Sempron

Sempron is a brand of x86-compatible central processing units produced by AMD, introduced in 2004 as a lower-cost alternative to the Athlon XP line. The Sempron family was designed to meet the needs of budget and entry-level systems, offering accessible computing power while keeping production costs down. It effectively replaced AMD’s Duron brand in the company’s value-segment lineup.

Historically, early Sempron processors shared cores with Athlon XP parts and were distributed for desktop platforms using a range of motherboards. Over time the brand broadened to cover multiple socket types, including Socket A (462) and later desktop sockets such as Socket 754, 939, and AM2. AMD used a model-numbering scheme with PR ratings (for example, 2400+, 2600+, 2800+, etc.) to indicate relative performance levels within the line.

In addition to traditional 32-bit processors, AMD introduced 64-bit capable Sempron CPUs marketed as Sempron 64, aligning with the AMD64 architecture and supporting 64-bit operating systems on capable systems. The Sempron line was positioned below the more feature-rich Athlon and Athlon 64 families, often featuring smaller caches or fewer advanced features to maintain a lower price point.

As AMD advanced through successive generations, newer architectures and product families gradually superseded Sempron as the primary consumer budget option. The branding persisted in some markets for low-power and embedded segments, but the line ceased to be AMD’s main consumer budget offering as Athlon II and other lines evolved. Sempron remains recognized as AMD’s historic budget processor family.