Socket Intel. Intel processor sockets

Hello everyone Let's talk about Intel hardware, or rather about which socket is best to build a computer on in 2016 or 2017, although now it is still 2016, I think that this information will easily be suitable for 2017. So I’ll write everything in simple words and these guys are exactly my opinion, my thoughts and all that

So now it’s 2016, the 775th socket is long gone, so we won’t talk about it, although guys, this socket still haunts fans..

So I’ll start with socket 1366, this is also an old socket, but it would be stupid not to write about it. The fact is that the 1366 socket was positioned as a solution for very powerful computers, so even today this socket runs many modern games. Socket 1366 supports a three-channel memory mode, there are i7 processors with 6 cores for this socket, but since they come with Hyper-Threading technology, that is, with threads, Windows sees such a percentage as 12-core. By the way, the processors are made using a 45 nm process technology. Even today, the 1366 socket is powerful, if you have a top-end i7, maximum Opera, a normal video card, then, as I already wrote, many games will run on such hardware. Speaking of opera, according to some sources, socket 1366 supports a maximum of 24 gigabytes of DDR3, according to other sources, 48 ​​gigabytes. But it seems that you can install 48 gigabytes on the X58 chipset. In general, this topic needs to be studied, I think that 48 gigs can still be installed, I myself have read some reviews and, so to speak, there is no smoke without fire... Well, you understand...

I also wanted to say about the 1366 socket that, of course, everything is cool there, well, I’m talking about six-core i7s, but the only joke guys is that they will already lag behind modern models in terms of performance. In short, I mean that a six-core i7 on a 1366 socket is an old processor and therefore it will be slower than modern four-core processors, not by much, but slower, and at the same time it will consume more energy..

By the way, the most powerful processor for 1366 socket, do you know which one? This is the i7 990X model, really cool, here is a screenshot of the CPU-Z program with this percentage:

But the 1366 socket has one more big plus: there are motherboards on this socket that support working with two processors at once. That is, as I wrote, such power is hardly needed by an ordinary user. Here is an example of a motherboard on which you can install two processors:

By the way, this is the ASUS Z8PE D12X model

And I’ll write something else to you, so if you suddenly look for a motherboard for socket 1366, then be careful! The funny thing is that there are new motherboards for 1366 socket, some are new, but they are NONEAME, and this name is CHINESE. I strongly do not recommend such motherboards!

So what else do we have there? There is a 1155 socket, I don’t have much to say here, because it is almost the same as the 1150 socket, but less productive. This socket is newer than 1366, but I still don’t recommend it, because it’s already outdated hardware, not today, not tomorrow... The 1155 socket supports 32 gigs of DDR3 opera, quad-core i7s that come with threads. But again, in principle you can buy it if it’s at a good price, but once again, the 1155 socket will be about 20 percent slower than the 1150 socket, well, about that much

Here are the processors on the 1155th socket, I don’t know if this is the whole list, but there are definitely some popular ones here (those with the letter K are overclockable):

Let's move on, now we have 1150 socket. Well, what can I say, in principle this is a modern socket, but I don’t recommend it either and I’ll write why. This means that the 1150 socket is the same 32 gigabytes of DDR3, the same quad-core processors, but if on the 1155th socket they are made using a 32 nm process technology, then on the 1150th socket it is already 22 nm, this is a plus (the processors are a little faster and cooler) . In general, everything is fine with this socket, it is almost the same as the 1155, but a little faster.

But why don’t I recommend taking even the 1150 socket, although it seems to be modern? And because 1151 sockets have already been released, here it is, this is exactly what I advise you to take both in 2016, although it is already ending, and in the beginning of 2017. 1151 sockets have the same price as 1150, but are more powerful, there is a newer generation of processors and DDR4 support, in general there are serious advantages, and the price is the same. In general, I still consider the 1151 socket platform to be the best in terms of price and performance, believe me, it’s true. DDR4 support will allow you to build up a really large amount of RAM over time; you can cram all 64 gigs, versus 32 gigs on the 1150 socket. Yes, and top models of processors on 1151 socket, this is really cool guys, because it’s very powerful

Look, these are just cool processors on socket 1151, just a note for you, look:

Why are they suddenly cool? But because they are on the coolest Kaby Lake core!!!

In principle, this is all that can be considered. There are also platforms 2011/2011-3, as I understand it, this is a continuation of socket 1366 and ordinary users are unlikely to need these platforms, they are very expensive and very powerful. For games this is super powerful, it’s simply not needed, believe me. And the prices there are simply outrageous...

So, what else is there on the sockets? Well, there is also socket 775, which I mentioned at the beginning. I think you are familiar with him, but maybe you don’t. In short, guys, this is an old socket. Yes, it’s really old, but is it worth burying it? I think it’s not worth it, everything happens in life and if you want to know what the 775th socket is capable of in 2017, then I will answer you, it is not capable of anything. And it will be a joke of course! The 775 socket is good in the sense that it’s not so dead, you can take a Q9650, overclock it, install a standard video card, 16 gigs of opera, and in principle I think you can play something...

There's another thing here, it's the price. A kit for used top-end hardware on the 775 socket will not cost that little guys. If you throw in a couple more tens of bucks, you can get the newest budget hardware on socket 1151, yes it will be budget, but the prospect of an upgrade is great. And don’t forget that between the 775th socket and the 1151st socket the difference is like an abyss, that is, very big. There, on socket 1151, the Pentium may already be even faster than the stock Q9650, I mean this seriously, after all, technology does not stand still.

So, what conclusion will we draw? I think we will. The best socket for 2016/2017 is definitely the 1151st, both in terms of price and performance. Believe me that this is the case, although you will probably still check this information, but I’ll tell you this, I won’t lie to you. You can take 1150, but 1151 is still better. Socket 1366 is for amateurs who want power and not cost too much, although finding boards on the 1366 socket is not an easy task. The 775th socket is even more for amateurs; it’s already difficult to squeeze anything out there even taking into account the overclocking of the Q9650. But for an office computer, the Q9650 will still be enough for a long time. The 1155th socket is also sufficient for an office, even if there is some kind of tree stump.

I completely forgot, there is also socket 1156, but this is generally a rare beast, I don’t know why. It’s older than 1155, and it’s clear that I don’t recommend it either. But it was on it that there was such a frame as a dual-core i5, which had 2 cores and 4 threads, by the way this is the i5 661 model, and maybe there were other models, I don’t know for sure, but on socket 1155 and the following sockets there is no such confusion anymore

In general, these are the things guys, it’s best to take 1151 socket, we’ll finish here, it seems that everything that is needed is what I wrote. And if I didn’t write something, then you’ll have to forgive me. Good luck to you and may everything go well for you

As part of this review, we will consider the most common modifications of Socket Intel processor sockets at the moment. This eminent manufacturer of computer equipment updates its product range with enviable regularity. Therefore, almost every two years he gets a new socket that is incompatible with the previously existing one.

What is a “socket”?

Initially, microprocessors were soldered onto the motherboard. But then leading manufacturers abandoned this arrangement. After all, it is much more convenient to install a special connector for the CPU on the motherboard. Then you can configure the computer properly and select exactly those components that will best suit its needs.

The connector for mounting a microprocessor on the motherboard is called Socket in professional computer jargon. Intel, as previously noted, very often updates its computing platforms. Therefore, it is quite difficult for an untrained user to understand such diversity. This short material is dedicated to a review of these computer platforms.

LGA775. Platform Features

The Intel processor socket debuted on the computer technology market in 2004. It replaced its key difference from its predecessor - it supports 64-bit computing technology. All previously existing platforms could only process code in 32-bit format. Initially, chips from the Pentium or Celeron lines were installed in this slot in single- or dual-core versions based on an architecture code-named NetBurst. Then this list was supplemented by the first representatives of the Core line based on the new microarchitecture of the same name - these are dual-core 2 Duo and 4-core 2 Quad.

Today, this hardware platform is completely outdated. The latest semiconductor chips within its framework were released in 2010. Now Intel has completely abandoned support for these computing solutions, since they have an extremely low level of performance, which does not allow such CPUs to process complex program code.

LGA1156 platform. Its features

The LGA1156 platform appeared on the shelves of specialized computer stores in 2009. Within its framework, high-performance Intel i5 and i7 microprocessors appeared for the first time. The segment of entry-level and mid-level solutions was occupied by CPUs of the Pentium and i3 lines, respectively. The budget niche was filled by representatives of the Celeron family. All chips for this socket had a three-digit marking and belonged to the first generation of microprocessors, codenamed Core. This distribution of computing devices from this eminent manufacturer has survived to this day.

The first important difference between these microprocessors and their predecessors was that they were required to be equipped with a three-level cache memory system. At the same time, previously existing models could boast only two levels. The manufacturer also included a chipset with a RAM controller and an integrated graphics core. Also, the presence of NT technology allowed one computing core to simultaneously process two code streams. All this in total significantly increased the performance of desktop computers compared to its predecessors. But at the moment this computer platform is also outdated.

Connector for His distinction

At the very beginning of 2011, the Intel processor socket successfully debuted on the computer technology market. The nomenclature and models of processors in this case have not changed radically. Only if previously the marking consisted of three numbers, now it already included four numbers.

The second generation of CPUs based on the Core architecture was designated 2XXX, and the third - 3XXX. The layout of the chips has also changed slightly. If previously there were two separate substrates for the computing part and for integrated graphics, now all elements were combined on one substrate.

The i7 chips included 4 code processing modules and 8 logic threads. In turn, Intel i5 had only 4 cores. At the same time, NT technology was not supported by representatives of this line, and they processed the code in the same 4 threads. What these two CPU lines had in common was that they supported TurboBust technology and could automatically increase their clock speed. Other chips could not boast of having such an option. The i3 model processors were equipped with only two computing modules, which could process program code in 4 threads. Younger modifications of the Celeron and Pentium series chips were equipped with two code processing units.

LGA1150 connector. Its specifications

The next CPU socket debuted in 2013. This Socket Intel was designated LGA1150. It was intended for installation of microprocessors for desktop systems based on the 4th and 5th generation Core computing architecture with the designations 4ХХХ and 5ХХХ respectively.

The layout of the computing part of the chips remained unchanged, but the graphics part was radically redesigned, and its performance increased significantly. It was also changed and the fifth generation of computing devices was already produced according to 14 nm standards.

The key innovation in this situation was to reduce energy consumption. This was achieved by reworking the power system. The latter circumstance allows you to automatically turn off computing elements that are not used during operation and reduce PC power consumption.

Characteristics of this connector

In 2015, according to the plan of the leading semiconductor giant, a new socket for the CPU appeared on the shelves - Intel Socket 1151. It can install Core chips of the 6th and 7th generations. In general, the layout, technical specifications and characteristics of these computing devices were the same as their predecessors. Only their frequencies were higher, but the increase was insignificant.

It is also necessary to note that the 7th generation Pentium microprocessors received support for NT logical multithreading technology. This increased their performance and put them on par with i3 chips. That is, such chips could process information in 4 threads.

The energy efficiency of the chips remained at the same level, and the technological process did not undergo any significant changes. Also, the built-in graphics card has been upgraded, and its performance has increased.

LGA1151 v.2. Peculiarities

The leading computer manufacturer, Intel, has made fundamental changes as part of the updated LGA1151v.2 platform. She debuted at the end of 2017. Physically, this connector is identical to the previously reviewed LGA1151. But at the software level, the installation of 6th and 7th generation chips is prohibited. This Intel processor socket is designed to accommodate 8th generation CPUs. In the future, newer microprocessors may be installed in it, which the semiconductor giant plans to announce in the fall of 2018.

The layout of the chips has undergone significant changes. The i7 flagships were equipped with 6 cores and 12 threads. In this case, the Socket LGA1151 v.2 models had six cores and the same number of threads. allows you to already install quad-core i3 modifications. The younger models of microprocessors did not change.

The technological process remained at the same 14 nm, as did the energy consumption level. Microprocessor clock speeds have been significantly increased. In this case, the flagship could operate at a record high frequency of 5 GHz, but only if the TurboBust mode was activated.

Conclusion

As part of this short review, the main modifications of connectors for Socket Intel chips were considered. This manufacturer regularly updates its computing platforms, and after two years a new computer becomes hopelessly outdated. Of course, its performance is still at an acceptable level, but more advanced new PCs are appearing with greater speed.

This approach allows you to increase the performance of stationary computers, but at the same time you can easily get lost in so many sockets. Especially for an unprepared beginner specialist. This review is largely devoted to resolving this issue.

There is probably no person who, being associated with computer technology, would not one day be interested in the question of what a socket is. In itself, this knowledge does not in any way affect the work at the computer, but in cases of repair or repair it is necessary. In addition, by understanding what a socket is, you can think through all the possible prospects for a particular solution even at the stage of purchasing a computer system. This potentially means future cost savings. Thus, you should have at least a basic understanding of what a socket is.

Let's take a closer look at the first photo of this article. What does it show? Any person will answer that this is an electrical outlet. And the specialist will add that it has a grounding sliding contact. Such devices are familiar to everyone, as they are found everywhere and are always in sight. It is not surprising that even a child knows their purpose. An electrical outlet is a device with two (three) sliding contacts designed to connect the pins of a power cord plug. How does this relate to what a socket is? In fact, the connection is very direct.

As you know, any microcircuit is a housing (semiconductor elements inside) with several rows of pins-legs, with the help of which it is connected to the connector (“mother”) into which the contact legs are inserted, which is called a socket. Structurally, the solution is very similar to a conventional electrical socket and plug (the socket is a connector, and the plug is the pins of the microcircuit). Note that microcircuits are sometimes simply soldered to the board tracks, without using sockets, but replacement in such a case is difficult.

It is very easy to understand what a processor socket is, if you remember that the latter is a microcircuit, only of relatively large size. The socket is located on the motherboard and looks like a square plate with many holes, the number of which corresponds to the processor legs. To securely fix the inserted microcircuit in the socket, a specially designed mechanical latch is used. Note that Intel, unlike AMD, has recently been using a different principle of connecting the processor and board. There are no legs on the microcircuit - instead there are round contact pads. And the spring-loaded pin legs are placed in the socket. This is the reverse design.

Sometimes on forums the question is asked about which socket to choose. In fact, you should first select a processor, and then a board with the appropriate socket for it. However, one important point must be taken into account. Intel is famous for the fact that often each new generation of processors involves the use of a new socket. This may lead to the fact that a recently purchased computer based on a processor from this company will be difficult to upgrade in a few years due to the incompatibility of the installed microprocessor and new ones offered on the market. AMD has a more loyal attitude towards customers: changing sockets occurs more slowly, and usually remains the same

Therefore, the recommendation is as follows: if you do not plan to upgrade your computer in the future, then you should choose the most productive processor (for which you have enough money) and a board for it. For future upgrades, sockets “1155” (Intel) and “AM3+” from AMD are suitable (for integrated graphics - FM socket).

Hello everyone, today’s post is on the topic of hardware, namely about the CPU and Socket and what they are like. I’ve just been asked similar questions several times, so it’s easier to write an article and give it to people to read. And so, a Socket is a connector on the motherboard of a computer or server into which you put your CPU (in common parlance, a stone). It has some characteristics, which we will talk about below, and consider the entire evolution of this technology.

There are server and desktop sockets (for regular computers). Below I will give a couple of screenshots honestly taken from Wikipedia, which depict intel and AMD sockets.

Intel Socket

Let's take for example these types of Socket LGA1155, LGA1156 and Socket LGA1366

Socket LGA1155

– The latest socket for Intel desktop processors with built-in DDR-III memory controllers (two channels) and PCI-E 2.0 bus (16 lanes), as well as support for processors with an integrated graphics adapter, replacing Socket LGA1156 and Socket LGA775.

Socket LGA1156

– Connector for Intel desktop processors with built-in DDR-III memory controllers (two channels) and PCI-E 2.0 bus (16 lanes), as well as support for processors with an integrated graphics adapter, replacing Socket LGA775. Currently, processors of the Core i3, i5 and i7 8XX families, as well as cheap processors under the Pentium brand, are produced for this processor socket.

Socket LGA1366
– Socket for new desktop and server Intel processors, with built-in DDR-III memory controllers (three channels) and QPI bus (one channel for desktop processors and two for server processors), replacement for both Socket LGA775 (for high-performance single-processor systems) and and Socket LGA771. Currently, processors of the Core i7 9XX and Xeon 55XX families are produced for this processor socket. As you probably know, Xeon is a server type of processor.

Socket differences

Despite the external similarity of the connectors, they are completely incompatible with each other, i.e.

LGA1155 processor cannot be installed in LGA1156 board and vice versa

In addition, this is mechanically prevented by a different arrangement of keys in the connector. Also, the main difference between LGA1155 processors and chipsets compared to LGA1156 counterparts is a twice as fast version of the DMI bus, which connects the processor to the chipset, which eliminates the bottleneck when using SATA 6Gb/s and USB3.0 controllers.

What is the difference between Socket LGA1156 and Socket LGA1366 connectors and processors for them? Are they compatible with each other?

An LGA1156 processor cannot physically be installed in an LGA1366 socket and vice versa, despite the similar processor names for both sockets.

What coolers can be used with Socket LGA1155, Socket LGA1156, and Socket LGA1366 processors?

Cooler mounting for LGA1155 and LGA1156 sockets is identical and is not compatible with LGA1366

Also, both of these types of mounts are not backwards compatible with any of the previously released sockets.

At work I have two models of HP ProLiant DL380 G7 servers and a second IBM System x3650 M3. Each of them has an LGA1366 socket, and there was even a practice of changing processors among themselves, since on HP it was more powerful, and on IBM the LSI raid controller worked better.

How to find out the Socket type

Here, too, everything is simple, the AIDA utility or its analogues can help you

An example of how the CPU-Z utility determines a socket; the utility is free and weighs a couple of megabytes. As you can see, the utility correctly identified IBM Socket 1366 LGA in the server

Processor socket- connector, a place on the computer where the processor is inserted. The processor, before it is installed on the motherboard, must fit the socket. It's like a socket and a contact plug - needless to say, a Euro plug will not fit into a simple Soviet socket.

Usually in computer stores, next to each processor you can see a sign that lists its main characteristics. So, the processor socket is almost the most important characteristic and it is this that you should first pay attention to when buying a new processor. Because it may happen that the processor will not fit the computer’s motherboard precisely because of the socket.

Just imagine - you came to a computer store, chose a processor there, paid money for it and came home happy, you start installing it - but it DOES NOT FIT! You drop everything, run back to the store, hoping to return this processor back and thereby correct the situation, you come running, and they tell you - “this is not a warranty case, you should have looked more carefully when you bought it.” Well, okay, it was a small lyrical digression. Now let’s talk specifically about these same sockets.

The whole variety of sockets can be divided into two large groups:

1. Intel processor sockets.
2. AMD processor sockets.

Below are photos of sockets from both processor companies.

In this photo you can see that the pin legs are sticking out from the socket on the motherboard.

In this photo, on the contrary, you can see the recesses for these contacts, and they themselves are located directly on the processor.

Let's see why it's so radical sockets differ from each other physically:

• Number of contacts
• The type of these same contacts
• Mounting distance for CPU coolers
• The actual size of the socket itself

Number of contacts - there can be 400, 500, 1000 and even more. How to find out? The socket markings already contain all the information. For example, the Intel Pentium 4 processor has an LGA 775 socket. So 775 is just the number of contacts, and LGA means that the processor does not have contact legs (pins), they are located in the motherboard socket.

Type of contacts - everything is clear here, either “pins” or contacts without pins. As they say, there is no other option.

Now about the distances between the mounts for processor coolers. The fact is that these distances are different for each socket and you also need to pay special attention to this. Although there are do-it-yourself methods, when a cooler from one socket is attached to another socket with the help of skillful hands and something else...

These were all physical differences, now let's talk about how the sockets are so different from each other in terms of technology. A technologically, sockets differ from each other:

• Availability of various additional controllers
• The presence or absence of support for graphics integrated into the processor (processor graphics core)
• Higher performance parameters

What else does the processor socket affect?

In addition to what has already been written here, CPU socket also affects the size of the processor itself. Generally speaking, if I try to put it very briefly, the processor socket affects which processor will be installed in it. Everything else (for example, what will be written here later in the text) depends on the processor, but you and I know that the processor and the socket are two inseparable concepts. Therefore, all those parameters that depend on the processor (or are influenced by the processor) also depend on the socket of this processor.

Perhaps, I’ll give a few more points that the processor (or its socket) can influence, in other words, the processor or its socket influences:

• Type of supported RAM
• FSB bus frequency
• Indirectly (mostly chipset) to the PCI-e slot version
• To the version (also indirectly)

What is a socket for anyway?

The fact is that manufacturers of modern motherboards have deliberately left us the opportunity to change various devices, including the processor. This is where the concept of a socket appears, because from the point of view of manufacturers, it would be quite possible to solder the processor directly to the motherboard. board, and in terms of reliability it is more advisable. But this was done, frankly speaking, on purpose - i.e. for a possible system upgrade. In other words, we wanted to replace the processor with another - we pulled it out of the socket and inserted the one we needed, of course with the amendment that it should have the same socket as the old processor. In truth, it is for the possible modernization of computer hardware that the vast majority of slots and connectors that are found on the motherboard exist.

Now let's talk about socket support for various processors. Below is a table with popular (at the time of publication of the material) sockets and their corresponding processors: