Llano Chipsets and Socket

Llano processor is not the only component of the Lynx platform. It also uses chipsets. Since the APU already contains the memory and PCI Express bus controllers, the chipsets consist of only one chip – the South Bridge also known as FCH (Fusion Controller Hub).

AMD currently offers two FCH variants: A55 and A75. The A75 model has native support for all contemporary interfaces, including USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps. The lower-end model A55 supports only old SATA 3 Gbps and USB 2.0 interfaces.


Mainboards for desktop Llano processors based on the above described chipsets come with a special Socket FM1 which is incompatible with AM3. Socket FM1 has significantly different number of pins – 905. All these pins are necessary to ensure that the CPU is connected not only with the chipset and the memory sub-system, but also with the PCI Express x16 graphics bus and monitors.


For the cooling systems, AMD tried to maintain compatibility with the existing infrastructure, so the old Socket AM3 coolers will work just fine with the new processors.