What are the differences between intel sockets

Everything inside a computer revolves around communication, be it between the different elements of a machine, the user who uses it, or the different equipment involved in this use. The main connection between the processor, brain of our team, and the board on which the different components of our team rest is the socket (or socket), which Intel was a pioneer in its application. Today we want to explore this system, through the differences between Intel's sockets today and their characteristics.

Index of contents

What is a socket or socket

To continue this text, we believe that it is consistent to talk about what exactly is a CPU socket in computing. This opening is the way through which our CPU receives the necessary resources for its operation and that of the equipment. Through this socket, the processor receives power, is fixed to the board and communicates with the chipset and the components of the equipment, such as memories.

When we talk about socket , or socket, we usually do it referring to those that allow this connection without the need for soldering, enabling processor changes in an open architecture. In the case of systems such as laptops, consoles, or the like, this connection is made by soldering and does not enable changes.

Depending on how this connection is, we can talk about different types of sockets, the most widespread being:

• PGA ( Pin Grid Array ). It is the oldest connection. In it we find the connection pins on the processor and the contacts on the socket itself. LGA ( Land Grid Array ). Typically on Intel processors, the connection is unlike PGA, with the pins on the socket and the connection on the processor. BGA ( Ball Grid Array ). The format used in soldered connections, which prevent modifications by the user.

The distribution of these pins and their number usually depends on the power consumption of the processors and their voltage, although the functions of this part also come into play.

Sockets for Intel processors

Intel is a pioneer in the use of this connection system between motherboard and processor, so it is also the one with the most history with it. For more than 10 years, the usual connection method for its processors is the LGA for all those systems that do not have the soldered chip.

The Mountain View company's relationship with this connection is, however, somewhat violent. The company's baseboards usually have a short life on the market, which ends up being translated into a large number of them over the years and through their different series. Since the creation of the LGA 775 we can see more than 15 different iterations:

As of this article, Intel has two main sockets for its desktop processors: the LGA 1151 (rev2) for the home range, and the LGA 2066 for servers and the enthusiastic range. The differences between the two revolve, almost entirely, in the processors they support and their characteristics.

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About chipsets and socket

To close this text, we would like to take a moment to talk about chipsets . If the socket is the connection between the motherboard and the processor, this auxiliary circuit is in charge of communication between the two parties. The relationship between socket and chipset is determined by the processors they support, since both have been developed around this component of the equipment.

Different motherboards will have different chipsets and sockets that will give them compatibility with specific series of processors, but these two elements should not be confused or unduly related. We have already dedicated a more focused space on this element in another of our articles.

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And this is all we have to say about what the differences are between the Intel sockets without going into more technical details. If you want to know more about these chipsets and more sections of this component, we invite you to read more in our article on the chipsets of our motherboards, or our article on the best motherboards that we can find on the market today.