CPU socket question

[The Seabat]

Howdy:

I'm gearing up to build another computer and was just wondering. What
are the differences or advantages/dis-advantages to all the differenct
socket types out there? Is one better than another? Faster? Stabler?
If there is no one socket with an advantage why wouldn't they
standardize them? Would make life a whole lot simpler!

 

[jqoutlaw]

Good question, but we need a little bit more information. Are you going
AMD or Intel?

I'll speak for AMD because my most recent experience is with it. You'll
see Socket 754, 939, and AM2.

754 - 754 pin
939 - 939 pin
AM2 - uses DDR2 memory.

754 is the oldest and AM2 the newest with 939 inbetween.

754 is basically gone and 939 is being phased out. AM2 is in the
beginning stages of the product life cycle.

As far as standardization, new technology and innovations equates to
new standards. You will always have the innovators who have to have the
newestest technology and will pay a hefty price.

I don't believe that AMD and Intel will ever use the same sockets,
although it would make sense to share the R&D.

 

[Cuzman]

The Seabat wrote:

" I'm gearing up to build another computer and was just wondering. What
are the differences or advantages/dis-advantages to all the differenct
socket types out there? Is one better than another? Faster? Stabler? If
there is no one socket with an advantage why wouldn't they standardize
them? Would make life a whole lot simpler! "


As processor technology advances, they generally need more pins to cope
with the implementations of each new speed phase. They also need newly
developed motherboard chipsets to support the new processor
technologies. You can't just settle on one socket format and expect it
to last forever, as you will always hit both design and thermal
limitations at some point.

The newest socket on the block is AMD's AM2 which has 940 pins, one more
pin than their last socket (but the same number as their past server
motherboards). If you wanted something to last the longest you might
wish to start with an AM2 processor you can afford, and then hope to
upgrade the processor later. However, you will also need to buy new
DDR2 RAM to go with an AM2 motherboard.

With equivalent CPUs AM2 is barely any faster than 939.
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=30290 The FX series
aside, the fastest dual-core 939 CPU is the X2 4800+. The reality is
that, unless you go for an faster AM2 CPU than the 939 X2 4800+, all you
are doing is paying a bit more money for a newer motherboard and DDR2.
However, by the time you come to upgrade the CPU AMD will probably have
a new socket on the horizon anyway, and will probably have implemented
DDR3 for all the CPUs which give any significant boost over the CPU
which you are upgrading from. You would then need a new motherboard and
RAM to go with that new CPU all over again.