About and method

This site answers one question for each processor: which socket does it use. Around that answer it collects the facts that decide whether a processor, a motherboard and a cooler work together. It covers sockets, chipset support, memory type, PCIe lanes and cooler mounting.

Where the facts come from

Specifications such as core counts, clocks, cache and memory support come from the manufacturer's own pages, which are Intel's specification pages and AMD's product pages. Facts about sockets, such as contact counts, package sizes and cooler hole spacing, come from the reference material listed at the bottom of each socket page, and the details are cross-checked against a second source.

Every page lists its sources. If a fact could not be confirmed in at least one reliable source, it was left out. A page that says less is better than a page that guesses.

What "last checked" means

Each page shows the date its facts were last compared with the listed sources. When a manufacturer changes a specification, or a new processor changes what a socket supports, the affected pages are updated and the date changes. Launch prices are the manufacturer's recommended prices at launch. They are not current shop prices.

Compatibility is not a promise

The tables on this site describe what the chipset and processor generation allow. A specific board can differ, because its maker decides which BIOS versions to publish. The board maker's CPU support list is the final authority for any purchase. Pages here tell you which questions to ask and which list to read.

Writing style

The text is written to be read by people deciding what to buy or fix. It avoids filler, and it gives numbers where numbers exist. The pages are written in plain English, and technical terms are explained in the Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide and in the glossary.

Independence

This site is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Intel, AMD or any motherboard or cooler maker. Product names are trademarks of their owners and appear only to identify the products being described.

Contact and corrections

To report a wrong fact or a broken link, write to [email protected] with the page address, the correction and a checkable source. See Contact for details.

This site sets no tracking cookies. The Privacy Policy explains what little data exists, the Cookie Policy explains the consent prompt and browser storage, and the Terms of Use cover liability and reuse.