Socket to Intel

What is Intel playing at with all these processor socket formats? For years we just had LGA775 in which a number of CPU ranges, models and revisions fitted into. Upgrading was relatively easy. Just download the latest motherboard BIOS, check power requirements and drop in the new CPU. Job done!

Then we had LGA1156 for top end Intel Core i7 CPUs, and now the LGA1136 for mid range Core i3 and i5 processors. Already limiting the upgrade capabilities. And now I hear that later this year Intel will release the LGA1155 which is slightly different, but completely incompatible with the previous designs. And then later next year LGA2011 (sic!) will be with us. These changes are being made to apparently support even more multi-CPU cores for the future 8, 10, 12 probably.

So in order to upgrade to perform a CPU upgrade we will have to replace the motherboard as well. A lot more expense and hassle. Probably not worth it for most people. And we still have limited software applications that will be able to take advantage of these multi-CPU cores.

One of the advantages of a desktop system is to use its modular architecture to easily upgrade individual components as and when necessary. By limiting the upgrade-ability of their CPUs, Intel has put another nail into the desktop coffin.