| AMD Opteron X2 275 | 2 / 2 | 2.2 GHz | 95 W | May 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 246 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.0 GHz | 55 W | Mar 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 248 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.2 GHz | 55 W | Mar 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 250 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.4 GHz | 55 W | Mar 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 846 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.0 GHz | 55 W | Mar 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 848 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.2 GHz | 55 W | Mar 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 850 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.4 GHz | 55 W | Mar 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 252 | 1 / 1 | 2.6 GHz | 92 W | Feb 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 852 | 1 / 1 | 2.6 GHz | 92 W | Feb 2005 |
| AMD Opteron 148 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.2 GHz | 55 W | Dec 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 246 | 1 / 1 | 2.0 GHz | 85 W | Dec 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 846 | 1 / 1 | 2.0 GHz | 85 W | Dec 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 140 | 1 / 1 | 1.4 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 142 | 1 / 1 | 1.6 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 240 | 1 / 1 | 1.4 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 242 | 1 / 1 | 1.6 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 244 | 1 / 1 | 1.8 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 248 | 1 / 1 | 2.2 GHz | 89 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 250 | 1 / 1 | 2.4 GHz | 89 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 840 | 1 / 1 | 1.4 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 840 EE | 1 / 1 | 1.4 GHz | 30 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 842 | 1 / 1 | 1.6 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 844 | 1 / 1 | 1.8 GHz | 82 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 848 | 1 / 1 | 2.2 GHz | 89 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 850 | 1 / 1 | 2.4 GHz | 89 W | May 2004 |
| AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 | 1 / 1 | 2.4 GHz | 89 W | Mar 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 140 EE | 1 / 1 | 1.4 GHz | 30 W | Feb 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 146 HE | 1 / 1 | 2.0 GHz | 55 W | Feb 2004 |
| AMD Opteron 240 EE | 1 / 1 | 1.4 GHz | 30 W | Feb 2004 |
| AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 | 1 / 1 | 2.2 GHz | 89 W | Sep 2003 |
Frequently asked questions
Which processors fit Socket 940?
Athens single-core 800 series parts such as the 3 GHz 856 at 92.6 W, Italy dual-core 200 series parts such as the 2.2 GHz 275 HE at 55 W and the 2.6 GHz 285 at 95 W, plus Egypt dual-core 800 series parts such as the 2.2 GHz 875 HE at 55 W and the 2.6 GHz 885 at 95 W covered here.
Is Socket 940 the same as Socket AM2?
No. Socket 940 has 940 pins with a DDR controller and registered memory only, while Socket AM2 also has 940 pins with a DDR2 controller. Forcing a chip can damage the board.
What memory does Socket 940 use?
Registered DDR memory through the on-chip controller. Only registered modules fit server boards.
How many PCIe lanes does Socket 940 provide?
No lanes come from these CPUs in the PCIe sense. A 1000 MT/s HyperTransport link ties the CPU to the board chipset, while PCIe slots hang off the chipset.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .