Luckily, finding out which CPU is compatible with your motherboard is a fairly simple process! It should take a few minutes of time and some research to figure out.
I have been building computers for the past 8+ years. I have experience with all kinds of motherboards and making sure the CPUs used are compatible with the motherboards I use.
In this article, I will be showing you how to find which type of CPUs are compatible with your motherboard, so you can get the correct part you need to get your build up and running.
Contents
Things You Should Know
CPUs for computers come in many different forms. These are known as socket types. The socket type of the CPU has to match the socket type accepted in the motherboard.
The reason for this is due to the way CPUs line into a motherboard. The golden pins on the bottom of a CPU must match the slots in the motherboard. If there are too many or too few due to not being the right socket type, the pins can get bent and damage the CPU.
The motherboard can also become damaged, due to the way the CPU is placed in. When you put a new CPU in, typically there is a lock that secures it in place. This lock places a fairly high amount of pressure, enough that wrong pins can be damaging to the motherboard.
This is why it is important to get the right processor for the motherboard you have. This will involve identifying the motherboard and identifying the socket type that it accepts.
Identifying Your Motherboard
The first step to seeing what CPU you can put into your motherboard is to check which motherboard you have. The easiest way to do so is to look at the motherboard itself. It should say somewhere on it what brand the motherboard is, as well as the model number.
Another way to check the motherboard you have is to look at the packaging. The model number and brand name will be labeled clearly on the box.
An example would be the ASUS B450-F. This includes both the brand name (ASUS) as well as the model number (B450-F).
This will become extremely important to know in the next step of the process.
Identifying the CPU
There are two different ways to do this.
Method 1
With the brand and model name of your motherboard on hand, the next step is to look into the user manual. This should come with the board, but if you don’t have it anymore you can look on Google. For example, a search for ASUS B450-F User Manual on Google will bring it up.
The manual should state whether it takes an LGA xxxx socket type CPU for Intel CPUs, or AMxx socket type for AMD brand CPUs.
The x’s in the example would be replaced by numbers indicating the type of socket for that specific motherboard.
Method 2
Another method is to use Google!
If you look up the motherboard, it will tell you on a site like Newegg.com what CPU type it takes. This would be found under the Specifications section for the motherboard in question.
Final Words
It is important to identify the motherboard you have in order to figure out which CPU will work. It is also important to remember that the CPU must match the motherboard, or it will not work.
If you found the advice in this article useful, feel free to leave a comment! Feedback is always appreciated.
