Our previous blog post covered the basics of upgrading your processor and the considerations. In this post, we'll discuss processor socket compatibility – there's no point in upgrading your server processor if you don't know the compatibility guidelines!

Processor Socket Basics

As we have seen with other hardware components, such as hard drives, RAM, PCIe card additions, and PSUs, there is a certain degree of universality between these components regardless of the manufacturers and models. For example, you can often carry over hard drives or RAM to a new system generation. This is not the case with server processors. 

Processors are unique from these other standardized components in that the processor socket on the motherboard is not driven by the server manufacturer but by the processor manufacturer. In other words, Intel and AMD – the two largest chip manufacturers – design their processors and then inform server manufacturers of the architecture needed to produce a system board with a compatible socket. In fact, what often initiates Dell and HPE to create a new generation of servers is the chip manufacturer producing a new and improved processor that requires a new and compatible system board.

Socket Terminology. What's LGA? Vs. PGA?

The processor's socket is the primary interface between the processor and the system board. Since each processor model has a unique quantity and arrangement of pins (or holes) to connect to the socket, the system board must be specific to that CPU architecture. 

Intel utilizes an LGA Socket Type (or 'Land Grid Array'). An LGA-type socket has the pins on the system board, and the corresponding holes are on the processor. AMD processors utilize a PGA socket (Pin Grid Array) – or, conversely, have the pins on the processor and the holes on the system board. For this reason, an Intel chip will never fit in an AMD-designed system board and vice-versa.

TECH FOOTNOTE – A THIRD SOCKET TYPE! There is a socket type called BGA (or Ball Grid Array). BGA sockets aren't sockets at all, as this is a scenario where the processor is permanently mounted or fused to the system board (making upgrades and replacements impossible). BGA sockets are seen primarily in mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops, where processor upgrades aren't generally considered.

Resources for Compatibility

At TechMikeNY, we almost exclusively deal with Intel-based systems (although, on occasion, we get AMD-based servers in our refurbishing pipeline). To that end, we're focusing on Intel Xeon processor compatibility – Xeon is Intel's product line for Enterprise-class hardware. 

Intel has a wealth of resources to determine compatibility:

How to Identify Your Intel Desktop Processor Socket

Sockets Supported by Intel Xeon Processors

Here are Xeon processor specs if you want a central resource to find processor speed and cores.

Finally, a comparison matrix below shows our most popular refurbished servers and their compatible Xeon processor version. 

*Since the R800-series is a 4-socket machine, the expectation is you will use all four processor sockets. That said, we've had success installing 2000-series processors in R800 Dell servers by installing in only two of the sockets.

**Intel changed its naming scheme in 2017. Instead of following the E3, E5, and E7 branding designations, the chips were given metallic names: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. We like this summary on why Intel made this change. Note that 14^th Gen Dell and 10^th Gen HPE servers take these Intel 2^nd Generation Scalable processors with the metallic naming conventions.  

Final Thoughts

If you are new to Enterprise rack servers and intimidated by the idea of upgrading a processor, worry not! Just follow the compatibility guidelines, and don't forget to add fresh thermal paste!

And if you ever have any questions – processor compatibility or anything else tech-related! – don't hesitate to drop us a line at info@techmikeny.com.