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 .
25-466: 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
50-454: 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
75-652: 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
100-672: 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
125-479: 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
150-509: 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
175-410: 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
200-486: A £594m takeover of GoCo plc, known for its Gocompare.com price comparison website. In August 2021, it acquired another 12 magazines for £300 million. The company was criticised in February 2022 for the size of the remuneration package being offered to Zillah Byng-Thorne, the chief executive. It was noted that she could receive £40 million if the company performs well. Byng-Thorne resigned with effect from 3 April 2023 and
225-596: 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
250-453: 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
275-641: 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. Future plc Future plc is a British publishing company . It was started in 1985 by Chris Anderson . Among its titles are Country Life , Homes and Gardens , Kiplinger Personal Finance , Decanter , Marie Claire , and The Week . Zillah Byng-Thorne
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#1732851653080300-560: 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
325-466: The U.S. consumer music magazines to Future, with the exception of Revolver which had been sold to Project Group M LLC in 2017. It bought the Purch Group for $ 132m by September 2018, and in February 2019 bought Mobile Nations including Android Central, iMore, Windows Central and Thrifter for $ 115 million. Future also acquired Procycling and Cyclingnews.com from Immediate Media . In July 2019
350-745: The UK. Later in 2014, Future sold its sport and craft titles to Immediate Media , and its auto titles to Kelsey Media. In April 2014 Zillah Byng-Thorne , then finance director, was appointed chief executive, replacing Mark Wood, who had been in the position since 2011. In 2018, Future made further major acquisitions. It bought the What Hi-Fi? , FourFourTwo , Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome brands from Haymarket and it acquired NewBay Media , publisher of numerous broadcast, professional video, and systems integration trade titles, as well as several consumer music magazines. This acquisition returned most of
375-578: The company bought SmartBrief, a digital media publisher, for an initial sum of $ 45 million. In November 2019 the company bought Barcroft Studios for £23.5 million in a combination of cash and shares. It renamed it Future Studios and announced the launch of "Future Originals", an anthology gaming series, a factual series focusing on the paranormal, and a new true crime show, in partnership with Marie Claire . In April 2020 it acquired TI Media , with 41 brands for £140 million, and, in November 2020, it agreed
400-521: The company moved to a digital model. Future announced it would cut 55 jobs from its UK operation as part of a restructuring to adapt "more effectively to the company's rapid transition to a primarily digital business model." The company announced in March 2014 that it would close all of its U.S.-based print publications and shift U.S. print support functions such as consumer marketing, production and editorial leadership for Future's international print brands to
425-483: The company to Pearson plc for £52.7m in 1994, but bought it back in 1998, for £142 million. The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1999. Anderson left the company in 2001. In 2004 the company was accused of corruption when it published positive reviews for the video game Driver 3 in two of its owned magazines, Xbox World and PSM2 . Future published the official magazines for
450-473: The consoles of all three major games console manufacturers ( Microsoft , Nintendo , and Sony ); however PlayStation: The Official Magazine ceased publishing in November 2012, and Official Nintendo Magazine ceased publishing in October 2014. The chief executive and finance director both resigned at short notice after a profit warning in October 2011. It was noted that a re-structuring would be necessary as
475-492: 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
500-682: The merged title Multichannel News dating from 1980. In October 2024, the company closed a number of consumer titles in the United Kingdom, including Play , All About Space , Total 911 and 3D World , with the monthly movie magazine Total Film ceasing publication after 27 years. In addition to media and magazines, the company has two other businesses: Future's portfolio of brands includes TechRadar , PC Gamer , Tom's Guide , Tom's Hardware , Marie Claire , GamesRadar+ , How it Works , CinemaBlend , Android Central , IT Pro , BikePerfect , Windows Central , Chat and
525-557: 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
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#1732851653080550-611: 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
575-469: Was chief executive officer from 2014 to 2023, when she was replaced by Jon Steinberg . The company was founded by Chris Anderson as Future Publishing in Somerton, Somerset , England, with the sole magazine Amstrad Action in 1985. An early innovation was the inclusion of free software on magazine covers. It acquired GP Publications and established what would become Future US in 1994. Anderson sold
600-428: Was replaced as chief executive by Jon Steinberg . In April 2023, the company sold its shooting magazines including Shooting Times and Sporting Gun to Fieldsports Press. In August 2024, the company announced that its American trade papers Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News would be closing after more than 90 years, with the main title Broadcasting having been first published in 1931 and
625-549: 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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