Is the fm2 socket compatible? FM2 motherboards: review, selection. Socket FM2. Modern central processors and platforms
Until relatively recently, one could observe an abundance of solutions based on the x86 architecture from various manufacturers. AMD, Cyrix, Intel, VIA, NEC, NexGen, Transmeta, SiS, UMC - they all produced integrated circuits suitable for a certain range of tasks. Today we can note only two players on the market, who, however, do not need any introduction.
Despite the overly modest list of manufacturers of central processors for desktop systems, the user’s head is now dizzying with the number of models of finished devices. Celeron, Pentium, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 - this is just a list of modern Intel solutions. How not to get lost in the maze of all these names?
Modern central processors and platforms
Intel Haswell (LGA1150)
Processors built on the Haswell microarchitecture, based on this moment are the crown of creation Intel. The chips are produced using a 22nm process technology. The architecture itself, in comparison with Ivy Bridge, has received a number of significant changes and improvements:
- new instruction sets AVX2.0 and FMA3 are used;
- increased cache capacity;
- the buffer and queues have been increased, including the reordering buffer;
- iVR voltage regulator is built directly into the processor;
- the number of launch ports has been increased from six to eight, and new actuators have been added;
- added new energy-saving modes;
- virtualization speed has been increased.
A socket, as you know, is a connector on the motherboard for installing a central processor. Sockets differ in form factor, number of contacts and type of fastening. The use of sockets, in principle, is intended to facilitate system upgrades by simply changing the processor. However, the problem is that the release of almost every new processor from AMD or Intel is associated with a transition to a new platform, that is, with the appearance of a new socket.
This is clearly seen, in particular, in the example of the latest FM1 and FM2 sockets, designed to connect powerful AMD hybrid processors. The FM1 platform was developed for Llano processors, which were released not so long ago - in mid-2011. However, when developing the new Komodo and Trinity family of processors, AMD decided to abandon the use of the FM1 socket in favor of the new FM2 platform. In this short article we will try to figure out what this threatens users with and whether there are significant design differences between the FM1 and FM2 sockets.
Platforms FM1 and FM2
Socket FM1 is a processor socket with 905 pins. It was developed specifically for hybrid APU processors from AMD based on the Fusion architecture. We are talking, first of all, about Liano hybrid processors, which, due to the presence of an integrated graphics core, required not only a new design. AMD's Liano processors came in dual- and quad-core variants with Direct X 11 GPU support and random access memory type DDR3 1600. All motherboards released with Socket FM1 for installing Liano processors adopted the UEFI system instead of the traditional BIOS. In the desktop segment, Liano processors and, accordingly, the FM1 platform debuted on June 30, 2011.
It seemed that the next generation of AMD hybrid processors would also be Socket FM1. However, the appearance of AMD Llano processors on the market was assessed ambiguously by computer enthusiasts and overclocking enthusiasts, for whom the new product was actually designed. Although the powerful built-in graphics core provided good level performance comparable to the performance of junior discrete video cards, however, Liano processors did not bring the expected increase in frequency potential. And while AMD Llano solutions were quite competitive in the mobile segment, their popularity in desktop systems turned out to be low.
AMD has decided to rely on a new generation of Trinity hybrid processors with more powerful graphics and computing cores. Creating a more powerful processor for desktop systems required abandoning the existing FM1 platform. This is how it appeared, which is structurally different from FM1 in a slightly different arrangement of contacts.
AMD's new Trinity processors are based on an improved Piledriver architecture and feature powerful integrated graphics. They have a dual-channel DDR3 memory controller that supports operation in modes up to DDR3 1866. One of the main differences between Trinity chips and their predecessor Liano processors is higher clock speeds. If Liano processors managed to get close to the 3 GHz mark, then the older Trinity models can be overclocked to 3.8 GHz - 4.2 GHz.
Despite the fact that older Trinity models have slightly fewer shader units than Llano, this is more than compensated for by the use of VLIW4 multiprocessor units, acceleration of the tessellation processing unit and higher clock frequency. The integrated Trinity graphics core has full support for DirectX 11 with ShaderModel 5.0, OpenCL 1.1 and DirectCompute 11. Solutions on the FM1 socket, by the way, did not provide the ability to use two graphics adapters. The new FM2 platform with Trinity processors is aimed at a wide range of users who are interested in building fairly powerful multimedia desktop PCs.
Differences and compatibility of sockets FM1 and FM2
In general, the FM2 socket is a logical continuation of the FM1 platform, so the differences between the two connectors were not too significant. Upon careful examination, one can be convinced that even appearance The FM2 socket has not undergone radical changes compared to the previous platform. However, these changes still exist. Although the pin layout of both sockets looks similar, the FM2 is missing one of the pins in the central part. Thus, if the FM1 processor socket had 905 pins, the new platform has only 904.
In addition, the so-called “keys”, that is, areas without contacts, are located in different places on the substrate for Llano and Trinity processors. Unfortunately, a different location of the “keys” will not even allow installing the AMDTrinity processor into the old FM1 socket. Some other subtle changes to the FM2 socket are related to power delivery.
AMD representatives have for a long time given rather evasive answers to the question of whether the FM1 and FM2 platforms will ultimately be compatible. This was probably done so as not to indirectly reduce the demand for processors with socket FM1. But today it is already known that new hybrid AMD processors have neither direct nor backward compatibility with FM1 platform.
This means that desktop users with AMD Liano processors will need to purchase motherboards that support socket FM2 to upgrade to the latest Trinity processors. This incompatibility is understandable, because the new AMD processors are based on a completely different architecture, which required a transition to different power subsystems. This circumstance forced AMD to switch to the new Socket FM2 platform. However, owners of desktop PCs with the FM1 platform were unlikely to be satisfied with this decision.
Prospects for sockets FM1 and FM2
AMD has earned user recognition not only for its powerful and cost-effective solutions, but also for the fact that it has always strived to maintain the same design for several generations of its processors. This provided users with the ability to easily and quickly upgrade their PC by purchasing and installing a new processor. So the policy of frequently changing sockets has never been distinctive feature AMD. That is why the rejection of the FM1 platform actually gave rise to a lot of discontent among a serious part of AMD product supporters.
With the emergence of the new FM2 platform, the company's management de facto recognized Llano hybrid processors and accompanying motherboards with the FM1 socket as a “dead-end” solution. It is clear that the previous generation platform with the lack of upgrade options is unlikely to have any success among users. It can be assumed that the FM1 socket, which was released seemingly not so long ago, will have a short life on the market.
With the FM2 platform, as AMD assures us, everything will be different. This processor socket will not become “single serial”, as happened with FM1, but will be aimed at supporting several future generations of AMD processors. However, given the not-so-pleasant history with the release of first-generation hybrid processors, potential consumers may have concerns and questions for AMD about whether the FM2 platform is really here for the long haul. Perhaps in the near future, in connection with the development of new, more productive solutions, the company will again have to switch to a completely different processor socket.
Be that as it may, at present, a number of manufacturers have already announced the release of motherboards with the FM2 socket for new AMD processors. This is, for example, flagship model GA-F2A85X-UP4 from Gigabyte and Hi-Fi A85W board from Biostar. Everything points in favor of the fact that
Every time we buy an AMD-based computer, we ask ourselves which processor and socket to choose? Especially now that AMD changes them almost every year. Will there be a prospect of replacing the processor in the future and what is the old processor good for? It is also important to know when there is a bunch of old hardware with different performance. And from all this you need to assemble a computer with tolerable performance. This table shows that there is a decent range for creativity. Especially for overclockers and gamers, a large amount of stale hardware accumulates. And it makes sense to rummage through the mezzanines and assemble, for example, a computer for the dacha, or for a younger brother/sister.
| CPU | motherboards | ||||||
| AM2 | AM2+ | AM3 | AM3+ | FM1 | FM2 | + – Compatible; – Theoretically compatible, but compatibility in each specific case must be clarified on the motherboard manufacturer’s website; - - Absolutely incompatible. |
|
| AM2 | + | + | — | — | — | — | |
| AM2+ | + | — | — | — | — | ||
| AM3 | + | + | — | — | |||
| AM3+ | — | — | — | + | — | — | |
| FM1 | — | — | — | — | + | — | |
| FM2 | — | — | — | — | — | + | |
It is clear from the table that, unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, sockets FM1 and FM2 are absolutely incompatible. Here you need to choose whether to buy a more expensive motherboard and a budget processor, or build a powerful PC, but on the previous socket. In my opinion, the solutions are equivalent. For example you purchased powerful computer on the outgoing socket, no problem, you will use it for several years. Although if you build a PC on a new socket, there is a prospect of installing a more powerful and more economical CPU in a year.
You can buy AMD Socket FM2/FM2+ processors in Moscow today at the most attractive price, forgetting about the crisis. Do you need this detail? Come to our store.
Why change hardware?
Sooner or later, all technology becomes obsolete. In some cases this concerns design, in other cases it concerns functionality more seriously. As for the computer industry, it is developing at such a rapid pace that sometimes you don’t have time to keep up with the release of new products, hardware requirements are growing just as quickly, and you have to adapt to the rhythms of modern life. But it can also be more banal. If we talk about computers, then its parts simply fail.
There are different ways to deal with this problem. Replace the entire platform of your car or do it gradually, updating one or two spare parts over and over again.
Why an AMD processor?
You need to clearly understand that the processor is not installed in a PC separately - it is always installed in a motherboard that has a corresponding connector - a socket. Therefore, to upgrade your PC using an AMD Socket FM2/FM2+ CPU, you will definitely need a motherboard with the same socket.
Who can I recommend upgrading to such a platform? To do this, you need to understand several fundamental points in AMD’s strategy:
Will it suit me?
The exact characteristics need to be clarified in the description of the motherboard from your computer. Sometimes you may need to update the BIOS, but in most cases the compatibility of AMD Socket FM2/FM2+ processors does not cause any difficulties, as does their installation - even a novice user can do everything according to the instructions. If you are in doubt, call our managers - we will provide you with comprehensive advice on all issues.
What attracts buyers with such processors, and how do they stand out from the rest?
Processors with sockets FM2 and FM2+ are a special series. They are hybrid, designated APU, and are different from others. The main characteristics of the AMD Socket FM2+, a processor that is relevant today, indicate that it will allow you to save money if you do not want to buy a discrete video card. It integrates quite powerful proprietary graphics, the performance of which increases with the release of each new modification of the FM2+ processor core. Today, the Trinity cores for FM2 have been replaced by the more current Kaveri cores for FM2 plus, which have an R7 graphics core: in terms of speed it is equivalent to an inexpensive discrete video card like GeForce GT 730. It is very easy to distinguish the cores of a modern processor by name:
If we look critically and meticulously, then our conclusion is: FM2 and FM2+ are a completely modern (but inexpensive) basis for creating universal computers with support for all current technologies. Your computer won't be a performance monster, but it won't be left behind either. Additionally, you can save on a separate video card.
You can buy AMD Socket FM2/FM2+ processors at an anti-crisis price in our online store in Moscow. We offer you a large selection and quality service. Not a single client is left unattended. Check it out and see for yourself! “ENKO” is exactly the store where the most necessary components for a computer of any configuration are already waiting for you.
All motherboards with FM2+ and FM2 connectors are fully compatible With Socket processors FM2(AMD Trinity and Richland, Ax-5000 and Ax-6000 series APUs AMD Athlon X4 7x0 / X2 3x0) and CPU with Socket FM2+. But the processors themselves with Socket FM2+ (AMD Kaveri Ax-7000 and Athlon X4 8x0) can only be installed on motherboards with a similar socket, but they will not be able to run on FM2 boards.
Specially boards with Socket FM2+ connector were developed for AMD Kaveri solutions on AMD A58, A68, A78 and A88 chipsets. They remain compatible with Socket FM2 processors, so we recommend purchasing them for a possible further upgrade (if you decide to go this route).
Is it worth building a computer on Socket FM2+?
Yes, is it worth doing such things at all? Now it’s May 2016, when Intel released high-performance Skylake, and AMD is preparing to introduce completely new AMD Zen and APU Excavator for Socket AM4. The new platform should be some kind of revolutionary step, since marking time has led AMD to lose its position in the market of both processors and video cards. Therefore, we do not recommend buying those processors that are being sold now, since competition towards the end of the year will be able to dot the i’s and also lower the price tags to the appropriate level. If you really want to update your desktop in the near future, and replacing the processor with a more powerful one in the future is not part of your plans, then you can take a closer look at Socket FM2+. But we are waiting for AMD Zen...
