LGA, PGA and BGA: CPU package types explained
What the three processor package types mean, which sockets use each one, and how to handle them without bending anything.
Updated
Socket names start with three letters that describe how the processor connects to the motherboard. Knowing what they mean helps you handle the parts safely and explains why some processors cannot be swapped at all.
The three package types
PGA stands for pin grid array. The pins are on the processor, and the socket is a grid of holes that receive them. AMD's AM4 and AM3+ are PGA sockets, with 1,331 and 942 contacts respectively.
LGA stands for land grid array. The processor has flat contact pads, called lands, and the pins are inside the socket on the motherboard. A load plate and a lever press the processor onto those pins. Intel's desktop sockets from LGA 775 onward are LGA, and the number in each name is the contact count, as in LGA 1700. AMD adopted the same approach for its mainstream desktops with AM5, which is also known as LGA 1718.
BGA stands for ball grid array. The processor is soldered to the board with small balls of solder, and it cannot be removed or replaced by the user. This is the standard arrangement in thin laptops and many compact systems. A BGA processor is part of the motherboard for practical purposes.
What changes between PGA and LGA
The practical difference is where the fragile part sits. On a PGA system a bent pin damages the processor, and on an LGA system a bent contact damages the motherboard. In both cases the damage is easy to cause and hard to repair.
| PGA | LGA | BGA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pins or balls are on | The processor | The motherboard socket | Solder joints on the board |
| Removable by the user | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fragile part | Processor pins | Socket contacts | None to handle, but not repairable |
| Examples | AM4, AM3+ | LGA 775 to LGA 1851, AM5 | Most thin laptops |
Handling tips
These habits prevent most damage, whichever type you work with:
- Hold a processor by its edges, and never touch the pads or the pins.
- Match the triangle on one corner of the processor with the triangle or mark printed near the socket, so the orientation is correct.
- Lower the processor straight down without sliding it across the socket.
- On an LGA socket, close the load plate and the lever with steady pressure. Do not force it, and stop if it does not close easily.
- Keep the protective cover that comes on a new LGA socket. If you ever need to return the board, many makers want it back in place.
- Install the processor before the cooler, and make sure the retention lever is fully open before you lift a processor out of a PGA socket.
Why it matters when you buy
For a used processor with pins, look for bent pins in photos, and ask the seller to confirm that none are bent. For a used LGA motherboard, look at the socket photos for bent or missing contacts, because a damaged socket cannot be fixed easily. For a laptop, check the maker's service manual to see whether the processor is a socket part at all, since most are soldered.
The socket names in the database tell you which type each one is. Open the How to find your CPU socket type guide if you do not yet know which socket your system uses.