{"id":410486,"date":"2022-02-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-27T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/"},"modified":"2022-02-28T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-02-27T21:00:00","slug":"what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"#What Is a CPU Socket Type? CPU Socket Types Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a9adf134cb11\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a9adf134cb11\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/#CPU_Sockets_101\" >CPU Sockets 101<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/#Where_Is_the_CPU_Socket\" >Where Is the CPU Socket?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/#AMD_vs_Intel_Sockets_How_to_Tell_the_Difference\" >AMD vs. Intel Sockets: How to Tell the Difference<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/#CPU_Generations_Matter\" >CPU Generations Matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/#How_Often_Do_New_Socket_Types_Arrive\" >How Often Do New Socket Types Arrive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-cpu-socket-type-cpu-socket-types-explained\/#How_to_Check_Whether_a_CPU_Fits_Your_Motherboard\" >How to Check Whether a CPU Fits Your Motherboard<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#What Is a CPU Socket Type? CPU Socket Types Explained&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-739293 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cpu-socketed-into-motherboard.jpg?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cpu-socketed-into-motherboard.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cpu-socketed-into-motherboard.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A CPU socketed into a gaming motherboard.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/blank-cpu-lid-top-socket-cover-1552127636\" data-credittext=\"tomeqs\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/blank-cpu-lid-top-socket-cover-1552127636\">tomeqs\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The central processing unit (CPU) is the brains of your PC. \u201cCentral\u201d is right there in the name, after all. But every ruler needs a throne\u2014and, when it comes to the CPU, the throne matters a lot. In fact, if your CPU gets the wrong seat, it won\u2019t be able to rule over your computer after all.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CPU_Sockets_101\"><\/span>CPU Sockets 101<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The throne of which we\u2019re speaking is known as the CPU socket, and it\u2019s where the CPU sits in the motherboard. But not all sockets can accept all processors, and the biggest differentiator starts with the classic rivalry between AMD and Intel, the two major brands for CPUs in Windows PC.<\/p>\n<p>Socket types are built into the motherboard and cannot be changed, and every part of the motherboard is tuned to work with particular generations of AMD or Intel processors. So, choosing between AMD and Intel impacts which motherboard models are available to you.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Is_the_CPU_Socket\"><\/span>Where Is the CPU Socket?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Where you find the CPU socket can vary depending on the type of motherboard you\u2019re using. Standard ATX motherboards (as well as Micro ATX and EATX) have the socket toward the top, while on a Mini-ITX board, it\u2019s a little closer to the center.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to tell what the socket is because it\u2019s a big blank square and takes up a good chunk of space on the motherboard.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AMD_vs_Intel_Sockets_How_to_Tell_the_Difference\"><\/span>AMD vs. Intel Sockets: How to Tell the Difference<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve found the CPU socket, we need to tell the difference between AMD and Intel, which comes down to the pins. CPUs communicate with the rest of the system through electrical connections carried through sets of pins. Depending on the processor, those pins are either on the socket or on the underside of the CPU itself.<\/p>\n<p>For AMD, the pins are on the CPU, while the socket is a set of holes that the CPU slots into. Intel, meanwhile, leaves the pins on the motherboard, and the CPU has a set of contacts on the underside of the processor.<\/p>\n<p>Where the pins are is the big difference between the two types of processors and how you can easily tell the two sockets apart, but there are other signs that you can look for.<\/p>\n<p>Intel, for example, uses a retention bracket and latch with the bracket partially covering the seated CPU.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-713699 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/motherboard.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A bare Intel CPU socket with the retention bracket up.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/varna-bulgaria-january-08-2021-msi-1892717443\" data-credittext=\"Maryia_K\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Intel CPU socket. Note the pins protruding from the socket and the larger retention bracket, which will be lowered over the CPU to keep it in place. <span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/varna-bulgaria-january-08-2021-msi-1892717443\">Maryia_K\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Unlike Intel, AMD uses a single retention lever. The seated AMD processor won\u2019t be partially covered by a bracket.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-739295 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/amd-cpu-socket.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"An empty AMD CPU socket on a motherboard.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/socket-am4-amd-processor-on-black-1782995960\" data-credittext=\"jantsarik\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An AMD CPU socket. Note the inset holes in the socket and the smaller lever used to secure the CPU. <span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/socket-am4-amd-processor-on-black-1782995960\">jantsarik\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CPU_Generations_Matter\"><\/span>CPU Generations Matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once you get to know the characteristics of both socket types, it\u2019s hard to confuse the two. However, there\u2019s more to sockets than just AMD vs. Intel. It also matters which generation of processor you use. Just because you have an Intel CPU, for example, doesn\u2019t guarantee that it will fit into any old Intel-compatible motherboard, and the same goes for AMD.<\/p>\n<p>The reason for this is that pin design and pin count impact the functionality of the system. Each pin is wired to communicate with a specific part of the system. Often, an old pin design cannot accommodate new features. For that reason, the socket design can often change between generations. For a more detailed explanation of pin design and socket changes, check out this <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DIBtZfKfaMk\">Techquikie video on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Often_Do_New_Socket_Types_Arrive\"><\/span>How Often Do New Socket Types Arrive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AMD and Intel have to walk a fine line, of course. Many people want to buy the latest and greatest CPUs for their computers, but they don\u2019t necessarily want to spring for a new motherboard every single time a new CPU comes out.<\/p>\n<p>The two companies do try to accommodate users when possible, but they also won\u2019t hesitate to move to a new socket type if they need to. At the time of this writing in July 2021, AMD\u2019s most recent flagship lineup of CPUs is Ryzen 5000. It uses an AM4 socket, as do previous generations of Ryzen CPUs. But Ryzen 5000 supports only motherboard models built for Ryzen 5000 as well as most Ryzen 4000-compatible motherboards. Go back any further than that, and Ryzen 5000 won\u2019t work despite the fact that older Ryzen motherboards are using the same socket.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a similar situation on the other side. Intel\u2019s most recent release at the time of this writing, Rocket Lake, uses an LGA 1200 socket, as does its predecessor, Comet Lake. Despite that seeming compatibility, however, there are some older Comet Lake boards rocking an LGA 1200 socket that won\u2019t work with a Rocket Lake processor.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-672041 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Intel10thGen.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"An Intel 10th generation blue processor packaging, with a desktop PC in the background\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" data-credittext=\"Intel\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Intel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In both situations, this incompatibility has little to do with the physical socket itself, but rather, mostly concerns the surrounding technologies that support the CPU, such as\u00a0the chipset.<\/p>\n<p>Intel is also expected to come out with a new flagship desktop CPU <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> in late 2021 or early 2022 called Alder Lake. This new generation is expected to use a different socket once again to accommodate new technologies.<\/p>\n<p>As you can see, sometimes, a particular socket will be around for years, while others only last for a generation or two. On top of that, sometimes, even the socket name isn\u2019t a good guide to compatibility, as both Rocket Lake and Ryzen 5000 demonstrate.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Check_Whether_a_CPU_Fits_Your_Motherboard\"><\/span>How to Check Whether a CPU Fits Your Motherboard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With all of these little gotchas, it isn\u2019t a simple task to keep a motherboard-to-CPU compatibility chart in your head. An easier alternative when you\u2019re shopping for upgrades or a new PC build is to use websites such as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pcpartpicker.com\/\">PC Part Picker<\/a> that can verify compatibility between the CPU and motherboard before you buy.<\/p>\n<p>Socket types are a pretty simple concept to understand, but they can get confusing fast thanks to motherboard model types and compatibility issues. If you can identify AMD vs. Intel sockets, that\u2019s good enough. For everything else, a little research will get you the rest of the way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Is a Motherboard?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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CPU Socket Types Explained&#8221; tomeqs\/Shutterstock.com The central processing unit (CPU) is the brains of your PC. \u201cCentral\u201d is right there in the name, after all. But every ruler needs a throne\u2014and, when it comes to the CPU, the throne matters a lot. In fact, if your CPU gets the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":410487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cpu-socketed-into-motherboard.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-410486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410486\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/410487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}