AMD's Socket F processor interconnect has appeared on the web.

Dutch-language site Tweakers.net has the pictures, which reveal the 1207-pin - count 'em - socket in all its glory.

Socket F is expected to debut in 2006 as the interconnect for future dual-core AMD Opteon 2xx and 8xx server processors, all with 'Pacifica' virtualisation technology and probably AMD's 'Presidio' security system. Like Socket M, the desktop and Opteron 1xx interconnect, Socket F will support DDR 2 SDRAM, certainly clocked to 533MHz and 667MHz, and possibly up to 800MHz.

AMD's plan for Socket F emerged in May 2005, but little has been heard about it since. Most roadmap leaks have focused on Socket M and the desktop side of the story. Today's pictures at least indicate that the server interconnect beast may be real. ®