Socket A is the socket that took over from Slot A (AMD’s version of Slot 1, which used the same connector incompatibly by turning it upside down). It hosted AMD Athlon, Athlon XP, Athlon MP, Duron and Sempron CPUs. It was the socket of AMD’s heyday, and was widely praised for remaining constant despite several generational improvements, through the use of increased FSB rates. The CPUs were initially built using ceramic packages, similar to the K6 series, however, later transitioned to an Organic PGA package which was probably cheaper to produce.
AMD Duron D800AUT1B 800Mhz
This was an 800Mhz CPU with the Spitfire core, based on the Athlon Thunderbird design. The Duron name was intended to compete with the Intel Celeron, but was later retired in favour of Sempron. Note the existence of numbered L* jumpers on the top of the chip – some enthusiasts found that bridging certain points allowed unlocking cache, and multipliers for overclocking and painted over these points with conductive paint to do so!
AMD Athlon A1333AMS3C 1333Mhz
The real deal with all the cache and clock to go with it, this is a Thunderbird based Athlon.
AMD Duron DHD1200AMT1B 1200Mhz
This Duron is based on the Morgan core, which itself is based on the Palomino core. This is what happens to a highly abused chip that wasn’t shipped or mounted with care – note how the die is severely chipped on all sides. Trust me, I didn’t do this – I’m not that hamfisted!
AMD Athlon MP AHX1200AMS3C 1200Mhz
The Athlon MP series were designed for Multi-Processor systems, however, I found that in most Socket A motherboards, it would misidentify but still operate correctly. Athlon MP motherboards cannot use Athlon/Athlon XP CPUs however. This particular CPU was based on the Palomino design, which succeeded the Thunderbird.
AMD Athlon XP 1800+ AX1800DMT3C 1533Mhz
Another CPU based on the Palomino core, although in an organic PGA package rather than the ceramic PGA package above.
AMD Athlon XP 2000+ AX2000DMT3C 1667Mhz
A faster version of the one above.
AMD Athlon MP 2000+ AMP2000DMS3C 1667Mhz
This is the MP version of the above.
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ SDA2400DUT3D 1667Mhz
This chip uses the Thoroughbred-B core design, which succeeds the Thoroughbred-A core shrink of the Palomino core design that the prior CPUs used. And yes, they did use an amber/orange substrate.
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ AXDA2500KV4D 1833Mhz
This is a Barton core CPU, one of the last generations of designs for Socket A, which was supplanted by Socket 754 and 939. Definitely one of the favourites with the overclockers.
AMD Athlon XP 2800+ AXDA2800DKV4D 2083Mhz
This is another Barton core, despite the different colouration. You can distinguish it from the shape of the die itself. As a CPU that has been mounted many many times over, the pads which help prevent die edge cracking have started to decompose.
