What is a processor socket

Perhaps there is no such person who, being connected with computer technology, would not be interested in the question of what a socket is once. In itself, this knowledge does not affect the work at the computer, but in cases of upgrading or repair it is necessary. In addition, knowing what a socket is, you can think about all possible perspectives of a solution at the stage of purchasing a computer system. And this potentially means future savings. Thus, you should have at least a general idea of what a socket is.

Let's take a closer look at the first snapshot of this article. What is depicted on it? Anyone will say that this is an electrical outlet. A specialist will add that it has a grounding contact. Such devices are familiar to everyone, since they are found everywhere and always in sight. Not surprisingly, their destination is known even to a child. The electrical outlet is a device with two (three) sliding contacts designed to connect the plugs of the mains plug. How does this relate to what a socket is? In fact, the connection is the most direct.

As is known, any microcircuit is a case (inside semiconductor elements) with several rows of pins-legs, with which it is included in the electrical circuit. The connector ("mother"), into which the contact feet are inserted, is exactly what is called the socket. Structurally, the solution is very similar to an ordinary electrical outlet and plug (socket - connector, and the plug is the pin-feet of the chip). Note that the chips sometimes are simply soldered to the paths of the boards, without the use of sockets, but the replacement in this case is difficult.

It is very easy to understand what a processor socket is, if you remember that the latter is a microchip, only relatively large. The socket is located on the motherboard, looks like a square plate with a lot of holes, the number of which corresponds to the legs of the processor. To securely fix the inserted chip in the socket, a mechanical latch of a special design is used. Note that Intel, unlike AMD, has recently used a different method of connecting the processor and the board. On the chip there are no legs - instead of them round contact pads. A spring-loaded leg-pins are placed in the socket. This is the construction "on the contrary."

Sometimes on the forums the question is asked about which socket to choose. In fact, first you need to select a processor, and already under it - a board with the appropriate socket. However, one important point must be taken into account. Intel is "famous" for the fact that often every new generation of processors involves the use of a new socket. This can lead to the fact that a recently purchased computer based on the processor of this company in a few years will be difficult to upgrade because of the incompatibility of the installed microprocessor and the new ones offered by the market. At AMD, the attitude towards customers is more loyal: the change of sockets is slower, usually backward compatibility is maintained.

Therefore, the recommendation is the following: if the computer is not planned to be upgraded in the future, then you should choose the most productive processor (which has enough money) and a fee for it. For future upgrades sockets "1155" (Intel) and "AM3 +" from AMD (for integrated graphics - FM socket) are suitable.