A CPU socket allows a processor to receive power, and exchange information with the other components in the computer. There are many types of CPU sockets, and being able to identify one and know how to use it is a crucial part of the process of upgrading a processor.

What Is It?

The CPU socket is a rectangular area, slightly larger than a dollar, on the motherboard. It has thousands of small metal pins or holes, used to work in conjunction with the processor, and a lever, used to clamp the processor to the socket and hold it in place.

History

Until the 1990s, it was common for CPU sockets to be leverless. With this type of socket, force was required to snap the processor into place. The result of this was that the pins frequently bent if done incorrectly, and the processor had to be forced with a tool if it needed to be changed or upgraded. This process was not very popular with computer technicians or end consumers, and as new generations of processors with more pins entered the market, it became necessary to opt for a better solution.

Types

The best-known socket is the CPU or microprocessor socket, but it is not the only one, as there are also sockets for other components. However, these are usually called by other names for their differentiation, speaking then of slots ... The sockets allow the processor or the component to be exchanged without having to change the rest of the computer.

This is what is called open architecture, in which the same board can serve as support for several types of processors and this can be changed without problems. The opposite is the so-called closed or proprietary architecture, in which the components are soldered, and therefore are not interchangeable. Even in the open architecture, each socket will only support a small range of processors, not all of them.

Each family of processors uses a different connection, and different voltage... and therefore requires a different socket. For example, Pentium IIs use a different socket than Pentium IIIs, and these from Pentium IVs. However, you can find adapters to put an older processor on a modern board, as long as they are from the same manufacturer. Obviously, the two major chip producers in the world, AMD and Intel , use totally different socket technologies and are not very compatible with each other, preventing an AMD processor from being mounted on a board that has not been designed for it, and vice versa.

PGA Socket Type

Today, two types of CPU sockets are used: the Pin Grid Array (PGA) and the Land Grid Array (LGA). PGA sockets have hundreds of small holes, into which the pins of a PGA processor are inserted.

LGA Socket Type

The LGA sockets are used more with Intel processors: the pins are on the CPU socket, while on the bottom of the processor there are flat metal contact points. The LGA sockets allow for more pin counts, which in turn provide the processor with a reliable power source.

Use

To insert a processor into a modern CPU socket, the lever on the side of the socket must be lifted. The processor will easily fit into the socket, without the need to force it. The lever is then lowered to lock the processor in place. After the processor is installed, the processor cooling unit can be mounted on top of it.

It's Problems

Although there are only two types of general CPU socket categories, there are many different types within these categories, and each supports a limited number of processors. If a processor doesn't fit easily into a socket, it may have the wrong number of pins, or be facing the wrong direction. Never try to force a processor into a socket as both can be damaged. The correct orientation is indicated (either with a white dot or triangle) in one of the corners of the processor. This should line up with a similar mark on the socket.