The most annoying part of building your own PC at home is matching up the parts. This motherboard doesn’t support that processor, that video card in incompatible with that motherboard… the list goes on and on. Way back when I had a dial-up network card that I had to keep uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers for every time I restarted the computer. It got old, but I wasn’t smart enough back then to realize that it was probably my computer’s way of saying “I don’t like that P.O.S.”. And it was a piece of crap, too. And I didn’t have enough sense to make sure it was compatible.
Fast forward seventeen years later, I still do stuff like that. I see a heck of a deal on Amazon or Ebay, and I can’t fish my credit card out fast enough. I have three video capture cards from the HTPC build I did a few years back that didn’t work with my setup. They were slow, or simply incompatible. And that’s also how I ended up with my little box of CPUs. Each in its own ESD bag, each with no motherboard to pair with it, because even after all these years, I still buy things on impulse and not check if my mobo’s socket is compatible with that flashy microprocessor I found online.
So in order to keep you all from making the same mistakes as myself, we are going to give you all a grand tour of the latest sockets and their most compatible processors. It makes building a new gaming or work rig so much easier if you don’t have to return a motherboard or processor for a refund and order a new one. Knowledge is power, as well as money.
On the next page we start off our tour with the Intel LGA 1155…
First up is the Intel LGA 1155 socket, also known as Socket H2. It was released in early 2011 and was created as a replacement for the LGA 1156 (Socket H) and sports 1155 protruding pins that make contact with pads on the processor. While the 1156 and 1155 have different notches and are not interchangeable, their CPUs produce heat in similar quantities and, having the same dimensions, their heatsinks and water cooling options are interchangeable.
The LGA 1155 is used for the Intel Ivy Bridge chipsets as well as Sandy Bridge Original chipsets. SBO will, with the exception of Q65, Q67 and B65, accept microprocessors for either chipset if the BIOS is upgraded to support it. Ivy Bridge, on the other hand, supports processors designed for either chipset, and supports RAM up to DDR3-1600, up from DDR3-1333 of SBO, and allows the overclocking of K-series processors.
Most of Sandy Bridge Original chipsets support both USB 2.0 and 3.0, while all Ivy Bridge chipsets support 2.0 and 3.0. Below is a list of supported processors for the LGA 1155 socket:
- Intel® Core™ i7 Desktopi7-2600K Processor (8M Cache, 3.40 Ghz)LGA11553400no95
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2102 (3M Cache, 3.10 GHz)LGA11553100no65
- Intel® Celeron®G440 (1M Cache, 1.60 GHz)LGA11551600no35
- Intel® Celeron®G530T (2M Cache, 2.00 GHz)LGA11552000no35
- Intel® Celeron®G540 (2M Cache, 2.50 GHz)LGA11552500yes65
- Intel® Celeron®G620 (3M Cache, 2.60 GHz)LGA11552600no65
- Intel® Celeron®G630T (3M Cache, 2.30 GHz)LGA11552300no35
- Intel® Celeron®G620T (3M Cache, 2.20 GHz)LGA11552200no35
- Intel® Celeron®G840 (3M Cache, 2.80 GHz)LGA11552800no65
- Intel® Celeron®G630 (3M Cache, 2.70 GHz)LGA11552700no65
- Intel® Celeron®G850 (3M Cache, 2.90 GHz)LGA11552900yes65
- Intel® Celeron®G860 (3M Cache, 3.00 GHz) LGA11553000no65
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2100 (3M Cache, 3.10 GHz)LGA11553100no65
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2120T (3M Cache, 2.60 GHz)LGA11552600no35
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2100T (3M Cache, 2.50 GHz)LGA11552500no35
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2125 (3M Cache, 3.30 GHz)LGA11553300no65
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2105 (3M Cache, 3.10 GHz)LGA11553100no65
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2120 (3M Cache, 3.30 GHz)LGA11553300yes65
- Intel® Core™ i3 Desktopi3-2130 (3M Cache, 3.40 GHz)LGA11553400no65
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2400 (6M Cache, 3.10 GHz)LGA11553100yes95
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2400S (6M Cache, 2.50 GHz)LGA11552500no65
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2390T (3M Cache, 2.70 GHz)LGA11552700no35
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2405S (6M Cache, 2.50 GHz)LGA11552500no65
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2500 (6M Cache, 3.30 GHz)LGA11553300no95
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2500S (6M Cache, 2.70 GHz)LGA11552700no65
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2500T (6M Cache, 2.30 GHz)LGA11552300no45
- Intel® Core™ i5 Desktopi5-2500K (6M Cache, 3.30 GHz)LGA11553300no95
- Intel® Core™ i7 Desktopi7-2600 (8M Cache, 3.40 GHz)LGA11553400yes95
- Intel® Core™ i7 Desktopi7-2600S (8M Cache, 2.80 GHz)LGA11552800no65
- Intel® Core™ i7 Desktopi7-2600K (8M Cache, 3.40 GHz)LGA11553400no95
On the next page we look at Intel’s LGA 2011
LGA 2011, aka Socket R, is another Intel socket that was released in late 2011 to replace the LGA 1366 and LGA 1567 intended for high-end performance and server motherboards. It is called the 2011 because it has that many contact points, not because it was released in 2011. It uses QPI (Quick Path Interconnect) to connect the CPU to additional CPUs.
It supports Sandy Bridge-E chipsets, an eight-core processor based on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, with four memory channels of DDR3-1600. It also boasts 40x PCIe 2.0 or 3.0 lanes. LGA 2011 motherboards can have either 4 or 8 DIMM slots which would support a maximum 32Gb, 64GB, or 128GB of RAM. It will be compatible with future Ivy Bridge-E processors and ensures platform scalability beyond eight cores and 20MB of cache.
A list of compatible CPUs is as follows:
Desktop Models:
| Name | Cores | Threads | Frequency | Turbo Boost | Multiplier | L2 Cache | L3 Cache | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i7 3960X Extreme Edition | 6 | 12 | 3.30 Ghz | 3.90 Ghz | Unlocked | 6 x 256kb | 15MB | 130W |
| Core i7 3930K | 6 | 12 | 3.20 Ghz | 3.80 Ghz | Unlocked | 6 x 256kb | 12MB | 130W |
| Core i7 3820 | 4 | 8 | 3.60 Ghz | 3.80 Ghz | Partially Unlocked | 4 x 256kb | 10MB | 130W |
Server Models:
| Name | Cores | Threads | Frequency | Turbo Boost | Multiplier | L2 Cache | L3 Cache | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xeon E5 1620 | 4 | 8 | 3.60 Ghz | 3.90 Ghz | 38 | 4 x 256kb | 10MB | 130W |
| Xeon E5 1650 | 6 | 12 | 3.20 Ghz | 3.80 Ghz | 38 | 6 x 256kb | 12MB | 130W |
| Xeon E5 1660 | 6 | 12 | 3.30 Ghz | 3.90 Ghz | 39 | 6 x 256kb | 15MB | 130W |
| Xeon E5 2603 | 4 | 4 | 1.8 Ghz | N/A | 18 | ? | 10MB | 80W |
| Xeon E5 2609 | 4 | 4 | 2.4 Ghz | N/A | 24 | ? | 10MB | 80W |
| Xeon E5 2620 | 6 | 12 | 2.0Ghz | 2.5Ghz | 25 | ? | 15MB | 95W |
| Xeon E5 2630 | 6 | 12 | 2.3Ghz | 2.8Ghz | 28 | ? | 15MB | 95W |
| Xeon E5 2640 | 6 | 12 | 2.5Ghz | 3.0Ghz | 30 | ? | 15MB | 95W |
| Xeon E5 2650 | 8 | 16 | 2.0Ghz | 2.8Ghz | 28 | ? | 20MB | 95W |
| Xeon E5 2660 | 8 | 16 | 2.2Ghz | 3.0Ghz | 30 | ? | 20MB | 95W |
| Xeon E5 2665 | 8 | 16 | 2.4Ghz | 3.1Ghz | 31 | ? | 20MB | 115W |
| Xeon E5 2670 | 8 | 16 | 2.6Ghz | 3.3Ghz | 33 | ? | 20MB | 115W |
| Xeon E5 2680 | 8 | 16 | 2.7Ghz | 3.5Ghz | 35 | ? | 20MB | 130W |
| Xeon E5 2690 | 8 | 16 | 2.9Ghz | 3.8Ghz | 38 | ? | 20MB | 135W |
On the next page we move into the AMD sockets. A lot of my friends give me crap for using AMD, but I’ve been a supporter of their CPUs for as long as I can remember and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. They’ve always seemed like the underdog to me, but seem to delight in producing powerful processors sometimes at a fraction of what Intel charges. Don’t get me wrong, I do like Intel. The laptop I’m writing this on right now has an Intel processor. My netbook is also an Intel, as is the computer I built for my kids to keep unknown stickiness off this laptop. But my baby, the PC I built for my 3D modeling projects, is AMD. And I wouldn’t trade it for any of the other computers in my house.
Now we move on to AMD sockets. On the next page we look at the Socket FM1…
The Socket FM1 was released in mid-2011 for the A-series Fusion (Llano) processors and Llano-derived Athlon II processors. It was designed to be used with the AMD Fusion Family 12h microarchitecture, called Llano popularly. It is an evolution of the K10 design featuring a 1MB L2 cache per core, and no L3 cache. It has an improved hardware prefetcher, a redesigned memory controller, power-saving improvements including clock gating, and Onion and Garlic interfaces for interfacing with an on-die GPU. It is also used to make a great Italian meatball and pasta dish, from the sound of it. Here is some of the perks of owning one of these CPUs:
- All models feature upgraded Stars (Mobile Phenom II architecture) CPU cores (Husky) with no L3 cache, and with Evergreen family graphics, specifically Redwood-class integrated graphics on die (WinterPark for the dual-core variants and BeaverCreek for the quad-core variants).
- All models are manufactured on GlobalFoundries’ 32nm SOI process.
- All Lynx desktop models support up to 4 DIMMs of DDR3-1866 memory and Sabine mobile models support up to 2 DIMMs of DDR3-1333 / DDR3-1600 dual-channel memory.
- All models feature UVD3 for hardware video decoding, including 120Hz stereoscopic 3D support.
- All models have an integrated PCIe 2.0 controller.
- Select models support AMD’s Turbo Core technology for faster CPU operation when the thermal specification permits.
- Select models support Hybrid Graphics technology to assist a discrete Radeon HD 6450, 6570, or 6670 discrete graphics card. This is similar to the Hybrid CrossFireX technology.
And here is a list of supported processors:
| Model Number | Cores | Frequency | Turbo | L2 Cache | Multiplier | Voltage | Memory Support | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E2-3200 | 2 | 2.4Ghz | N/A | 2 x 512kb | 24x | 0.4125 – 1.4125 | DDR3-1600 | 65W |
| A4-3300 | ^ | 2.5Ghz | N/A | ^ | 25x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| A4-3400 | ^ | 2.7Ghz | N/A | ^ | 27x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| A4-3420 | ^ | 2.8Ghz | N/A | ^ | 28x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| A6-3500 | 3 | 2.1Ghz | 2.4Ghz | 3 x 1 MB | 21x | ^ | DDR3-1866 | ^ |
| A6-3600 | 4 | 2.1Ghz | 2.4Ghz | 4 x 1 MB | 21x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| A6-3620 | ^ | 2.2Ghz | 2.5Ghz | ^ | 22x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| A6-3650 | ^ | 2.6Ghz | N/A | ^ | 26x | ^ | ^ | 100W |
| A6-3670K | ^ | 2.7Ghz | N/A | ^ | 27x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| A8-3800 | ^ | 2.4Ghz | 2.7Ghz | ^ | 24x | ^ | ^ | 65W |
| A8-3820 | ^ | 2.5Ghz | 2.8Ghz | ^ | 25x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| A8-3850 | ^ | 2.9Ghz | N/A | ^ | 29x | ^ | ^ | 100W |
| A8-3870K | ^ | 3.0Ghz | N/A | ^ | 30x | ^ | ^ | ^ |
^ means “same as above”.
On the next page we take a look at AMD’s Socket AM3+…
Last but not least, we come to the Socket AM3+. It is a modification of the AM3 socket to allow CPUs that use Bulldozer microarchitecture and retains compatibility with the slightly older AM3 processors. It has a 942-pin socket count, one more than AM3, and has larger pin socket diameter of 51 mm compared to 45 mm with the AM3 Socket. It is backward compatible with AM3 coolers, while offering improved power regulation and power quality specifications, and has a serial link of 3400 Mhz to the power controller, as opposed to 400 Mhz with the previous socket.
AM3+ microprocessors are compatible with some AM3 motherboards, provided you perform a simple BIOS upgrade and your motherboard can provide the wattage needed to power the processor. Also, some power saving features may not work, due to lack of support for rapid Vcore switching. Also, using an AM3+ processor in a AM3 board is not supported by AMD, and you will likely void your warranty and will be screwed if you fry any of your components.
Here’s a list of AMD’s AM3+ processors for your enjoyment:
| Model Number | Frequency | Total L2 Cache | L3 Cache | Packaging | Thermal Design Power | CMOS Technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX 8150 | 3.6/4.2 GHz | 8MB | 8MB | socket AM3+ | 125W | 32nm SOI |
| FX 8120 | 3.1/4.0 GHz | 8MB | 8MB | socket AM3+ | 125W | 32nm SOI |
| FX 8100 | 3.1/3.7 GHz | 8MB | 8MB | socket AM3+ | 95W | 32nm SOI |
| FX 6200 | 3.8/4.1 GHz | 6MB | 8MB | socket AM3+ | 125W | 32nm SOI |
| FX 6100 | 3.3/3.9 GHz | 6MB | 8MB | socket AM3+ | 95W | 32nm SOI |
| FX 4170 | 4.2/4.3 Ghz | 4MB | 8MB | socket AM3 | 125W | 32nm SOI |
| FX 4100 | 3.6/3.8 Ghz | 4MB | 8MB | socket AM3+ | 95W | 32nm SOI |
AMD64 Technology |
Yes |
| Simultaneous 32- & 64-bit computing | Yes |
| L1 Cache (Instruction + Data) per core | 128KB (64KB + 64KB) |
| L2 Cache (1MB per core) | 8MB or 6MB or 4MB |
| L3 Cache | 8MB (shared L3) |
HyperTransport™ Technology |
HyperTransport™ Technology up to 4000MT/s full duplex, or up to 16.0GB/s I/O Bandwidth |
| Integrated DDR3 Memory Controller | Yes |
Memory Controller Width |
128-bit |
| Type of Memory Supported | Up to DDR3 18661 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Up to 21 GB/s dual channel memory bandwidth |
| Total Processor-to-system Bandwidth (HyperTransport plus memory bandwidth) | Up to 37 GB/s |
| Process Technology | 32 nanometer, SOI (silicon-on-insulator) Technology |
| Packaging | AM3+ |
| Thermal Design Power | 125W, & 95W |
| Manufacturing Sites | GLOBALFOUNDRIES Dresden, Germany |
On the next page we wrap everything up about what we’ve learned.
So there you have it, the latest and greatest in a long line of AMD and Intel sockets. I’m sure this time next year we’ll have 4 fresh sockets to look at, but for now, if you make sure you read everything about the processor or motherboard you are buying and ensure that they match up, you will be fine. Every motherboard manufacturer lists the compatible CPUs for their boards on their website, and at most a short time searching will eventually bring you to a list of what works and what doesn’t. Hopefully this article gave you a small amount of knowledge before you go out on a shopping spree. If not, then hopefully you don’t spend too much time returning merchandise and staring at a blank screen while your new hardware comes in.