AMD is to transition all its desktop processors to Socket M2 in H2 2006, following the upcoming connectivity system's introduction next year.

Both interconnects will also support dual-channel DDR 2 SDRAM, which would mean that rumours that AMD would skip DDR 2 and go straight to DDR 3 are unfounded.

So sat Taiwanese PC and server makers who claim to have seen the chip maker's roadmap, according to a DigiTimes report (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20050509A6030.html).

Socket M2 will be initially supported by future Opteron 1xx parts, while the two-way and four-way versions of AMD's server chip family will use Socket F. M2 will use a 940-pin port, it seems, while F will use 1207 pins. Both interconnects will presumably pave the way for the quad-core processors AMD expects to ship in 2007, but they will also be used by single- and dual-core chips too.

M2 and F will replace AMD's current array of interconnects: Socket 754, used by Sempron and Athlon 64 parts; Socket 939, used by Athlon 64 and Athlon 64-FX; and Socket 940, used by Opteron 1xx, 2xx and 8xx processors. The chip maker is currently deprecating the old Socket A interconnect, and it is expected to migrate the Opteron 1xx line to Socket 939 later this year. ®

Related stories

Bashful IBM takes orders for Opteron blade server (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/06/ibm_ls20_opteron/)
Intel feels healthy and dual-core happy (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/06/intel_analyst_2005/)
Supermicro abandons Intel-only stance, embraces Opteron (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/05/supermicro_goes_opteron/)
AMD dual-core 1xx Opterons 'to go Socket 939' (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/05/amd_opteron_socket_939/)
Intel partner sues... Intel (and AMD too) (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/05/intel_amd_sued/)
AMD cheers govt calls to end 'single-vendor' IT tenders (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/05/03/amd_govt_it_advice/)
AMD trims Sempron, Athlon 64 prices (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/05/03/amd_price_cuts/)