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IT Support & Hardware · Foundational

Land Grid Array (LGA)

A CPU socket design where the contact pins are in the motherboard socket and the CPU has flat pads.

Definition

In an LGA package the processor has flat gold contact lands and the spring pins live in the motherboard socket. Intel desktop CPUs have used LGA for years and AMD moved to LGA with AM5. Bent socket pins are the classic installation damage, so the protective cover should stay on until the CPU is installed.

Example

Intel LGA 1851 sockets hold Core Ultra 200S desktop processors.

Exam tip

Remember which side has the pins: LGA = pins on the motherboard, PGA = pins on the CPU.

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