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Socket M

Socket M is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Socket M rather than just read about it. In short: Socket M (mPGA478MT) is a CPU socket introduced by Intel in 2006. It was used in all Intel Core products, as well as the Core-derived Dual-Core Xeon codenamed Sossaman.

Socket M — main illustration
Socket M — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Socket M belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Socket M to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Socket M from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Socket M (mPGA478MT) is a CPU socket introduced by Intel in 2006. It was used in all Intel Core products, as well as the Core-derived Dual-Core Xeon codenamed Sossaman. It was also used in the first generation of the mobile version of Intel's Core 2 Duo, specifically, the T5x00 and T7x00 Merom lines (referred to as Napa Refresh), though that line switched to Socket P (Santa Rosa) in 2007.

Technical specifications

Socket M typically uses the Intel 945PM/945GM chipsets which support up to 667 MHz FSB and the Intel PM965/GM965 which allows 800 MHz FSB support, though the Socket M, PM965/GM965 combination is less common. The "Sossaman" Xeons use the E7520 chipset. Although conflicting information has been published, no 45 nm Penryn processors have been released for Socket M.

Relation to other sockets Socket M is pin-compatible with the older mobile Socket 479 (mPGA478A) for Pentium III-M processors but is not electrically compatible. Socket M is not pin-compatible with the older desktop Socket 478 (mPGA478B) for Pentium 4 processors or the newer mobile Socket P (mPGA478MN) for later Core processors by location of one pin; it is also incompatible with most versions of the older mobile Socket 479 (mPGA478C), especially those used for Pentium M, which also used an incompatible pin layout.

See also List of Intel microprocessors

References

Illustrations

Socket M illustration
Socket M: Inside of old Sony VAIO laptop (VGN-C140G), showing processor and socket for Socket M
Inside of old Sony VAIO laptop (VGN-C140G), showing processor and socket for Socket M

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Socket M

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Socket M claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Socket M before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Socket M ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Socket M

In research
Socket M appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Socket M in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Socket M is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer hardware stubs, Intel CPU sockets, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Socket M outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Socket M in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Socket M means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Socket M out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Socket M in simple terms?

Socket M (mPGA478MT) is a CPU socket introduced by Intel in 2006. It was used in all Intel Core products, as well as the Core-derived Dual-Core Xeon codenamed Sossaman.

Why does Socket M matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Socket M?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Socket M.

Tags

  • Computer hardware stubs
  • Intel CPU sockets

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