Sempron

The first Sempron CPUs were based on the Athlon XP architecture using the Thoroughbred or Thorton core. These models were equipped with the Socket A interface, 256 KiB L2 cache and 166 MHz Front side bus (FSB 333). Thoroughbred cores natively had 256 KiB L2 cache, but Thortons had 512 KiB L2 cache, half of which was disabled and could sometimes be reactivated with a slight physical modification to the chip. Later, AMD introduced the Sempron 3000+ CPU, based on the Barton core with 512 KiB L2 cache. From a hardware and user standpoint, the Socket A Sempron CPUs were essentially identical to Athlon XP desktop CPUs with a new brand name. AMD has ceased production of all Socket A Sempron CPUs.

The second generation (Paris/Palermo core) was based on the architecture of the Socket 754 Athlon 64. Some differences from Athlon 64 processors include a reduced cache size (either 128 or 256 KiB L2), and the absence of AMD64 support in earlier models. Apart from these differences, the Socket 754 Sempron CPUs share most features with the more powerful Athlon 64, including an integrated (on-die) memory controller, the HyperTransport link, and AMD's "NX bit" feature.

In the second half of 2005, AMD added 64-bit support (AMD64) to the Sempron line. Some journalists (but not AMD) often refer to this revision of chips as "Sempron 64" to distinguish it from the previous revision. AMD's intent in releasing 64-bit entry-level processors was to extend the market for 64-bit processors, which at the time of Sempron 64's first release, was a niche market.

In 2006, AMD announced the Socket AM2 and Socket S1 line of Sempron processors. These are functionally equivalent to the previous generation, except they have a dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM memory controller which replaces the single-channel DDR SDRAM version. The TDP of the standard version remains at 62 W (watts), while the new "Energy Efficient Small Form Factor" version has a reduced 35 W TDP. The Socket AM2 version also does not require a minimum voltage of 1.1 volts to operate, whereas all socket 754 Semprons with Cool'n'Quiet did. In 2006, AMD was selling both Socket 754 and Socket AM2 Sempron CPUs concurrently. In the middle of 2007 AMD appears to have dropped the 754 line and is shipping AM2 and S1 Semprons.

AMD Sempron processor family
Logo	Desktop			Logo	Laptop
	Code-named	Core	Date released		Code-named	Core	Date released
	Thoroughbred Thorton Barton Paris Palermo Manila	130 nm 130 nm 130 nm 130 nm 90 nm 90 nm	Jul 2004 Aug 2004 Sep 2004 Jul 2004 Aug 2004 May 2006		Dublin Georgetown Sonora Albany Roma Keene	130 nm 130 nm 90 nm 90 nm 90 nm 90 nm	Jul 2004 May 2005 Nov 2004 Jul 2005 Jul 2005 May 2006
	Sparta Brisbane Sargas	65 nm 65 nm 45 nm	Aug 2007 Mar 2008 July 2009		Sherman Sable Huron	65 nm 65 nm 65 nm	May 2007 Jun 2008 Jan 2009
List of AMD Sempron microprocessors

CPU features table

• Model 240, 3.3 GHz/2.9 GHz, 1MB cache, 65W[5]
• Model 250, 3.6 GHz/3.2 GHz, 1MB cache, 65W, Piledriver microarchitecture, Richland core

AMD has released some Sempron processors without Cool'n'Quiet support. The following table describes those processors lacking Cool'n'Quiet.

• List of AMD Sempron microprocessors

• AMD K7 Sempron technical specifications
• AMD K8 Sempron technical specifications
• AMD's Desktop Sempron product page
• AMD's Notebook Sempron product page