As part of this review, the most common modifications of Intel Socket processor sockets will be considered. This eminent manufacturer of computer technology with enviable regularity updates its product range. Therefore, almost every two years he has a new socket, which is incompatible with the previously existing one.
What is a socket?
Initially, the microprocessors were soldered on the motherboard. But then leading manufacturers abandoned such a layout. 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.
A connector for mounting a microprocessor on a motherboard is called Socket Professional Computer Lingo. Intel, as previously noted, very often updates its computing platforms. Therefore, it is quite difficult for an unprepared user to understand such a variety. It is a review of these computer platforms that this small material is devoted to.
LGA775. Platform features
The processor socket Intel Socket 775 debuted in the computer technology market in 2004. It replaced socket 478. Its key difference from its predecessor is support for 64-bit computing technology. All pre-existing platforms could only process code in 32-bit format. Initially, Pentium or Celeron ruler chips were installed in this slot in single or dual core performance based on the architecture codenamed 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.
To date, this hardware platform is completely out of date. The latest semiconductor chips in its framework were released in 2010. Now Intel has completely refused to support these computational solutions, since they have an extremely low level of speed, which does not allow such CPUs to process complex program code.
Platform LGA1156. Her features
The LGA1156 platform appeared on the shelves of specialized computer stores in 2009. Within its framework, high-performance microprocessors Intel i5 and i7 first appeared. The segment of entry-level and mid-level solutions was occupied by the Pentium and i3 line CPUs, respectively. The budget niche was filled with 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. A similar distribution of computing devices of this eminent manufacturer has survived to this day.
The first important difference between these microprocessors from their predecessors was that they were necessarily equipped with a cache system of three levels. At the same time, pre-existing models could boast of only two levels. The manufacturer also included the northbridge of the chipset together with the RAM controller and an integrated graphics core in the composition of the chips. Also, the presence of NT technology allowed one computational core to simultaneously process two code streams. All of this, significantly against the background of predecessors, increased the performance of stationary computers. But at the moment, this computer platform is also outdated.
Socket for processors LGA1155. His differences
At the very beginning of 2011, the processor socket Intel Socket 1155 successfully debuted on the computer technology market . The nomenclature and models of processors in this case have not changed dramatically. Only if earlier the marking consisted of three numbers, now it already included four numbers.
The second generation of CPUs based on the Core architecture had the designation 2XXX, and the third - 3XXX. The layout of the chips has also changed insignificantly. If before there were two separate substrates for the computing part and for integrated graphics, now all the elements have been combined on one substrate.
The i7 chips included 4 code processing modules and 8 logical 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 all the same 4 streams. The common feature of these two CPU lines was that they supported TurboBust technology and could automatically increase their clock speed. The rest of the chips could not boast of such an option. The processors of the i3 model were equipped with only two computing modules, which the program code could process in 4 threads. The younger modifications of the Celeron and Pentium series chips were equipped with two code processing units.
Socket LGA1150. Its specifications
The next CPU socket debuted in 2013. This Intel Socket was designated as LGA1150. It was intended to install microprocessors for desktop systems based on the 4th and 5th generation Core computing architecture with the designations 4XXX and 5XXX, respectively.
The layout of the computing part of the chips remained unchanged, but the graphic part was radically redesigned, and its performance increased significantly. The technological process was also changed , and the fifth generation of computing devices was already produced at 14 nm standards.
A key innovation in this situation was to reduce energy consumption. This was achieved by refining 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.
Socket LGA1151. Characteristics of this connector
In 2015, on the shelves according to the plan of the leading semiconductor giant, a new socket for the CPU appeared - Intel Socket 1151. It is possible to install 6th and 7th generation Core chips in it. In general, the layout, technical specifications and characteristics of these computing devices repeated the predecessors. Only their frequencies were higher, but the increase was not significant.
It should also be noted that the 7th generation Pentium microprocessors received support for NT multi-threading technology. This increased their speed and put it on a par with i3 chips. That is, such chips could process information in 4 streams.
The energy efficiency of the chips remained the same, as the technological process did not undergo any significant changes. Also, the integrated graphics card was modernized, and its speed increased.
LGA1151 v. 2. Features
A major manufacturer of computer technology in the person of Intel introduced drastic changes as part of the updated platform LGA1151v.2. She debuted at the end of 2017. Physically, this connector is identical to the previously reviewed LGA1151. But only on the software level, the installation of chips of the 6th and 7th generation is prohibited. This Intel processor socket is designed for 8th generation CPU. In the future, newer microprocessors can 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, six cores and the same number of threads had Intel Core i5 models . Socket LGA1151 v. 2. allows you to already install quad-core modifications i3. The younger models of microprocessors did not change.
The technological process remained at the same 14 nm as the level of energy consumption. Microprocessor clock speeds have been significantly increased. The flagship in this case 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 to the connectors for Intel Socket chips were considered. This manufacturer regularly updates its computing platforms, and after two years, the new computer manages to become hopelessly out of date. Of course, its performance is still at an acceptable level, but there are more advanced new PCs with greater speed.
This approach allows you to increase the performance of stationary computers, but you can easily get lost in such a multitude of sockets. Especially untrained beginner. It is the solution to this issue that this review is for the most part devoted to.