AMD is about to set up a new AM6 socket for Zen 7, which has 2100 pins
A shift to a new socket is coming for AMD, but not yet. The AM5 socket is set to work with CPUs up to Zen 6. After that, it looks like AMD will bring out the AM6 socket when they start Zen 7, likely in 2028.
AM6 Socket Facts More Pins, Same Size
new AMD patent, showed and the AM6 socket will have 2100 pins. That's 22% more than the 1718 pins in the AM5 socket now. AMD plans to pack more pins into the same size, so the pin packed area will be denser.
Be wary of the socket pictures out there. The images look more like the SP5 server socket and might not show what the final AM6 will really look like. It's not likely to have a 4-channel memory set up.
What Extra Pins Mean for New PCs
If the AM6 really fits 2100 pins in the same size, here's what it could mean for PC makers:
- Cooler Fits: The same socket size means coolers for AM5 should fit on AM6 boards. Yet, new CPU designs in the Zen 7 might need new cooler types for the best cool power.
- Better Power Handling: More pins let the CPU get more power. The AM5 lets 170W through, but AM6 might handle over 200W.
- More Bandwidth: More pins also mean more lanes for data, which could lead to faster I/O speeds. This might help get set for PCIe 6.0 on AM6 boards, even though wider use of PCIe 6.0 may not happen until around 2030.
Dates and Wrap-Up
AMD will stick with the AM5 for now, up to Zen 6, keeping it in use for some more years. The jump to the denser AM6 socket should come with the Zen 7 CPUs around 2028, making way for more robust and feature-filled consumer tech.
