In this article we will be discussing the different sockets for Intel motherboards in laptops. It has come to our attention that a lot of people are confused on which Intel CPU will work with which motherboard. Because of this we have created this guide to help everyone out.
Socket 479:
We will start off at the point in which Intel threw everyone off, the Pentium M/Celeron M (Dothan/Banias). The common oversight with this socket is on paper, being that the pin count for the CPU will be 478 but the socket's common name is "Socket 479". This socket looks similar to the "Socket 478" but requires a CPU missing pins diagonally from each other instead of straight across. This socket supports all 479 CPU's with a 400MHz or 533Mhz FSB (depending on the chipset). Examples are the Pentium M 750 (SL7S9) and the Pentium M 725 (SL7EG).
Socket M
To replace the "Socket 479" Intel moved to the "Socket M" which looks identical to the older Pentium 4 "Socket 478" besides the color, which on laptops is commonly yellow. This socket supports the original Core Solo, Core Duo , Pentium Dual Core (Yonah) and Core 2 Duo (Napa refresh Merom) with a 533MHz/667Mhz FSB speed. There are also some Yonah/Merom Celeron M chips that use this socket as well such as the Celeron M 530 (SLGFY).
Socket P
Next we move on to the "Socket P". This socket looks similar to "Socket M" but has the pins missing in a different location and its common color in laptops is pink/purple. This socket supports a number of recent chips so we will list them all individually.
Information on "Socket P" Processors.
- The Core 2 Duo model numbers began in the T5xxx and to make it a little easier to tell the socket type by just this number Intel had most of the "Socket P" Core 2 Duo chips ending in either 50 or 70 for the T series. For example T5250 or T5270, whereas the "Socket M" chips ended in 00 such as the T5200.
- After the Core 2 Duo (Merom) came the Core 2 Duo (Penryn) which also used the same "Socket P". Penryn is not to be confused with "Santa Rosa" which is a chipset to be used with the Penryn CPU (this is a big thing to remember for all the black/white MacBook owners). Penryn based chips were used up to the 1066MHz FSB P9700 (SLGQS) which moves from the Santa Rosa chipset to Montevina.
- The Pentium Dual Core and Celeron Dual Core are the "budget" processors used in this platform. They are both Merom and Penryn based and support a FSB of 667/800Mhz.
- There are two Core 2 Quad chips that were used in mobile computing which are both Penryn based and require the Montevina chipset. They are the Q9000 (SLGEJ), Q9100 (SLB5G) and the QX9300 (SLB5J)
- There are 4 Core 2 Extreme chips as well. They are the X7800, X7900 and X9000 which were used on the Santa Rosa platform, and the X9100 which was used on the Montevina platform.
- Last but not least included in the "Socket P" family is the Celeron M which started at the 530 series where 520 and below were using "Socket M". These were all Merom based and used on the Santa Rosa platform.
Socket G1
After the "Socket P" party Intel went to the "Socket G1. This socket supported the original Core i7, i5, i3, Pentium and Celeron chips. Examples are the Core i7-720qm and Pentium P6100, these processors no longer use the "FSB" term or technology.
Socket G2
The latest from Intel is the "Socket G2" which is for the "Sandy Bridge" Core CPUs such as the i3-2330M. These all seem to have 4 numbers in the model while the original Core CPUs only have 3.
NOTE: None of the sockets mentioned above are compatible with each other and their processors. They are also all laptop based (some are also used in Mini-ITX based motherboards as well).
