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 competed 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".
The brand's initial processors were very similar to its predecessor, the Duron. The last Semprons were launched in April 2014. The brand was retired with the launch of the AMD A-Series APUs.
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.
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 familyLogoDesktopLogoLaptopCode-namedCoreDate releasedCode-namedCoreDate releasedThoroughbredThortonBartonParisPalermoManila130 nm130 nm130 nm130 nm90 nm90 nmJul 2004Aug 2004Sep 2004Jul 2004Aug 2004May 2006DublinGeorgetownSonoraAlbanyRomaKeene130 nm130 nm90 nm90 nm90 nm90 nmJul 2004May 2005Nov 2004Jul 2005Jul 2005May 2006SpartaBrisbaneSargas65 nm65 nm45 nmAug 2007Mar 2008July 2009ShermanSableHuron65 nm65 nm65 nmMay 2007Jun 2008Jan 2009List of AMD Sempron microprocessors
Models for Socket A (Socket 462)
Thoroughbred B/Thorton (130 nm) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 256 KiB, full speed MMX, 3DNow!, SSE Socket A (EV6) Front side bus: 166 MHz (FSB 333) VCore: 1.6 V First release: July 28, 2004 Clockrate: 1500 MHz – 2000 MHz (2200+ to 2800+)
Barton (130 nm) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 512 KiB, full speed MMX, 3DNow!, SSE Socket A (EV6) Front side bus: 166 MHz – 200 MHz (FSB 333 – 400) VCore: 1.6 – 1.65 V First release: September 17, 2004 Clockrate: 2000–2200 MHz (Sempron 3000+, Sempron 3300+)
Models for Socket 754
Paris (130 nm SOI) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 256 KiB, full speed MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2 Enhanced Virus Protection (NX bit) Integrated 72-bit (Single channel, ECC capable) DDR memory controller Socket 754, 800 MHz HyperTransport VCore: 1.4 V First release: July 28, 2004 Clockrate: 1800 MHz (3100+) Stepping: CG (Part No.: *AX)
Palermo (90 nm SOI) Early models (stepping D0) are downlabeled "Oakville" mobile Athlon64 L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 128/256 KiB, full speed MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2 SSE3 support on E3 and E6 steppings AMD64 on E6 stepping Cool'n'Quiet (Sempron 3000+ and higher) Enhanced Virus Protection (NX bit) Integrated 72-bit (Single channel, ECC capable) DDR memory controller Socket 754, 800 MHz HyperTransport VCore: 1.4 V First release: February 2005 Clockrate: 1400–2000 MHz 128 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 2600+, 3000+, 3300+) 256 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 2500+, 2800+, 3100+, 3400+) Steppings: D0 (Part No.: *BA), E3 (Part No.: *BO), E6 (Part No.: *BX)
Models for Socket 939
Palermo (90 nm SOI) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 128/256 KiB, full speed MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, AMD64 (E6 Steppings Only), Cool'n'Quiet, NX bit Integrated 144-bit (Dual channel, ECC capable) DDR memory controller Socket 939, 800 MHz HyperTransport VCore: 1.35/1.4 V First release: October 2005 Clockrate: 1800–2000 MHz 128 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 3000+, 3400+) 256 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 3200+, 3500+) Steppings: E3 (Part No.: *BP), E6 (Part No.: *BW)
Models for Socket AM2
Manila (90 nm SOI)
L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 128/256 KiB, full speed MMX, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, AMD64, Cool'n'Quiet, NX bit Integrated 128-bit (Dual channel) DDR2 memory controller Socket AM2, 800 MHz HyperTransport VCore: 1.25/1.35/1.40 V (1.20/1.25 V for Energy Efficient SFF version) First release: May 23, 2006 Clockrate: 1600–2200 MHz 128 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 2800+, 3200+, 3500+) 256 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 3000+, 3400+, 3600+, 3800+) Stepping: F2 (Part No.: *CN, *CW)
Sparta (65 nm SOI) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 256/512 KiB, full speed MMX, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, AMD64, Cool'n'Quiet, NX bit Integrated 128-bit (Dual channel) DDR2 memory controller Socket AM2, 800 MHz HyperTransport VCore: 1.20/1.40 V First release: August 20, 2007 Clockrate: 1900–2300 MHz 256 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron LE-1100, LE-1150) 512 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron LE-1200, LE-1250, LE-1300) Stepping: G1 (Part No.: *DE), G2 (Part No.: *DP)
Brisbane (65 nm SOI)
Models for Socket AM3
Sargas (45 nm SOI) Chip harvests from Regor with one core disabled Core Speed (MHz) – 2600–2900 Max Temps (C): 63 VCore: 1.35 V TDP: 45 W L1 Cache Size (KB) 128 L2 Cache Size (KB) 1024 CPU Arch : 1 CPU – 1 Cores – 1 Threads CPU EXT : MMX(+) 3DNow!(+) SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4A x86-64 AMD-V, Cool'n'Quiet, NX bit Integrated 128-bit (Dual Channel) DDR2 + DDR3 Memory Controller Socket AM3, 2000 MHz HyperTransport Steppings: C2, C3
Models for Socket S1 (638)
Keene (90 nm SOI) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 256 or 512 KiB, full speed MMX, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, AMD64, Cool'n'Quiet, NX bit Integrated 128-bit (Dual channel) DDR2 memory controller Socket S1, 800 MHz HyperTransport VCore: 0.950-1.25 V First release: May 17, 2006 Clockrate: 1000–2000 MHz 256 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 2100+, 3400+) 512 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 3200+, 3500+, 3600+) Stepping: F2 (Part No.: *CM)
Sable (65 nm SOI) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 512 KiB, full speed MMX, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, AMD64, Cool'n'Quiet, NX bit Integrated 128-bit (Dual channel) DDR2 memory controller Socket S1, 1600 MHz HyperTransport VCore: 0.950-1.25 V First release: January 8, 2009 Clockrate: 2000–2100 MHz 25w 512 KiB L2-Cache
Models for ASB1 package (BGA)
Huron (65 nm SOI) L1-Cache: 64 + 64 KiB (Data + Instructions) L2-Cache: 256 KiB, full speed MMX, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, AMD64, Cool'n'Quiet, NX bit Integrated 128-bit (Dual channel) DDR2 memory controller ASB1 package, 800 MHz HyperTransport VCore: ? First release: January 8, 2009 Clockrate: 1000–1500 MHz 256 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 200U) 1000 MHz TDP 8 W 256 KiB L2-Cache (Sempron 210U) 1500 MHz TDP 15 W Stepping: ? (Part No.: *DV)
Models for 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 2000 MHz 3400+ 0.09 Micrometre SDA3400AIO3BX
Models for 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
FM2/FM2+ Semprons Model 240, 3.3 GHz/2.9 GHz, 1MB cache, 65W Model 250, 3.6 GHz/3.2 GHz, 1MB cache, 65W, Piledriver microarchitecture, Richland core
Models for Socket AM1
Model number Cores Frequency L2-Cache HyperTransport Mult 2 Voltage TDP Release date Part number(s) Sempron 2650 2 1.45 GHz 1 MB 14.5x 25 W April 9, 2014 SD2650JAH23HM Sempron 3850 4 1.30 GHz 2 MB 13x 25 W April 9, 2014 SD3850JAH44HM
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 List of AMD Sempron microprocessors
References
External links AMD K7 Sempron technical specifications AMD K8 Sempron technical specifications AMD's Desktop Sempron product page AMD's Notebook Sempron product page