Sempron

Sempron
Produced July 2004 – Current
Common manufacturer(s)
  • AMD
Max. CPU clock rate 1.0 GHz to 2.9 GHz
FSB speeds 166 MHz to 2700 MHz
Instruction set x86, AMD64
Socket(s)
Core name(s)
  • Thoroughbred-B/Thorton
  • Barton
  • Paris
  • Palermo
  • Manila
  • Sparta
  • Brisbane

Sempron has been the marketing name used by AMD for several different budget desktop CPUs, using several different technologies and CPU socket formats. The Sempron replaced the AMD Duron processor and competes against Intel's Celeron series of processors. AMD coined the name from the Latin semper, which means "always", to suggest the Sempron is suitable for "daily use, practical, and part of everyday life".[1]

Contents

History and features

The first Sempron CPUs were based on the Athlon XP architecture using the Thoroughbred or Thorton core. These models were equipped with the Socket A interface, 256 KiB L2 cache and 166 MHz Front side bus (FSB 333). Thoroughbred cores natively had 256 KiB L2 cache, but Thortons had 512 KiB L2 cache, half of which was disabled and could sometimes be reactivated with a slight physical modification to the chip. Later, AMD introduced the Sempron 3000+ CPU, based on the Barton core with 512 KiB L2 cache. From a hardware and user standpoint, the Socket A Sempron CPUs were essentially identical to Athlon XP desktop CPUs with a new brand name. AMD has ceased production of all Socket A Sempron CPUs.

The second generation (Paris/Palermo core) was based on the architecture of the Socket 754 Athlon 64. Some differences from Athlon 64 processors include a reduced cache size (either 128 or 256 KiB L2), and the absence of AMD64 support in earlier models. Apart from these differences, the Socket 754 Sempron CPUs share most features with the more powerful Athlon 64, including an integrated (on-die) memory controller, the HyperTransport link, and AMD's "NX bit" feature.

In the second half of 2005, AMD added 64-bit support (AMD64) to the Sempron line. Some journalists (but not AMD) often refer to this revision of chips as "Sempron 64" to distinguish it from the previous revision. AMD's intent in releasing 64-bit entry-level processors was to extend the market for 64-bit processors, which at the time of Sempron 64's first release, was a niche market.

In 2006, AMD announced the Socket AM2 and Socket S1 line of Sempron processors. These are functionally equivalent to the previous generation, except they have a dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM memory controller which replaces the single-channel DDR SDRAM version. The TDP of the standard version remains at 62 W (watts), while the new "Energy Efficient Small Form Factor" version has a reduced 35 W TDP. The Socket AM2 version also does not require a minimum voltage of 1.1 volts to operate, whereas all socket 754 Semprons with Cool'n'Quiet did. In 2006, AMD was selling both Socket 754 and Socket AM2 Sempron CPUs concurrently. In the middle of 2007 AMD appears to have dropped the 754 line and is shipping AM2 and S1 Semprons.

AMD Sempron processor family
Logo Desktop Logo Laptop
Code-named Core Date released Code-named Core Date released
Thoroughbred
Thorton
Barton
Paris
Palermo
Manila		 130 nm
130 nm
130 nm
130 nm
90 nm
90 nm		 Jul 2004
Aug 2004
Sep 2004
Jul 2004
Aug 2004
May 2006		 Dublin
Georgetown
Sonora
Albany
Roma
Keene		 130 nm
130 nm
90 nm
90 nm
90 nm
90 nm		 Jul 2004
May 2005
Nov 2004
Jul 2005
Jul 2005
May 2006
Sparta
Brisbane
Sargas		 65 nm
65 nm
45 nm		 Aug 2007
Mar 2008
July 2009		 Sherman
Sable
Huron		 65 nm
65 nm
65 nm
 May 2007
Jun 2008
Jan 2009
List of AMD Sempron microprocessors

Models for Socket A (Socket 462)

Thoroughbred B/Thorton (130 nm)

Barton (130 nm)

Models for Socket 754

Paris (130 nm SOI)

Palermo (90 nm SOI)

Models for Socket 939

Palermo (90 nm SOI)

Models for Socket AM2

Manila (90 nm SOI)

Sparta (65 nm SOI)

Brisbane (65 nm SOI)

Models for Socket AM3

Sargas (45 nm SOI)

Models for Socket S1 (638)

Keene (90 nm SOI)

Sable (65 nm SOI)

Models for ASB1 package (BGA)

Huron (65 nm SOI)

Socket 754 32-bit Semprons

Max P-State Model Manufacturing Process Part Number(OPN)
1600 MHz 2600+ 0.09 micrometre SDA2600AIO2BA(some parts are 64-bit)
1600 MHz 2800+ 0.09 micrometre SDA2800AIO3BA
1800 MHz 3000+ 0.13 micrometre SDA3000AIP2AX
1800 MHz 3100+ 0.13 micrometre SDA3100AIP3AX
1800 MHz 3100+ 0.09 micrometre SDA3100AIO3BA
2000 MHz 3300+ 0.09 micrometre SDA3300AIO2BA

Socket S1 (638) 64-bit Semprons

Max P-State Model Manufacturing Process Part Number(OPN)
1000 MHz 800 0.09 micrometre TBA
1600 MHz 3200 0.09 micrometre SMS3200HAX4CM
1800 MHz 3400 0.09 micrometre SMS3400HAX3CM
1800 MHz 3500 0.09 micrometre SMS3500HAX4CM
2000 MHz 3600 0.09 micrometre SMS3600HAX3CM

Semprons without Cool'n'Quiet

AMD has released some Sempron processors without Cool'n'Quiet support. The following table describes those processors lacking Cool'n'Quiet.

Max P-State Min P-State Model Operating Mode Package-Socket Manufacturing Process Part Number(OPN)
1400 MHz N/A 2500+ 32/64 Socket 754 0.09 micrometre SDA2500AIO3BX
1600 MHz N/A 2600+ 32 or 32/64 Socket 754 0.09 micrometre SDA2600AIO2BA
1600 MHz N/A 2600+ 32/64 Socket 754 0.09 micrometre SDA2600AIO2BX
1600 MHz N/A 2800+ 32 Socket 754 0.09 micrometre SDA2800AIO3BA
1600 MHz N/A 2800+ 32/64 Socket 754 0.09 micrometre SDA2800AIO3BX
1600 MHz N/A 2800+ 32/64 Socket AM2 0.09 micrometre SDA2800IAA2CN
1600 MHz N/A 3000+ 32/64 Socket AM2 0.09 micrometre SDA3000IAA3CN
1600 MHz N/A 3000+ 32/64 Socket AM2 0.09 micrometre SDA3000IAA4CN

See also

References

  1. ^ AMD Sempron FAQs

External links

Discontinued
pre-x86
x86-16 (16 bit)
x86-32/IA-32 (32 bit)
Am386 · Am486 · Am5x86 · K5 · K6 · K6-2 · K6-III · Duron · Athlon (XP)
x86-64/AMD64 (64 bit)
RISC
Current
x86-32
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Sempron · Athlon 64 (Athlon Neo) · Athlon X2 · Phenom (II) · Athlon II · Turion · Opteron · Fusion
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