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AMD introduced Socket 940 in 2003 for its Athlon 64 FX and Opteron processor brands. It uses organic pin grid array and has ZIF features. Socket F replaced it in 2006 as the primary socket for Athlon 64 FX processors.
In 2003, semiconductor manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) introduced a central processing unit (CPU) socket called Socket 940. It is so named because it has 940 holes per pin. AMD made this component specifically for two of its processor brands.
Socket 940 compatible CPU families are AMD Athlon 64 FX and AMD Opteron. The FX is the high-performance version of AMD’s then-premier brand of consumer processors, aimed at hardware enthusiasts and hardcore personal computer gamers. The Athlon 64 FX enjoys the highest processing speed range of this particular 64-bit CPU family, from 2,200 to 3,000 megahertz or 2.2 to 3 gigahertz. The other brand, Opteron, is aimed at workstations and servers rather than PCs and has a wider processing speed, 1,400 MHz to 3,200 MHz or 1.4 GHz to 3.2 GHz. AMD actually introduced the Socket 940 first for the Opteron, which debuted that same year, but later extended compatibility to the Athlon 64 FX, which began appearing in late 2003.
Measuring 1.98 inches (5.03 centimeters) wide and 2.33 inches (5.92 cm) long, this socket has its pin holes that adhere to the pin grid array (PGA) standard by arranging them neatly in rows forming a grid. Socket 940 uses a PGA variant called organic pin grid array (OPGA), which means it is made from an organic plastic material. Its zero insertion force (ZIF) features allow the user to insert and remove the CPU without using any force. ZIF is particularly useful because it is intended to prevent any damage to the CPU.
The 940 receptacle operates over a voltage range of 0.8 to 1.55 volts. It also supports a dual-channel memory controller using double data rate synchronous DDR SDRAM (DDR SDRAM) architecture. Its HyperTransport technology, courtesy of AMD for improving data transmission between the processor and motherboard or other computer/server/workstation components, supports speeds of 800 MHz and 1,000 MHz.
In 2006, AMD began phasing out the use of Socket 940. This was primarily due to the introduction of Socket AM2, which also has 940 pinholes, but is made specifically for the second production generation Opteron. Therefore, it is not compatible with the first generation Opteron chip. Also debuting that year was Socket F, which has an impressive 1,207 holes per pin and replaced Socket 940 as the primary socket for Athlon 64 FX processors.
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