If your motherboard is based on socket 462 this means that your current CPU is an Athlon, an Athlon XP, a Duron or a Socket 462 Sempron. Socket 462 was also called Socket A in the past, so Socket 462 and Socket A are the same thing (do not confuse with Slot A). In order to know what is the fastest CPU you can install on your motherboard, you will need to know what is the maximum FSB clock rate your motherboard supports. Typical values are 200 MHz, 266 MHz, 333 MHz and 400 MHz.

Also keep in mind that Athlon XP and Sempron CPUs are not rated with their real clock rate but with a “performance index”. So an Athlon XP 2400+ does not run internally at 2.4 GHz, this “2400+” is just a “performance index” (in fact this CPU runs at 2 GHz).

To make things simpler, we compiled the table below. At one side you have your motherboard FSB and on the other which CPUs are supported. Pay attention because some motherboards supporting 333 MHz and 400 MHz can’t provide a 200 MHz FSB. You need to check on your motherboard manual if this is your case – if it is, your motherboard doesn’t support the installation of Athlon and Duron CPUs.

Also keep in mind that Sempron CPUs are also available for other socket types, so here we are talking only about the socket 462 version of this CPU.

FSB	Athlon	Duron	Athlon XP	Sempron
200 MHz	All models up to 950 MHz and models from 1 GHz to 1.4 GHz with 200 MHz FSB (these same models have a 266 MHz version, be careful).	All models up to 1.3 GHz.	Not supported.	Not supported.
266 MHz	All models (available up to 1.4 GHz).	All models (available up to 1.8 GHz).	All models up to 2400+ (2 GHz). There is also a 2600+ model that uses a 266 MHz FSB, but be careful because there is also a 2600+ model that uses 333 MHz FSB.	Not supported.
333 MHz	All models (available up to 1.4 GHz).	All models (available up to 1.8 GHz).	All models up to 2800+ (which can run at 2.08 GHz or at 2.25 MHz). There is also a 3000+ model that uses a 333 MHz FSB, but be careful because there is also a 3000+ model that uses 400 MHz FSB.	All socket 462 models (available up to 3000+, which runs at 2 GHz).
400 MHz	All models (available up to 1.4 GHz).	All models (available up to 1.8 GHz).	All models (available up to 3200+, which runs at 2.2 GHz).	All socket 462 models (available up to 3000+, which runs at 2 GHz).

For more information about all Athlon XP and Sempron socket 462 models available, we recommend you to read our Sempron vs. Athlon XP tutorial.