Which Intel CPU Socket is Better?

[Carl DaBeast]

When looking at different Intel CPUs the most popular CPUs sockets are either LGA1150, LGA1151, and LGA1155. What is the difference between these beside the pin count? Do the sockets change depending on the architecture (ie Skylake) or are some sockets more premium than others? Will Intel stop making CPUs for a socket or will they continue making more for every socket?

 

Thank you.

 

Edit: Just to light a new fire, is it better to get an AMD processor if I am going for a low cost rather than the best performance? The FX-6300 from AMD costs around $90 while a Intel CPU at the same price is inferior in many ways.

[3 Lions]

 A CPU socket is a CPU socket they are basically all the same. 

[Percenary]

2 minutes ago, Carl DaBeast said:

When looking at different Intel CPUs the most popular CPUs sockets are either LGA1150, LGA1151, and LGA1155. What is the difference between these beside the pin count? Do the sockets change depending on the architecture (ie Skylake) or are some sockets more premium than others? Will Intel stop making CPUs for a socket or will they continue making more for every socket?

 

Thank you.

There is no difference. Each socket fits only certain cpus. All depends on the cpu you have.

[Carl DaBeast]

But will some get more support than others? I don't want to buy a motherboard just to find that the next upgrade for a CPU is $400 more than the current CPU I'd have.

[fjdhdhcyfhf]

1 minute ago, Carl DaBeast said:

Do the sockets change depending on the architecture (ie Skylake) or are some sockets more premium than others? Will Intel stop making CPUs for a socket or will they continue making more for every socket?

yes they do bring out new sockets with new CPUs and they do stop making CPUs for older sockets

[Oswin]

-yes the socket will change depending on the architecture (some have the same).

-some will have more benefit than others e.g 2011-3 v 1151

-each mobo will cost differently and supports different ram (ddr3/ ddr4)

 

[Carl DaBeast]

Just now, SCHISCHKA said:

yes they do bring out new sockets with new CPUs and they do stop making CPUs for older sockets

So which one is recommended to get?

 

Pretty much which one will be populated with the most CPUs so that upgrading wont be a giant leap in price?

[8-Bit Ninja]

1 minute ago, Carl DaBeast said:

But will some get more support than others? I don't want to buy a motherboard just to find that the next upgrade for a CPU is $400 more than the current CPU I'd have.

each socket lasts about 2 gens, so the newest motherboards right now (lga 1151) will last one more gen (kabby lake)

[porina]

Socket is related to the architecture. 1150 was Haswell+Broadwell. 1151 is Skylake and shortly include Kaby Lake. You need the processor and socket to match. The difference is intentional to make sure they're not confused with each other.

 

If buying now, or soon, 1151 is current. Might be best to wait for Kaby Lake and newer chipsets to go along with them, although the CPUs are understood will work in many current mobos with updated bios support. There isn't much good reason to go older unless you see a particularly good deal on old stuff.

[fjdhdhcyfhf]

Just now, Carl DaBeast said:

So which one is recommended to get?

 

Pretty much which one will be populated with the most CPUs so that upgrading wont be a giant leap in price?

get the one that the next gen has been reported to be released on. Kabylake will be on 1151, same as skylake. I dont know what the 2017 CPUs will be on

[Guest]

I thought you were supposed to buy based upon the CPU not the socket lmao

[Carl DaBeast]

Just now, IAmLamp said:

I thought you were supposed to buy based upon the CPU not the socket lmao

True but in my case where I want to buy something cheap and slowly upgrade I'd like to know which socket type will get the most upgrades.

[MrKickkiller]

1 minute ago, IAmLamp said:

I thought you were supposed to buy based upon the CPU not the socket lmao

Unless you already got a motherboard, then you buy a chip based on the socket and the performance level you want.

 

Otherwise, pick from the most current range of cpu's (varying from atom to i7 extreme) and then pick motherboard based on the socket your cpu fits in.

[Glenwing]

LGA 1156 was for smaller Nehalem (2009) and Westmere (2010) chips

LGA 1155 was for Sandy Bridge (2011) and Ivy Bridge (2012)

LGA 1150 was for Haswell (2013) and Broadwell (2014)

LGA 1151 is for Skylake (2015) and will be for Kaby Lake (2016/2017?). This is the latest socket for the mainstream desktop platform.

 

LGA 1366 was for larger Nehalem (2009) and Westmere (2010) chips

LGA 2011 was for Sandy Bridge-E (2011) and Ivy Bridge-E (2013)

LGA 2011-3 is for Haswell-E (2014) and Broadwell-E (2016). This is the latest socket for the HEDT (High-end desktop) and server platform.

[Carl DaBeast]

Also just to light a new fire, is it better to get an AMD processor if I am going for a low cost rather than the best performance? The FX-6300 from AMD costs around $90 while a Intel CPU at the same price is inferior in many ways.

[mariushm]

Or you could just wait and buy in January-February an AM4 board, and you'll know AMD will make processors on that socket for years to come.  The Zen cpus should be on the same level or very close to Intel processors at cheaper prices. In 2018-2019 they'll have Zen+ processors which would be even faster than Zen.. hopefully there's going to be some competition.

 

Intel will change the socket again soon, after Kaby Lake. Some Kaby Lake cpus probably won't even work on the current socket 1151.

 

They already have socket 2066 for Skylake -X and Kaby Lake -X

 

 

[Glenwing]

8 minutes ago, Carl DaBeast said:

Also just to light a new fire, is it better to get an AMD processor if I am going for a low cost rather than the best performance? The FX-6300 from AMD costs around $90 while a Intel CPU at the same price is inferior in many ways.

Not really. If you're going to get a processor from 2012 then it's better to look for a used Intel chip like a 2500K.