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CPU socket
Provides mechanical and electrical connections between a microprocessor and a printed circuit board

A CPU socket provides mechanical and electrical connections between a microprocessor and a printed circuit board (PCB), allowing easy installation and replacement of the CPU without soldering. Common types include pin grid array (PGA) and land grid array (LGA), which use compression force for secure contacts, while zero insertion force sockets reduce pin damage. CPU sockets are prevalent on motherboards in desktop and server systems but less so in laptops, which often use surface-mounted CPUs. As pin density rises, challenges in reflow soldering and signal integrity increase, necessitating advanced PCB fabrication and cooling solutions like integrated heat sinks.

Function

A CPU socket is made of plastic, and often comes with a lever or latch, and with metal contacts for each of the pins or lands on the CPU. Many packages are keyed to ensure the proper insertion of the CPU. CPUs with a PGA (pin grid array) package are inserted into the socket and, if included, the latch is closed. CPUs with an LGA (land grid array) package are inserted into the socket, the latch plate is flipped into position atop the CPU, and the lever is lowered and locked into place, pressing the CPU's contacts firmly against the socket's lands and ensuring a good connection, as well as increased mechanical stability.

List

80x86

Table legend:

  Intel only   AMD only
SocketnameYear of introductionCPU families supportedComputer typePackagePin countPin pitch(mm)Bus clock &transfersNotes
DIP1970sIntel 8086Intel 8088DIP402.545/10 MHz
PLCC?Intel 80186Intel 80286Intel 80386PLCC68 to 1321.276–40 MHz
PGA68?Intel 80286PGA68
PGA132?Intel 80386PGA132
PGA168?Intel 80486AMD 486Cyrix 486PGA1682.5416–50 MHzSometimes referred to as Socket 0 or Socket 486
Socket 11989Intel 80486AMD 486AMD 5x86Cyrix 486Cyrix 5x86PGA1692.5416–50 MHz
Socket 2?Intel 80486Intel Pentium OverDrive (P24T)Intel DX4AMD 486AMD 5x86Cyrix 486Cyrix 5x86PGA2382.5416–50 MHz
Socket 31991Intel 80486Intel Pentium OverDrive (P24T)Intel DX4AMD 486AMD 5x86Cyrix 486Cyrix 5x86IBM Blue LightningPGA2372.54 16–50 MHz1
Socket 41993Intel PentiumPGA273?60–100 MHz
Socket 51994Intel PentiumAMD K5Cyrix 6x86IDT WinChip C6IDT WinChip 2PGA320?50–100 MHz
Socket 6?Intel 80486PGA235??Designed but not used
Socket 463/Socket NexGen1994NexGen Nx586PGA463?37.5–66 MHz
Socket 71994Intel PentiumIntel Pentium MMXAMD K6PGA321?50–66 MHzIt is possible to use Socket 7 processors in a Socket 5. An adapter is required, or if one is careful, a socket 7 can be pulled off its pins and put onto a socket 5 board, allowing the use of socket 7 processors.
Socket 81995Intel Pentium ProPGA387?60–66 MHz
Slot 11997Intel Pentium IIIntel Pentium IIIDesktopSlot242?66–133 MHzCeleron (Covington, Mendocino)Pentium II (Klamath, Deschutes)Pentium III (Katmai)- all versionsPentium III (coppermine)
Super Socket 71998AMD K6-2AMD K6-IIIRise mP6Cyrix MIIPGA321?66–100 MHzBackward compatible with Socket 5 and Socket 7 processors.
Slot 21998Intel Pentium II XeonIntel Pentium III XeonServerSlot330?100–133 MHz
Socket 6151999Intel Mobile Pentium IIIntel Mobile CeleronNotebookPGA615?66 MHz
Slot A1999AMD AthlonDesktopSlot242?100 MHz
Socket 3701999Intel Pentium IIIIntel CeleronVIA Cyrix IIIVIA C3DesktopPGA3701.27266–133 MHz
Socket A/Socket 4622000AMD AthlonAMD DuronAMD Athlon XPAMD Athlon XP-MAMD Athlon MPAMD SempronDesktopPGA462?100–200 MHz400 MT/s3
Socket 4232000Intel Pentium 4DesktopPGA42314100 MHz400 MT/sWillamette core only.Can accept some of Socket 478 CPU with an adapter
Socket 4952000Intel CeleronIntel Pentium IIINotebookPGA4951.27566–133 MHz
Socket 6032001Intel XeonServerPGA6031.276100–133 MHz400–533 MT/s
Socket 478/Socket N2001Intel Pentium 4Intel CeleronIntel Pentium 4 EEIntel Pentium 4 MDesktopPGA4781.277100–200 MHz400–800 MT/s
Socket 5632002AMD Athlon XP-MNotebookPGA563?333 MHz
Socket 6042002Intel XeonServerPGA6041.278100–266 MHz400–1066 MT/s
Socket 7542003AMD Athlon 64AMD SempronAMD Turion 64DesktopPGA7541.279200–800 MHz
Socket 9402003AMD OpteronAMD Athlon 64 FXDesktopServerPGA9401.2710200–1000 MHz
Socket 4792003Intel Pentium MIntel Celeron MNotebookPGA47911?100–133 MHz400–533 MT/s
Socket 9392004AMD Athlon 64AMD Athlon 64 FXAMD Athlon 64 X2AMD OpteronDesktopPGA9391.2712200–1000 MHzSupport of Athlon 64 FX to 1 GHzSupport of Opteron limited to 100-series only
LGA 775/Socket T2004Intel Pentium 4Intel Pentium DIntel CeleronIntel Celeron DIntel Pentium XEIntel Core 2 DuoIntel Core 2 QuadIntel XeonDesktopLGA7751.09 x 1.17131600 MHzCan accept LGA 771 CPU with slight modification and use of an adapter
Socket M2006Intel Core SoloIntel Core DuoIntel Dual-Core XeonIntel Core 2 DuoNotebookPGA478?133–166 MHz533–667 MT/sReplaces Socket 479
LGA 771/Socket J2006Intel XeonServerLGA7711.09 x 1.17141600 MHzSee LGA 775/Socket T above
Socket S12006AMD Turion 64 X2NotebookPGA6381.2715200–800 MHz
Socket AM22006AMD Athlon 64AMD Athlon 64 X2DesktopPGA9401.2716200–1000 MHzReplaces Socket 754 and Socket 939
Socket F/Socket L (Socket 1207FX)2006AMD Athlon 64 FXAMD Opteron(Socket L only support Athlon 64 FX)DesktopServerLGA12071.117Socket L: 1000 MHz in Single CPU mode,2000 MHz in Dual CPU modeReplaces Socket 940Socket L was intended for enthusiasts who wanted server power in a desktop PC. It is just a re-branded Socket F that doesn't need special RAM, and may have only been used in the Asus L1N64-SLI WS Motherboard.
Socket AM2+2007AMD Athlon 64AMD Athlon X2AMD PhenomAMD Phenom IIDesktopPGA9401.2718200–2600 MHzSeparated power planesReplaces Socket AM2AM2+ Pkg. CPUs can work in Socket AM2AM2 Pkg. CPUs can work in Socket AM2+
Socket P2007Intel Core 2NotebookPGA478?133–266 MHz533–1066 MT/sReplaces Socket M
LGA 1366/Socket B2008Intel Core i7 (900 series)Intel Xeon (35xx, 36xx, 55xx, 56xx series)DesktopServerLGA1366?4.8–6.4 GT/sReplaces Socket J (LGA 771) in the entry level.
Socket AM32009AMD Phenom IIAMD Athlon IIAMD SempronAMD Opteron (1300 series)DesktopPGA94119 or 940201.2721200–3200 MHzSeparated power planesReplaces Socket AM2+AM3 Pkg. CPUs can work in Socket AM2/AM2+Sempron 140 only
rPGA 988A/Socket G12009Intel ClarksfieldIntel ArrandaleNotebookrPGA98812.5 GT/sReplaces Socket P
LGA 1156/Socket H2009Intel Nehalem (1st gen)Intel WestmereDesktopLGA1156?2.5 GT/sDMI bus is a (perhaps modified) PCIe x4 v1.1 interface
Socket G342010AMD Opteron (6000 series)ServerLGA1974?200–3200 MHzReplaces Socket F
Socket C322010AMD Opteron (4000 series)ServerLGA1207?200–3200 MHzReplaces Socket F, Socket AM3
LGA 1567/Socket LS2010Intel Xeon 6500/7500-seriesServerLGA1567?4.8–6.4 GT/s
LGA 1155/Socket H22011/Q12011.01.09Intel Sandy Bridge (2nd gen)Intel Ivy Bridge (3rd gen)DesktopLGA1155?5.7 GT/sused for Intel 2nd generation, 3rd generation processors.

Sandy Bridge supports 20 PCIe 2.0 lanes.Ivy Bridge supports 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes.Intel Mainstream Socket.

LGA 2011/Socket R2011/Q32011.11.14Intel Core i7 3xxx Sandy Bridge-EIntel Core i7 4xxx Ivy Bridge-EIntel Xeon E5 2xxx/4xxx (Sandy Bridge EP) (2/4S)Intel Xeon E5-2xxx/4xxx v2 (Ivy Bridge EP) (2/4S)DesktopServerLGA2011?4.8–6.4 GT/sSandy Bridge-E/EP and Ivy Bridge-E/EP both support 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes.Using the Xeon focused 2011 socket gives also 4 memory Channels.
rPGA 988B/Socket G22011Intel Core i7Intel Core i5Intel Core i3(2000, 3000 series)NotebookrPGA98812.5 GT/s, 4.8 GT/s
Socket FM12011AMD Llano ProcessorsDesktopPGA9051.275.2 GT/sused for 1st generation APUs
Socket FS12011AMD Llano ProcessorsNotebookPGA7221.273.2 GT/sused for 1st generation Mobile APUs
Socket AM3+2011AMD FX Vishera[broken anchor]AMD FX ZambeziAMD Phenom IIAMD Athlon IIAMD SempronDesktopPGA942 (CPU 71pin)1.273.2 GT/s
LGA 1356/Socket B22012Intel Xeon (E5 1400 & 2400 series)ServerLGA1356?3.2–4.0 GT/s
Socket FM22012AMD Trinity ProcessorsDesktopPGA9041.27?used for 2nd generation APUs
LGA 1150/Socket H32013Intel Haswell (4th gen)Intel Haswell RefreshIntel Broadwell (5th gen)DesktopLGA1150??used for Intel's 4th generation (Haswell/Haswell Refresh), the handful of intel 5th generation processors
rPGA 946B/947/Socket G32013Intel HaswellNotebookrPGA94615.0 GT/s
Socket FM2+2014AMD KaveriAMD GodavariDesktopPGA9061.27?Compatible with AMD APUs such as "Richland" and "Trinity"
Socket AM12014AMD AthlonAMD SempronDesktopPGA7211.27?Compatible with AMD APUs such as "Kabini"
LGA 2011-v32014(August and September)Haswell-EHaswell-EPDesktopLGA2011?Up to 68 GB/sec.Depends on DDR4 speed and channel count.Up to 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes.Up to 4 memory Channels.
LGA 1151/Socket H42015Intel Skylake (6th gen)Intel Kaby Lake (7th gen)Intel Coffee Lake (8th gen)Intel Coffee Lake Refresh (9th gen)DesktopLGA1151?5 GT/s - 8 GT/sused for Intel's 6th generation (Skylake), 7th generation (Kaby Lake), 8th generation (Coffee Lake) processors, and 9th generation (Coffee Lake Refresh) processors
LGA 36472016Intel Xeon PhiIntel Skylake-SPServerLGA3647??used for Intel's Xeon Phi x200 and Xeon Scalable processors
Socket AM42016

AMD Athlon Bristol RidgeAMD Athlon Raven Ridge 14nmAMD Athlon Picasso 12nmAMD Ryzen 1000 seriesAMD Ryzen 2000 seriesAMD Ryzen 3000 seriesAMD Ryzen 4000 seriesAMD Ryzen 5000 series

DesktopPGA13311Depends on DDR4 speedcompatible with AMD Ryzen 9, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 5 & Ryzen 3 Zen based processors
Socket SP32017AMD Epyc Naples AMD Epyc Rome AMD Epyc MilanServerLGA4094?Depends on DDR4 speedcompatible with AMD Epyc processors
Socket TR4/Socket SP3r22017AMD Ryzen Threadripper (1000 series)AMD Ryzen Threadripper (2000 series)DesktopLGA4094?Depends on DDR4 speedcompatible with AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors
LGA 2066/Socket R42017Intel Skylake-XIntel Kaby Lake-XIntel Cascade Lake-XDesktopServerLGA2066??Used for Intel's 7th generation (Skylake-X & Kaby Lake-X & Cascade Lake-X) series of Core-X processors
Socket sTRX4/Socket SP3r32019AMD Ryzen Threadripper (3000 series)DesktopLGA4094?Depends on DDR4 speedcompatible with 3rd generation AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors
LGA 41892020Intel Cooper LakeIntel Ice Lake-SPDesktopServerLGA4189220.9923
LGA 12002020Intel Comet Lake (10th gen)Intel Rocket Lake (11th gen)DesktopLGA1200
LGA 17002021Intel Alder Lake (12th gen)Intel Raptor Lake (13th gen)

Intel Raptor Lake (14th gen)

DesktopLGA1700
Socket sWRX82022AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro (5000 series)DesktopLGA4094
Socket AM52022AMD Ryzen 7000 series AMD Ryzen 8000 series (APU)AMD Ryzen 9000 seriesDesktopLGA1718Zen 4 Ryzen CPUs
Socket SP52022AMD Epyc GenoaServerLGA6096Used for Epyc Genoa and Milan
LGA 46772022Intel Sapphire RapidsServerLGA4677
Socket SP62023AMD Epyc SienaServerLGA4844
Socket sTR52023AMD Ryzen Threadripper AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro (7000 series)DesktopLGA4844
LGA 18512024Intel Meteor Lake-PS (Core Ultra Series 1)Intel Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200S Series)TBADesktopLGA1851
LGA 75292024Intel Sierra ForestServerLGA7529
SocketnameYear of introductionCPU families supportedComputer typePackagePin countPin pitch(mm)Bus clock &transfersNotes

Other ISAs

SocketnameYear of introductionCPU families supportedComputer typePackagePin countPin pitch(mm)Bus clock &transfersNotes
Daughter Card1995PowerPC 601+DesktopSlot146?40-60 Hz
Socket 288?PowerPC 603+DesktopPGA288?40-60 Hz
Socket 4311995Alpha 21064/21064ADesktopPGA431?12.5–66.67 MHz
Socket 4991997Alpha 21164/21164ADesktopPGA499?15–100 MHz
Socket 5871998Alpha 21264DesktopPGA587?12.5–133 MHz
Slot B1999Alpha 21264/21264ADesktopSlot587?100 MHz24
PAC4182001Intel ItaniumServerPGA418?133 MHz
PAC6112002Intel Itanium 2HP PA-8800, PA-8900ServerPGA611?200 MHz
LGA 12482010Intel Itanium 9300-series and upServerLGA1248?4.8-6.4 GT/s
SocketnameYear of introductionCPU families supportedComputer typePackagePin countPin pitch(mm)Bus clock &transfersNotes

Slotkets

Slotkets are special adapters for using socket processors in bus-compatible slot motherboards.

See also

References

  1. Some late model Socket 3 motherboards unofficially supported FSB speeds up to 66MHz ↩

  2. "Intel 815 Chipset Family" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved May 4, 2009. http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/designex/29071401.pdf ↩

  3. This is a double data rate bus. FSB in the later models. ↩

  4. "423 Pin Socket (PGA423) Design Guidelines" (PDF). Intel. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 29, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2009. http://download.intel.com/design/Pentium4/guides/24920701.pdf ↩

  5. "495-Pin and 615-pin micro-PGA ZIF Socket Design Specification Application Note" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved May 3, 2009. http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/applnots/24528401.pdf ↩

  6. "mPGA 604 Socket Mechanical Design Guide" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved May 3, 2009. http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/designguide/254239.pdf ↩

  7. "Intel Pentium 4 Processor 478-Pin Socket (mPGA478) Design Guidelines" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved May 3, 2009. http://download.intel.com/design/Pentium4/guides/24989002.pdf ↩

  8. "mPGA 604 Socket Mechanical Design Guide" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved May 3, 2009. http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/designguide/254239.pdf ↩

  9. "AMD Sempron Processor Product Data Sheet" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 3, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/31805.pdf ↩

  10. "AMD Opteron Processor Product Data Sheet" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 3, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/23932.pdf ↩

  11. CPU only has 478 pins, but the socket has 479. ↩

  12. "AMD Opteron Processor Product Data Sheet" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 3, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/23932.pdf ↩

  13. "LGA 775 Socket Mechanical Design Guide" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved May 4, 2009. http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/designguide/302666.pdf ↩

  14. "LGA771 Socket Mechanical Design Guide" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved May 3, 2009. http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/designguide/313871.pdf ↩

  15. "Low-Profile Socket S1 Design Specification" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 3, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/31839.pdf ↩

  16. "AMD Opteron Processor Product Data Sheet" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 3, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/23932.pdf ↩

  17. "Thermal Design Guide for Socket F (1207) Processors" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 6, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/32800.pdf ↩

  18. "AMD Opteron Processor Product Data Sheet" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 3, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/23932.pdf ↩

  19. CPU only has 938 pins, but the socket has 941. ↩

  20. AMD Documentation "Socket AM3 design Specification" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved January 5, 2012. http://support.amd.com/us/Processor_TechDocs/40523.pdf ↩

  21. "AMD Opteron Processor Product Data Sheet" (PDF). AMD. Retrieved May 3, 2009. https://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/23932.pdf ↩

  22. "LGA 4189 Socket and Hardware" (PDF). https://www.mouser.com/pdfDocs/LGA4189.pdf ↩

  23. "LGA 4189 Socket and Hardware" (PDF). https://www.mouser.com/pdfDocs/LGA4189.pdf ↩

  24. Hachman, Mark (February 2, 1999). "Alpha camp moves to "Slot B" connector to push further into workstations". EE Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022. https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1120882 ↩