How Do You Determine Socket Type?

[TechnicGeek]

The only way to determine for me on my laptop motherboard is through physical observation. Can somebody tell me where to look? Thanks.

 

[TheThirdMan]

Download CPU-Z/CPU-ID and it'll show you the socket of your CPU/motherboard.

 

[TechnicGeek]

Can't do that. It's why I mentioned that I can only do physical observation.

 

[schmuckley]

You can't download it on another computer and put Cpu-z on a USB?

You're online right now..

 

[TechnicGeek]

My laptop is broken.

 

[Dahak]

you would have to physically disassemble the laptop to a point where you can remove the heatsink and in most(maybe not all) it will list the socket type on physical socket or around it.

IF the laptop still can boot off a windows 7/8 install media (dvd or usb) you can put cpu-z on a flash drive and when you see the install screen hit Shift+F10 and it will bring up a command window, change the the usb drive letter (may need to try d: e: f: ) and run cpu-z from there and it should tell you

 

[TechnicGeek]

you would have to physically disassemble the laptop to a point where you can remove the heatsink and in most(maybe not all) it will list the socket type on physical socket or around it.

IF the laptop still can boot off a windows 7/8 install media (dvd or usb) you can put cpu-z on a flash drive and when you see the install screen hit Shift+F10 and it will bring up a command window, change the the usb drive letter (may need to try d: e: f: ) and run cpu-z from there and it should tell you

Laptop cannot POST. Do you know about socket PGA989? Do you know about PGA988B (Socket G2)?

 

[dawp]

do you know what cpu is in the laptop? or what model the laptop is? if you know the model it should be somewhat easy to look up the model number.

 

[Seba]

Look on the bottom side of the laptop case for a sticker with the exact model number and then you should be able to find all the details you need.

 

[TechnicGeek]

do you know what cpu is in the laptop? or what model the laptop is? if you know the model it should be somewhat easy to look up the model number.

Laptop is Dell Latitude E6420 but this model has motherboards with different sockets. Do you know if PGA989 supports rPGA988B socket?

 

[dma0991]

Just Google the specific processor model. ARK Intel will usually have the exact information that you need.

 

[Puffnstuff]

You could also go to dell and put in your specific ID number and it will tell you what you've got. There's a sticker either on the bottom or in the battery compartment that has it.

 

[TechnicGeek]

Just Google the specific processor model. ARK Intel will usually have the exact information that you need.

In this case it is either PGA988B or PGA989. Can you tell me the difference between those 2 sockets?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

In this case it is either PGA988B or PGA989. Can you tell me the difference between those 2 sockets?

It should be labelled on the socket.

Socket G2 is for Sandy Bridge CPUs. Socket G1 is for older ones. They are physically identical, but the CPUs/chipsets will be different and incompatible.

What kind of CPU did the laptop have originally?

 

[TechnicGeek]

It should be labelled on the socket.

Socket G2 is for Sandy Bridge CPUs. Socket G1 is for older ones. They are physically identical, but the CPUs/chipsets will be different and incompatible.

What kind of CPU did the laptop have originally?

It had i5-2540M but Socket G1 (rPGA988A) and Socket G2 (rPGA988B) are different from PGA989. It is socket I want to find more information about but can't.

 

[dma0991]

In this case it is either PGA988B or PGA989. Can you tell me the difference between those 2 sockets?

Its been a very long time since I've tore apart laptops to see whether there's an indicator of its PGA socket type. There's a good chance that what dave_the_nerd said is correct.

Even so, its best to stick with the same replacement model(or something very similar) as the BIOS might only recognize that CPU.

 

[TechnicGeek]

Can socket be BGA and PGA at the same time?

 

[Towermax]

Can't do that. It's why I mentioned that I can only do physical observation.

Go to Dell support, type in your Service Tag, and check the System Configuration/Original Configuration/Components. It'll tell you exactly what CPU the system shipped with. Then look up the CPU to find the socket type.

 

[dma0991]

Can socket be BGA and PGA at the same time?

No. BGA and PGA are two different ways of CPU mounting. BGA is permanently soldered to the motherboard and non removable without the factory equipment.

 

[Ketchup]

Go to Dell support, type in your Service Tag, and check the System Configuration/Original Configuration/Components. It'll tell you exactly what CPU the system shipped with. Then look up the CPU to find the socket type.

This! Glad someone finally mentioned it. Hey, it only took 19 posts.

 

[aigomorla]

i5-2540M

is a mobile processor and they only come in 1 socket.

In this case it is either PGA988B or PGA989. Can you tell me the difference between those 2 sockets?

The two different sets are either a laptop planner board, or a Thin ITX setup type custom board so vendors could do whatever they wanted.

Regardless, if its a laptop processor then most likely its the laptop socket G2.

Anyhow im very worried on why you would want to know what the socket is.
Replacing a laptop processor is not wise, as sometimes they can require a bios update, and other things.
Also taking apart a laptop is not something one should do the first time alone unless u have skills. They can get very messy, with a lot of specialized screw locations.

No. BGA and PGA are two different ways of CPU mounting. BGA is permanently soldered to the motherboard and non removable without the factory equipment.

^ This... its either for the laptop planner board.... or a thin itx / soldered type cpu package.
So u dont need to worry about BGA / PGA.

 

[Torn Mind]

PGA is short for "pin grid array" and BGA is short for "ball grid array".

Apparently, some PGA989 sockets can take Socket G1 or Socket G2 chips. Obviously, the chips must be compatible with the chipset, so no Nehalem to Sandy Bridge upgrades.

http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket G1 (rPGA988A).html
http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket G2 (rPGA988B).html

 

[John Connor]

Go to Dell support, type in your Service Tag, and check the System Configuration/Original Configuration/Components. It'll tell you exactly what CPU the system shipped with. Then look up the CPU to find the socket type.

God! You would have thought that someone would have said that earlier!