Azza recently launched the brand's new Cube 240 and Cube 360 liquid AIO coolers, supporting the upcoming LGA1851 socket for Arrow Lake processors. Azza is the second CPU cooling brand, behind Noctua, to confirm that current LGA1700 coolers will be compatible with the new socket.
The LGA1851 socket, as its name implies, features 1,851 contacts, approximately a 9% increase over the existing LGA1700 socket. Leaked schematics of the LGA1851 socket showed the exact same socket dimensions (45 x 37.55mm) and mounting spacing as LGA1700. The latter isn't surprising since Intel hasn't changed the mounting spacing on mainstream platforms for a while now. One significant change to the LGA1851 socket is reportedly the higher maximum dynamic pressure. According to the information, the LGA1815 socket reflects an 89% higher mounting pressure than the LGA1700 socket.
A greater maximum dynamic pressure value suggests more mounting pressure from the CPU cooler. However, that may not always be the case. For example, Noctua has already listed LGA1851 compatibility with its retail CPU coolers and doesn't mention a separate mounting kit for LGA1851. In addition, the user manual for the Azza Cube 360 via a Reddit thread also shows native LGA1851 support without any additional accessories.
The transition from Alder Lake to Raptor Lake didn't alter the PBP (Processor Boost Power), but the MTP (Maximum Turbo Power) has shown a significant increase in certain SKUs, which logically demands more thermal performance. For instance, the Core i7-13700K has a 33% higher MTP than the Core i7-12700K, and the Core i5-13600K's MTP is 21% greater than the Core i5-12600K.
Alleged internal performance projections for Arrow Lake claim up to 21% higher performance than Raptor Lake Refresh at 250W. We can only hope that Intel keeps Arrow Lake around that power range. It's comforting to know that you can potentially reuse existing LGA1700 coolers with Arrow Lake, but it remains to be seen whether you should. You should have little to worry about if you have a 360mm or maybe even a 240mm AIO liquid cooler. But you may want to think twice if you own a budget $50 CPU air cooler and want to pair it with a high-end SKU.
The LGA1851 socket is expected to be around until 2026. In typical Intel fashion, that likely means two generations of processors, starting with Arrow Lake. A refresh may be on the menu, but that'll depend on how competitive AMD's Zen 5 is and whether there are any setbacks on Intel's side for the following architecture.
That means if you have a proficient Intel CPU cooler, you may be able to keep using it for the next three years — assuming you want to keep your cooler while upgrading other aspects of your PC, including your motherboard and CPU.
