AMD OSA8218GAA6CR Dual-Core Server Processor

Overview

The AMD OSA8218GAA6CR is an Opteron 8218 series server processor built for Socket F (LGA-1207) platforms — a dual-core design running at 2.60 GHz with 2 MB of cache. This part number identifies the specific OPGA-package variant of the Opteron 8218, and it's the detail to check against your motherboard's supported CPU list before ordering, since Socket F server boards are typically qualified against exact part numbers rather than just the model name. It's a legacy-generation part, so the primary buyers here are teams sustaining existing 4P/8P Opteron server deployments, running lab and test infrastructure, or sourcing exact-match replacements for a board that can't be swapped out.

Key Features

• Dual-Core Design: Two physical cores on a single die gives this processor real parallel-processing headroom over single-core Opteron parts from the same generation — useful for multi-threaded workloads on older 4-socket and 8-socket server boards where the platform, not the CPU, is the long-term constraint.
• 2.60 GHz Clock Speed: A fixed 2.6 GHz clock puts the OSA8218GAA6CR toward the upper end of the Opteron 8218 line's practical throughput for per-thread performance — relevant when matching CPUs across a multi-socket board where clock speed needs to be identical on every socket.
• 2 MB Cache Memory: On-die cache this size reduces trips to main memory for repeated data access, which matters most on database and virtualization workloads where cache misses stall the pipeline.
• Socket F (LGA-1207) Package: This is the specific socket and pin-count this CPU installs into — confirm your motherboard lists Socket F support before purchase, since it is not interchangeable with Socket 940 or later AM/SP-series Opteron sockets.
• 90nm Process Technology: The manufacturing process node of this generation of Opteron silicon — it's a data point for identifying the exact die revision when matching CPUs for a multi-socket build, since mixing process steppings across sockets on some boards can cause instability.
• 208–230V AC Output Voltage Spec: Documented operating voltage range for this part, relevant when validating the CPU against your platform's power delivery documentation during a build or replacement.

Integration & Compatibility

The OSA8218GAA6CR is built specifically for Socket F (LGA-1207) motherboards from the Opteron 8000-series generation — this is not a drop-in part for later Opteron sockets (940, C32, G34, or newer SP3) and should not be assumed compatible without checking your board's CPU support list first. Because 4P and 8P Opteron platforms are typically validated with matched CPU steppings across all sockets, when replacing or expanding an existing deployment, match this part number exactly rather than substituting a different Opteron 8218 SKU variant. If you're sourcing this as a replacement part for legacy infrastructure, pair the order with a compatibility check against your board's published server processor line before installing, and if you're planning a broader refresh rather than a like-for-like swap, it's worth comparing total platform cost against newer server builds — Socket F platforms are long past their production run and parts availability narrows over time. For buyers weighing a repair-versus-replace decision on aging multi-socket hardware, a system configuration and design consult can help scope whether sourcing this exact CPU or migrating to current-generation hardware makes more sense for the workload.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What socket does the OSA8218GAA6CR use?

A: It installs into Socket F (LGA-1207) motherboards — the socket used by AMD's Opteron 8000-series server platforms of this generation.

Q: Is the OSA8218GAA6CR a single-core or dual-core processor?

A: It's a dual-core processor (Opteron 8218), running at a fixed clock speed of 2.60 GHz.

Q: How much cache does the OSA8218GAA6CR have?

A: 2 MB of on-die cache memory.

Q: What process technology is the OSA8218GAA6CR built on?

A: It's manufactured on a 90nm process node.

Q: Can I mix the OSA8218GAA6CR with other Opteron 8218 part numbers in a multi-socket board?

A: Multi-socket Opteron platforms are generally validated against matched CPU part numbers and steppings, so confirm compatibility against your board's supported CPU list before mixing part number variants.

Marty Allison

The OSA8218GAA6CR is a Socket F Opteron 8218 — 2.60 GHz, dual-core, 2 MB cache — and the exact part number matters more here than it does with modern CPUs. On 4P and 8P Opteron boards, I've seen mixed-stepping mismatches cause POST failures that have nothing to do with the CPU being defective; it's a platform validation issue.

Technical Highlights:

• Dual-Core @ 2.60 GHz: Fixed clock across both cores means predictable per-socket performance when populating a multi-CPU board — no turbo variability to account for.
• 2 MB Cache: Enough on-die cache to meaningfully cut memory-latency stalls on database and virtualization workloads typical of the era this platform targets.
• 90nm Process: A specific die generation — worth confirming against existing installed CPUs in the same chassis before adding this as a second or third socket fill.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm Socket F (LGA-1207) support on your specific motherboard revision before ordering — this part is not interchangeable with Socket 940 or newer Opteron sockets.
• On multi-socket boards, match this exact part number across all populated sockets rather than substituting a different Opteron 8218 SKU — stepping mismatches are a common cause of instability on older 4P/8P platforms.

This is the right call for sustaining an existing Socket F 4P/8P Opteron deployment — lab infrastructure, legacy application servers, or test rigs where the board itself isn't being replaced and an exact-match CPU is what keeps the platform running. If you're scoping a broader hardware refresh instead of a like-for-like swap, that's a different conversation.