Socket AM3 is a CPU socket for AMD processors . AM3 was launched on February 9, 2009 as the successor to Socket AM2+ , alongside the initial grouping of Phenom II processors designed for it. The sole principal change from AM2+ to AM3 is support for DDR3 SDRAM . The fastest CPU for socket AM3 is the Phenom II X6 1100T .
17-470: Like the previous AMD socket, the "AM3 Processor Functional Data Sheet" (AMD document number 40778) has not been made publicly available. The "Family 10h AMD Phenom™ Processor Product Data Sheet" (document 446878) has, but contains only a brief list of features of the Phenom, and does not contain any substantive technical data regarding socket AM3. Socket AM3 breaks compatibility with AM2/AM2+ processors due to
34-457: A BIOS update for the motherboard. Manufacturers including Asus , Gigabyte , and others have labeled existing AM2/AM2+ boards as being "AM3 Ready" or similar, indicating that BIOS support is provided for the specified boards. This allows existing AM2/AM2+ systems to upgrade the CPU without having to upgrade any other components. The 4 holes for fastening the heatsink to the motherboard are placed in
51-671: A forum and featured blogs . Tom's Hardware was founded in 1996 as Tom's Hardware Guide in Canada by Thomas Pabst. It started using the domain tomshardware.com in September 1997 and was followed by several foreign language versions, including Italian, French, Finnish and Russian based on franchise agreements. While the initial testing labs were in Germany and California, much of Tom's Hardware's testing now occurs in New York and
68-688: A facility in Ogden, Utah owned by its parent company, Purch . In April 2007, the site was acquired by the French company Bestofmedia Group. In July 2013, that company was acquired by TechMediaNetwork, Inc. , which changed its name to Purch in April 2014. The site celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2022. Beyond continuous publication of the website, it is known for its annual CES awards and Tom's Guide Awards that are held in June and July each year. Mark Spoonauer
85-482: A facility in Ogden, Utah owned by its parent company. In April 2007, the site was acquired by the French company Bestofmedia Group. In July 2013, that company was acquired by TechMediaNetwork, Inc. , which changed its name to Purch in April 2014. Purch's consumer brands, including Tom's Hardware , were acquired by Future in 2018. The site celebrated its 20th anniversary in May 2016. Beyond continuous publication of
102-512: A rectangle with lateral lengths of 48 mm and 96 mm for AMD's sockets Socket AM2 , Socket AM2+ , Socket AM3, Socket AM3+ and Socket FM2 . Cooling solutions should therefore be interchangeable. AM3+ is a modification of the AM3 socket. It has one additional pin for new Bulldozer -based AM3+ processors and is backwards-compatible with AM3 processors. It broke backwards-compatibility between AM3+ processors and AM2 and AM2+ motherboards because
119-410: A subtle change in key placement. The AM3 socket has 941 pin contacts in a different layout while AM2+ processors have 940 pins. Tom's Hardware removed the two obstructing key pins from an AM2+ Phenom processor in order to fit it into an AM3 socket. The processor did not work in the AM3 socket, but still worked in an AM2+ socket, suggesting that compatibility issues run deeper than merely the key pins. It
136-601: Is likely because the built-in memory controller in AM2/AM2+ processors only supports DDR2 (unlike AM3 processors, which support both DDR2 & DDR3 memory). In fact, a few motherboards were manufactured that supported both DDR2 and DDR3, however only one type could be used at a time. Despite using an AM3 socket and despite using a northbridge and southbridge found on AM3 motherboards, they support any AM2, AM2+, or AM3 processor. As AM3 processors also support DDR2, they are backwards-compatible with Socket AM2/AM2+, contingent upon
153-457: Is owned by Future plc , which also owns a number of other websites. In technology, those include Tom's Guide (formerly Gear Digest ), Laptop Mag and AnandTech , as well as science sites like LiveScience and Space.com . In March 2018 the German spin-off was to be closed because of the new data/privacy laws, but continued as an independent site (tomshw.de), with an exclusive licence for
170-567: Is the current Global Editor-in-Chief and has been since 2013. Before that, he worked as the Editor-in-Chief of Laptop Mag since 2003. Mike Prospero is the current US Editor-in-Chief alongside Managing Editors Philip Michaels, Jason England, Nick Pino and Senior Deals Editor Louis Ramirez. Computer Shopper (US magazine) Computer Shopper was a monthly consumer computer magazine published by SX2 Media Labs . The magazine ceased print publication in April 2009. The website
187-563: Is the second largest consumer technology, news and review site from the US with 68.4M visits in September 2022. Tom’s Guide was originally launched as Gear Digest by Bestofmedia before being re-named to Tom's Guide. The publication was subsequently acquired by TechMediaNetwork in 2013; in 2014, TechMediaNetwork changed its name to Purch, which was then acquired by Future in 2018. While the initial testing labs were in Germany and California, much of Tom’s Hardware’s testing now occurs in New York and
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#1732776478167204-566: The hopes of applying its formula to a PC-technology magazine. The magazine expanded into prebuilt home computers and white box IBM PC compatibles through the 1980s. The magazine grew to several hundred pages, mostly of advertisements. It was during this time that the magazine was sold to Ziff Davis Publishing, first as a limited partnership , then solely owned. It was sold in 2000, along with Ziff-Davis' ZDNet Web site, to CNET . CNET sold Computer Shopper to new owners, SX2 Media Labs, in 2006. In April 2009, SX2 Media Labs discontinued
221-498: The local usage of the brand name. In July 2019 the licence was returned. After that the German CEO and editor-in-chief of the gotIT! Tech Media GmbH started a new website Igor´sLAB and his own Youtube channel. Tom's Guide (formerly known as GearDigest ) is an online publication owned by Future that focuses on technology, with editorial teams in the US, UK and Australia. Tom's Guide was launched in 2007 by Bestofmedia, which
238-557: The processors do not support DDR2 memory. Tom%27s Hardware Tom's Hardware is an online publication owned by Future plc and focused on technology. It was founded in 1996 by Thomas Pabst. It provides articles, news, price comparisons, videos and reviews on computer hardware and high technology. The site features coverage on CPUs , motherboards , RAM , PC cases, graphic cards , display technology, power supplies and displays , storage , smartphones, tablets, gaming, consoles, and computer peripherals . Tom's Hardware has
255-611: The website, it is known for its overclocking championships and other contests. Avram Piltch is the current editor-in-chief of Tom's Hardware . Prior to starting the position in 2018, he worked for sister sites Tom's Guide and Laptop Mag. Prior to that, John A. Burek, formerly of Computer Shopper , briefly held the role. Burek succeeded Fritz Nelson, who served from August 2014 through 2017. Other former editors-in-chief include Chris Angelini (July 2008 – July 2014), Patrick Schmid (2005–2006), David Strom (2005), Omid Rahmat (1999–2003) and founder Thomas Pabst (1996–2001). Tom's Hardware
272-520: Was closed and redirected to the PCMag website in late May 2018. Computer Shopper magazine was established in 1979 in Titusville, Florida . It began as a tabloid-size publication on yellow newsprint that primarily contained classified advertising and ads for kit computers , parts, and software. The magazine was created by Glenn Patch, publisher of the photo-equipment magazine Shutterbug Ads , in
289-549: Was subsequently acquired by TechMediaNetwork in 2013; in 2014, TechMediaNetwork changed its name to Purch, which was acquired by Future in 2018. Primarily focused on news, reviews, price comparisons, how-tos and guides, Tom's Guide also features opinion articles and deals content. The site features coverage on CPUs , motherboards , RAM , PC cases, graphic cards , display technology, displays , storage , smartphones, tablets, gaming, consoles, fitness and health, home, smart home, streaming, security and computer peripherals . It
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