What are 'sockets' in motherboards?

[M8EO]

Hi there,

I'm very new to all this hardware stuff, so please forgive me for any stupid questions!

So I was looking on Pc Specialist desktop configuration, trying to build a decent, but not too expensive, gaming computer.

This is where I got confused.

On some of the motherboard drop down selections, it seems to give the name, and some details about the motherboard. For example: 'Asus Maximus VI HERO: PCI-e 3.0, SATA 3.0, USB 3.0'. It says that there is PCI-e 3.0 etc.
However, other motherboards didn't seem to give the same information. Instead, it just gave a name and then said something about a socket. For example: ASUS SABERTOOTH X79: SOCKET 2011.
What is 'socket 2011'?!


Thanks for any help!

 

[o1die]

Hi there,

I'm very new to all this hardware stuff, so please forgive me for any stupid questions!

So I was looking on Pc Specialist desktop configuration, trying to build a decent, but not too expensive, gaming computer.

This is where I got confused.

On some of the motherboard drop down selections, it seems to give the name, and some details about the motherboard. For example: 'Asus Maximus VI HERO: PCI-e 3.0, SATA 3.0, USB 3.0'. It says that there is PCI-e 3.0 etc.
However, other motherboards didn't seem to give the same information. Instead, it just gave a name and then said something about a socket. For example: ASUS SABERTOOTH X79: SOCKET 2011.
What is 'socket 2011'?!


Thanks for any help!

 

[o1die]

Socket 2011 is for six core Intel cpus; still fast, but newer socket 1150 Haswell cpus just came out. Here's a good combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157384
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116896
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544

In a nutshell, socket count determines which cpu you can run. Amd has two newer sockets, am3+ or fm2; both use different cpus.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://www.techopedia.com/definition/2857/central-processing-unit-cpu-socket-cpu-socket

 

[Tradesman1]

http://www.techopedia.com/definition/2857/central-processing-unit-cpu-socket-cpu-socket

_____________

+1 on the ref, get tired of trying to explain this, will bookmark
thanx
T

 

[M8EO]

Socket 2011 is for six core Intel cpus; still fast, but newer socket 1150 Haswell cpus just came out. Here's a good combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157384
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116896
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544

In a nutshell, socket count determines which cpu you can run. Amd has two newer sockets, am3+ or fm2; both use different cpus.

[/

Thanks very much for the answer! One last question is this: with the socket motherboards, how can you tell their other features? There is no place which tells me that it has xfire or pci-e etc. do I assume that it does it all?

 

[Eightygalaxy]

A socket is the type of "port" for your CPU. The main thing you need to worry about is making sure that the socket on your motherboard and the socket that you CPU is designed for match up.
For example:
If you are looking at a motherboard with am 1150 socket, you will need to get a CPU that will fit in an 1150 socket (that would be the latest batch of Intel CPUs)

And to answer your other question:
most of the newer (higher end) motherboards will have these features. It's always a good idea to do a hefty amount of research on a motherboard before you buy though.

 

[zmasta94]

Socket is the type of port the motherboard has for your processor. If you buy a motherboard with a 1155 socket, your processor must fit into a 1155 socket.

But you wont be able to use a AMD processor with an Intel based motherboard with an Intel-standard socket.