What Is A CPU Socket? [Explained]

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Ali Rashid Khan

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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With Intel and AMD releasing more and more powerful CPUs nearly every year, new sockets are also introduced to accommodate these CPUs. But what exactly are CPU sockets, and how do they work? Read on to find out.

Key Takeaways

• A CPU socket (or CPU slot) is a mount that houses the CPU and allows the CPU to communicate with the motherboard. 
• There are three types of CPU sockets: LGA, PGA, and BGA. 
• Sockets are named LGA #, PGA #, and BGA #, with # referring to the number of pins, holes, or solder balls.

What Are CPU Sockets?

A CPU socket, or a CPU slot, is a mount on computer motherboards that allows data and power transfer between the motherboard and CPU. CPU sockets allow easy installation of CPUs without soldering, allowing you to replace them easily. ^[1]

How Do CPU Sockets Work?

A CPU socket contains pins or holes on which the CPU is placed and a latch or a lever to lock the CPU in place. The CPU is placed on the socket, and the retention bracket is then placed over the CPU, and the lever is locked in place, allowing contact between the CPU and the socket.^[2]

Types Of CPU Socket

There are three types of CPU sockets: LGA, PGA, and BGA:

• LGA Sockets: In LGA (Land Grid Array) sockets, the metal pins are located on the socket on the motherboard. The CPU has flat electric contact pads that connect to these pins. The primary advantage of LGA sockets is higher pin density and less cost^[3].
• PGA Sockets: In PGA (Pin Grid Array) sockets, the pins are placed on the CPU, and the socket has holes with which the CPU aligns. PGA pins are thicker, more rigid, and easier to repair. The downside is that pin damage can be costly^[4]. 
• BGA Sockets: The solder balls used in this design are arranged in a grid-like pattern and are placed on a chip carrier. However, as you may have guessed, it involves soldering the CPU on the socket. The advantages of BGA sockets include less heat conduction and space taken, plus better electricity conduction. Its disadvantages are difficult installation, and the solder balls used in BGA sockets are not very flexible^[5].

Intel And AMD Sockets

Here’s a list of the most recent mainstream sockets from both CPU manufacturing giants:

Related Helpful Resources By Tech4Gamers:

• PC Chipsets
• L2 Cache
• L3 Cache
• Hyper-Threading
• Bottleneck

References:

1. Margaret Rouse. What is a CPU Socket? Retrieved from: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2857/central-processing-unit-socket-cpu-socket
2. Universitas Ubudiyah Indonesia. CPU Socket. Retrieved from: https://wiki.edunitas.com/IT/en/114-10/Socket_18123_eduNitas.html
3. Matthew S. Smith. Intel LGA Socket Explained. Retrieved from: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000056725/processors.html
4. TE Connectivity. PGA SOCKETS. Retrieved from: https://www.te.com/usa-en/products/connectors/sockets/ic-sockets/pga-sockets.html?tab=pgp-story
5. PCB Way. Ball Grid Array (BGA). Retrieved from: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/Engineering_Technical/Ball_Grid_Array__BGA_.html
    

Ali Rashid Khan

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com