220-1101 Question 271
Single answerCPU socket typesA technician is upgrading a desktop PC and wants to reuse an existing Intel Core i7 processor from a failed motherboard. The CPU is an Intel 10th-generation desktop chip, and the replacement motherboard the technician is considering is listed as using an LGA 1200 socket. Before ordering parts, the technician must confirm that the CPU will physically fit the board. Which CPU socket type should the technician verify on the processor's compatibility list?
- A
LGA 1200
- B
LGA 1700
- C
AM4
- D
TR4
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
CPU upgrades require matching the processor to the correct motherboard socket type first, then confirming chipset and BIOS support. For Intel mainstream desktop systems, socket changes between generations are common, so technicians should not assume that one Intel CPU fits all Intel boards. Intel 10th-generation Core desktop processors use LGA 1200, while later generations such as many 12th-generation models use LGA 1700. AMD sockets such as AM4 and TR4 are not interchangeable with Intel sockets. In practice, a technician should verify compatibility using the motherboard manufacturer's CPU support list and installation documentation before ordering parts, because even a physically matching socket may still require the correct BIOS version or chipset support.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Intel 10th-generation mainstream desktop processors use the LGA 1200 socket. If the motherboard also uses LGA 1200 and supports that processor generation in its BIOS and chipset, the CPU will physically fit and can be compatible. This is the key socket type the technician should verify before purchase.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. LGA 1700 is used by newer Intel desktop processors such as many 12th- and 13th-generation CPUs. Although it is also an Intel LGA socket, it is physically different from LGA 1200 and is not interchangeable with 10th-generation Intel desktop CPUs.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. AM4 is an AMD socket used for many Ryzen desktop processors. A common misconception is that desktop CPUs are interchangeable if they are similar in performance tier, but Intel and AMD processors require different socket designs and chipsets.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. TR4 is an AMD socket used for Threadripper processors, which target high-end desktop platforms. It is much larger and designed for a different CPU family entirely, so it would not be appropriate for an Intel Core i7 desktop processor.