AM4, AM3+, LGA1151… and More — What All These CPU Sockets Mean

You've probably ever gazed upon motherboards or attempted to build a PC and seen things like AM4, LGA1151, AM5, or LGA1700 and thought:

"Hey… is this some secret code?"

It kind of is — but it also informs you precisely which CPUs can sit on which motherboard. Let's take a closer look so it actually makes sense.

What a Socket Actually Is

Imagine a CPU socket as a parking space for your processor. Each CPU only fits into some of them.

AMD CPUs → AMD sockets such as AM4 or AM5

Intel CPUs → Intel sockets such as LGA1151 or LGA1700

Place the wrong CPU in the wrong socket, and your PC won't boot. That's it.

AMD Sockets

AM3+

• Old AMD socket for FX-series CPUs.
• Affordable back in the day, but not compatible with today's gaming.

AM4

• Very popular, used for Ryzen 1000–5000 series.
• Still relevant for mid-range builds in 2025.

AM5

• Brand-new socket for Ryzen 7000+ series.
• Supports DDR5 RAM, PCIe 5.0, and future-proof tech.
• If you’re building a cutting-edge AMD rig today, AM5 is the way to go.

Intel Sockets

LGA1151

• Older Intel socket for 6th–8th gen Core CPUs.
• Not recommended for modern builds.

LGA1200

• Supports 10th–11th gen Intel CPUs.
• Still usable if you’re upgrading a slightly older rig.

LGA1700

• Modern Intel socket for 12th–13th gen Core CPUs.
• Supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. This is Intel's flagship socket in 2025.

LGA1851 (2025 Intel Upgrade)

• Newest Intel socket for 14th gen Core CPUs (Raptor Lake Refresh / Meteor Lake).
• Extremely future-proof, but needs compatible motherboards and cooling.

Other Sockets You May See

• TR4 / sTRX4 → AMD Threadripper CPUs RMA hardware kits (high-end desktop/workstation build).
• Socket 1207 / LGA2066 → Intel HEDT (High-End Desktop) CPUs. Mostly a waste unless you're rendering or doing extreme content creation.

Why This Matters

1. Compatibility – Choose the wrong socket, and your CPU won't fit.
2. Upgrade Path – Newer sockets = longer support for future CPUs.
3. Features – DDR5, PCIe 5.0, improved power delivery — these rely on the socket.

Basically..

Socket	Who It’s For	Notes

AM3+

Old AMD

Avoid for modern builds

AM4

Ryzen 1000–5000

Still solid for budget/mid-range

AM5

Ryzen 7000+

Future-proof, DDR5

LGA1151

Old Intel

Legacy CPUs only

LGA1200

Intel 10–11th Gen

Slightly older Intel

LGA1700

Intel 12–13th Gen

Modern Intel builds

LGA1851

Intel 14th Gen

Latest Intel tech

TR4 / sTRX4

AMD Threadripper

Workstations

LGA2066

Intel HEDT

High-end desktop

Pro Tip: Always verify the CPU compatibility list on the motherboard prior to purchase. It'll save you a small fortune and headaches.