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LGA 1150
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| Release date | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Type | LGA-ZIF |
| Chip form factors | Flip-chip |
| Contacts | 1150 |
| FSB protocol | PCI Express |
| Processor dimensions | 37.5 × 37.5 mm 1,406.25 mm² |
| Processors | |
| Predecessor | LGA 1155 |
| Successor | LGA 1151 |
| Memory support | DDR3 |
This article is part of the CPU socket series | |

LGA 1150,[1] also known as Socket H3, is a zero insertion force flip-chip land grid array (LGA) CPU socket designed by Intel for CPUs built on the Haswell microarchitecture. This socket is also used by the Haswell's successor, Broadwell microarchitecture.[2]
It is the successor of LGA 1155 and was itself succeeded by LGA 1151 in 2015.
Most motherboards with the LGA 1150 socket support varying video outputs (VGA, DVI or HDMI – depending on the model) and Intel Clear Video Technology.
Full support of Windows on LGA 1150 platform starts on Windows 7. Official Windows XP support is limited to selected CPUs, chipsets and only for embedded and industrial systems.
Intel's Platform Controller Hub (PCH) for the LGA 1150 CPUs is codenamed Lynx Point.[3] Intel Xeon processors for socket LGA 1150 use the Intel C222, C224, and C226 chipsets.[4]
Heatsink
[edit]The 4 holes for fastening the heatsink to the motherboard are placed in a square with a lateral length of 75 mm[5] for Intel's sockets LGA 1156, LGA 1155, LGA 1150, LGA 1151 and LGA 1200. Cooling solutions should therefore be interchangeable.
Haswell chipsets
[edit]First generation
[edit]| PCH name[6][7] | H81 | C222 | B85 | C224 | Q85 | Q87 | C226 | H87 | Z87 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overclocking | CPU ratio (ASRock, ECS, Biostar, Gigabyte, Asus, MSI[8][9][10][11][12][13]) + GPU | CPU + GPU + RAM | ||||||||
| Haswell Refresh CPUs support | Yes (may require BIOS update before CPU installation) | |||||||||
| Broadwell CPUs support | No | Yes (may require BIOS update before CPU installation) | No | Yes (may require BIOS update before CPU installation) | No | Yes (may require BIOS update before CPU installation) | No | |||
| Allows using built-in GPU | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | |||||
| Maximum DIMM slots[14] | 2 (Up to 16384MB supported) | 4 (Up to 32768MB supported) | ||||||||
| Maximum USB ports |
2.0 | 8 | 10 | 8 | ||||||
| 3.0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |||||||
| Maximum SATA ports | 2.0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 3.0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |||||||
| CPU-attached PCI Express[14][a] | 1 × PCIe 2.0 ×16 | 1 × PCIe 3.0 ×16 | Either 1 × PCIe 3.0 ×16, 2 × PCIe 3.0 ×8, or 1 × PCIe 3.0 ×8 and 2 × PCIe 3.0 ×4 | |||||||
| Chipset-attached PCI Express[14][b] | 6 × PCIe 2.0 ×1 | 8 × PCIe 2.0 ×1 | ||||||||
| Conventional PCI support | Although chipsets may not support conventional PCI, motherboard manufacturers can include support through the addition of third-party bridges. | |||||||||
| Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RAID) | No | Enterprise | No | Enterprise | No | Yes | Enterprise | Yes | ||
| Smart Response Technology | No | Yes | ||||||||
| Intel Anti-Theft Technology | Yes | |||||||||
| Intel Active Management, Trusted Execution, VT-d Technologies and Intel vPro Platform Eligibility | No | VT-d available only | No | VT-d available only | No | Yes | No | Not supported, but ASRock Z87 Extreme6 supports VT-d[15] | ||
| Release date | August–September 2013 | June 2, 2013[16] | ||||||||
| Chipset TDP | 4.1 W[17] | |||||||||
| Chipset lithography | 32 nm[18][19] | |||||||||
Second generation
[edit]On May 12, 2014, Intel announced the release of two 9-series chipsets, H97 and Z97.[20] Differences and new features of these two chipsets, compared to their H87 and Z87 counterparts, are the following:[21][22][23][24]
- Support for Haswell Refresh CPUs out of the box
- Support for the fifth generation of Intel Core CPUs, built around the Broadwell microarchitecture
- Support for SATA Express, M.2[25] and Thunderbolt, though only if implemented by the motherboard's manufacturer
- Two of the six SATA ports can be converted to two PCIe lanes and used to provide M.2 or SATA Express connectivity.[26] Intel refers to this variable configuration as Flex I/O or Flexible I/O.[27]
Motherboards based on H97 and Z97 chipsets were available for purchase the same day chipsets were announced.[28]
| PCH name[29] | H97 | Z97 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overclocking | CPU + GPU | CPU + GPU + RAM | ||||
| Haswell Refresh CPUs support | Yes | |||||
| Broadwell CPUs support | Yes | |||||
| Maximum DIMM slots | 4 | |||||
| Maximum USB 2.0/3.0 ports | 8 / 6 | |||||
| Maximum SATA 2.0/3.0 ports | 0 / 6 | |||||
| CPU-attached PCI Express | 1 × PCIe 3.0 ×16 | Either 1 × PCIe 3.0 ×16, 2 × PCIe 3.0 ×8, or 1 × PCIe 3.0 ×8 and 2 × PCIe 3.0 ×4 | ||||
| Chipset-attached PCI Express | 8 × PCIe 2.0 ×1 | |||||
| Conventional PCI support | No | |||||
| Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RAID) | Yes | |||||
| Smart Response Technology | Yes | |||||
| Intel Anti-Theft Technology | Yes | |||||
| Intel Active Management, Trusted Execution, VT-d and vPro Technology | No | |||||
| Release date | May 12, 2014 | |||||
| Chipset TDP | 4.1 W | |||||
| Chipset lithography | 22 nm[30] | |||||
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Although these PCI Express lanes are provided by the CPU, the PCH limits their speed and possible configurations of PCI Express links.[14] Capacities may also be lower, depending on the used CPU model.
- ^ Provided by the PCH. For Q87, H87 and Z87 chipsets, the number of available PCIe 2.0 ports is configurable and may be lower.
References
[edit]- ^ "All's Well That Haswell?". TechPowerUp. November 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Nita, Sorin (February 14, 2012). "Intel LGA 1150 Socket Will Be Compatible with 2014 Broadwell CPUs - Report". Softpedia. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Knight, Shawn (November 13, 2012). "Leaked Intel slides detail Haswell's Lynx Point chipset". TechSpot. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "First Intel LGA 1150 chipset info hits the Internet". HiTechReview. April 27, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "LGA1150 Socket Application Guide" (PDF). Intel. September 2013. p. 30. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "ARK - Compare Intel Products". Intel. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ^ "Intel 8-Series Chipset Datasheet" (PDF). Intel. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ^ "Breaking Limitations! CPU OC on ECS H87, B85, and H81 Motherboards". Elitegroup Computer Systems. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Overclocking CPU Frequency on H87 and B85 Motherboards Made Possible with ASRock's Non-Z OC". ASRock. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Biostar Announces BIOS Updates Enabling Overclocking on H87 and B85 Motherboards". TechPowerUp. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Gigabyte Releases Beta BIOS Unlocking Overclocking on H87 and B85 Motherboards". TechPowerUp. July 9, 2013. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "ASUS Brings Haswell Processor Overclocking to H87 and B85 Motherboards". TechPowerUp. July 15, 2013. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "MSI OC on Z87, H87, B85 and H81 Chipsets". MSI. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Intel 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family Platform Controller Hub (PCH): Datasheet" (PDF). Intel. May 2014. p. 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "VT-d Verification on ASRock Z87 Extreme6 with ESXi 5.5". Kihltech. November 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "GIGABYTE Launch Intel 8 Series Performance Motherboards". TechPowerUp. June 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Intel 8 Series / C220 Series Chipset Family Platform Controller Hub (PCH): Thermal Mechanical Specifications and Design Guidelines (TMSDG)" (PDF). Intel. June 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Neu bei Caseking: Intels Haswell-CPUs und Lynx Point-Mainboards der Hersteller ASUS, ASRock, MSI und Gigabyte ab sofort lieferbar!". PresseBox (in German). June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Intel Chipsätze: Umstellung auf 32-Nanometer-Fertigung - Haswell bekommt MCP-Design". PC Games Hardware (in German). April 13, 2012. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Intel Releases New Intel 9 Series Chipset with PC Platform Enhancements". Intel Newsroom. May 12, 2014. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ Cutress, Ian (May 11, 2014). "The Intel Haswell Refresh Review: Core i7-4790, i5-4690 and i3-4360 Tested". AnandTech. Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ Gasior, Geoff (May 11, 2014). "This is Intel's 9 Series chipset". Tech Report. Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ Cunningham, Andrew (May 11, 2014). "New Intel chipsets speed up your storage, but they're missing new CPUs". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ "Intel 9 Series Chipset Family Platform Controller Hub (PCH): Datasheet" (PDF). Intel. May 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
- ^ "SSD Guide: M.2 PCI-Express, M.2 SATA, M-SATA And SATA Express - The Differences Explained!". asus.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ^ Ryan, Christopher (June 5, 2014). "A 1400 MB/s SSD: ASRock's Z97 Extreme6 And Samsung's XP941". Tom's Hardware. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
- ^ "ASUS Z97-A LGA1150 Motherboard Review: SATA Express & M.2 Through Flex IO". Hardware Canucks. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- ^ Soderstrom, Thomas (May 13, 2014). "Best Z97 Motherboard Between $120 And $160". Tom's Hardware. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- ^ "ARK - Compare Intel Products". Intel. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ Another chipset in the same series (Intel 9 series chipsets) is 22 nm: "Intel® X99 Chipset Product Specifications". www.intel.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
LGA 1150
View on GrokipediaIntroduction
Overview
The LGA 1150, also known as Socket H3, is a land grid array (LGA) CPU socket featuring 1150 pins arranged in a 40x40 grid with central depopulation for desktop and entry-level server processors.[3] It serves as the interface between compatible Intel processors and motherboards, utilizing an Independent Loading Mechanism (ILM) to ensure secure and uniform contact.[3] Introduced in June 2013 alongside Intel's 4th-generation Core processor family (Haswell), the LGA 1150 primarily supports these processors, along with select 5th-generation Core models (Broadwell) via BIOS updates on compatible motherboards.[6][7] It enables key features such as integrated graphics processing and dual-channel DDR3 memory support up to 1600 MHz.[8] The socket reached end-of-life around 2015, transitioning to LGA 1151 with the launch of Skylake processors. Compared to its predecessor, LGA 1155, the LGA 1150 offers improved power efficiency through Haswell's architectural enhancements, delivering 6-10% better performance at lower power consumption levels.[9] It accommodates processors with thermal design power (TDP) ratings up to 84 W for standard models and 88 W for unlocked variants like the Core i7-4790K.[8] Positioned for consumer desktops, all-in-one PCs, and workstations, as well as entry-level servers via Xeon E3 compatibility, the LGA 1150 excludes mobile and high-end server applications.[3] It pairs with 8-series and 9-series chipsets for broad system integration.[2]Development and Release
The LGA 1150 socket was developed as the successor to the LGA 1155, specifically to accommodate Intel's Haswell microarchitecture on a 22 nm process node, introducing significant changes to the pinout configuration. Unlike its predecessor, which relied on external voltage regulation, LGA 1150 incorporated support for Haswell's Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator (FIVR), shifting power delivery on-die and necessitating a redesigned pin layout to optimize signal integrity for the integrated memory controller (IMC) and PCIe lanes. This evolution enabled improved power efficiency and bandwidth capabilities while maintaining backward incompatibility to ensure platform stability.[10][9] Key design objectives for LGA 1150 focused on enhancing overall platform efficiency, including better thermal management through refined power delivery and support for DDR3-1600 memory speeds in dual-channel configurations to balance performance and cost. The socket was engineered to handle Haswell's increased transistor density while preparing for unlocked overclocking capabilities, particularly with upcoming chipsets that would expand multiplier adjustments and base clock tuning. These goals addressed the limitations of prior sockets by prioritizing scalability for enthusiast users without compromising mainstream compatibility.[9][11] Intel officially announced LGA 1150 alongside the Haswell processors on June 4, 2013, at Computex Taipei, with initial retail availability following in late June for the first wave of desktop CPUs and motherboards based on the Z87 chipset. Shipments of Z87-equipped motherboards began in Q3 2013, aligning with the broader Haswell rollout to retail channels. The socket debuted paired with the Haswell launch, featuring the Core i7-4770K as the flagship unlocked processor to drive early adoption among performance-oriented builders. However, initial platform stability for future upgrades, such as Broadwell processors, required BIOS updates from motherboard vendors to address compatibility hurdles like power state mismatches.[12][13][14] Intel halted development of new LGA 1150 chipsets after the 9-series releases in Q2 2014, with the Z97 providing enhanced overclocking features like direct memory overclocking support. The last processors for the socket, from the Broadwell family, arrived in Q2 2015, marking the end of active support as Intel transitioned to LGA 1151 for subsequent architectures.[15][2]Technical Specifications
Electrical Characteristics
The LGA 1150 socket comprises 1150 pins arranged in a land grid array configuration, providing connections for I/O signals, power delivery, and ground references to support Intel's 4th and 5th generation Core processors.[3] These include dedicated pins for signal transmission, ground planes to minimize noise, and power/VID lines for dynamic voltage regulation, enabling efficient electrical interfacing between the processor and motherboard.[1] Power specifications for the socket emphasize variable core voltage supply via the VID interface, with VCC ranging from 0.55 V to 1.52 V depending on processor SKU and load conditions, allowing for adaptive power management to optimize performance and efficiency.[16] The design accommodates standard thermal design power (TDP) ratings up to 84 W for locked processors, while unlocked "K-series" models can reach 125 W under overclocking, supported by motherboard-integrated voltage regulator modules (VRMs) for stable delivery.[1] Electrical parameters such as mated loop inductance below 3.6 nH and end-of-life contact resistance averaging 19 mΩ ensure reliable power distribution and signal integrity over the socket's lifespan.[3] Interface support includes 16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 directly from the CPU, operating at up to 8 GT/s for graphics and expansion cards, alongside a DMI 2.0 link to the chipset at 5 GT/s in x4 configuration for peripheral connectivity.[16] Memory interfacing is limited to dual-channel DDR3/DDR3L at speeds up to 1600 MT/s, with no native DDR4 compatibility, relying on differential signaling pairs for data integrity.[1] High-speed I/O employs differential pairs with controlled impedance—typically 90 ±10 ohms differential for USB 3.0 and 100 ±10 ohms differential for SATA 6 Gb/s passthrough via the platform controller hub.[17] Compatibility considerations include the need for a BIOS update on Haswell-era motherboards to enable support for Broadwell processors, due to microcode and initialization differences.[18] Proper power sequencing, governed by signals like PWRGOOD and SUSCLK, is essential during processor insertion to avoid electrical damage, ensuring orderly ramp-up of voltages and clocks before full operation.[16]Mechanical Design
The LGA 1150 socket features a surface-mount land grid array (LGA) design with a 40 by 40 grid configuration, including a 24 by 16 central depopulation area, resulting in 1150 active contacts arranged in two offset L-shaped sections.[3] The contact pitch measures 0.9144 mm (equivalent to 36 mils), with the land pattern sized at 36 mils by 36 mils per section and offsets of 0.9144 mm in the X-direction and 3.114 mm in the Y-direction between sections.[3] The socket housing is constructed from thermoplastic material meeting UL 94 V-0 flame rating standards, providing a compact form factor suitable for desktop motherboard integration.[3] Contact interfaces consist of gold-plated lands on the underside of the compatible processor package, which mate with high-strength copper alloy contacts in the socket plated with a minimum of 0.381 μm gold over 1.27 μm nickel underplate.[3] These spring-like contacts ensure reliable electrical and mechanical connection without requiring insertion force on the processor, facilitated by the zero insertion force (ZIF) mechanism via a load lever and plate assembly.[3] The design supports up to 20 insertion and removal cycles for the socket and 15 cycles for the pick-and-place (PnP) cover, ensuring durability during typical installation and maintenance.[3] The retention mechanism employs an Independent Loading Mechanism (ILM) with four corner mounting holes on the socket body, secured using screws torqued to a minimum of 8 inch-pounds (approximately 0.9 Nm) and a maximum of 10 inch-pounds (approximately 1.13 Nm) to apply even pressure without damaging components.[3] This ILM generates a static compressive load ranging from 311 N minimum to 600 N maximum on the processor's integrated heat spreader (IHS), promoting stable contact.[3] Keying features include a chamfer at Pin 1 for orientation, two protruding posts on the socket that align with notches on the processor substrate corners, and four alignment walls at the socket corners to prevent misinsertion and incorrect orientation.[3] These elements ensure precise placement during assembly, reducing the risk of damage from improper handling. Durability is enhanced by the socket's ability to support a maximum heatsink mass of 500 grams while maintaining alignment under operational loads, with orientation posts and walls providing anti-wobble stability to withstand vibrations and minor shocks in desktop environments.[3] The overall mechanical design prioritizes reliability for the 1150-pin interface, balancing compactness with robust handling characteristics.[3]Compatible Processors
Haswell Processors
The Haswell microarchitecture, introduced as Intel's fourth-generation Core processor family, is fabricated on a 22 nm process node utilizing tri-gate transistors for enhanced power efficiency and performance. It supports up to four cores in typical desktop configurations, with hyper-threading on higher-end models for up to eight threads, and integrates Intel HD Graphics 4600 (or Iris Pro 5200 on select variants) directly on the die. Key architectural advancements include support for AVX2 instructions, which extend vector processing to 256-bit operations including fused multiply-add (FMA) and integer vectors, alongside new cryptographic instructions and transactional synchronization extensions (TSX) for improved parallel computing efficiency.[19][20] The Core processor lineup for LGA 1150 encompasses a range of models tailored for consumer desktops, including unlocked "K" variants for overclocking. Representative high-end options include the Intel Core i7-4770K, a quad-core processor with eight threads, a 3.5 GHz base frequency, 8 MB L3 cache, and Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz, designed for enthusiasts. Mid-range models like the Intel Core i5-4670 offer quad-core, four-thread performance at a 3.4 GHz base clock with 6 MB cache and Turbo Boost to 3.8 GHz, balancing gaming and productivity tasks. Entry-level dual-core options, such as the Intel Core i3-4130 with a 3.4 GHz base frequency and 3 MB cache, provide integrated graphics for basic computing. Budget alternatives include the dual-core Pentium G3220 at 3.0 GHz with 3 MB cache and the Celeron G1820 at 2.7 GHz with 2 MB cache, both featuring HD Graphics for light workloads. Xeon variants under the E3-1200 v3 series extend Haswell to workstation and entry-level server use, supporting ECC memory for data integrity in professional environments. For example, the Intel Xeon E3-1275 v3 features four cores and eight threads, a 3.5 GHz base frequency, 8 MB cache, Turbo Boost to 3.9 GHz, and up to 32 GB of DDR3 memory with ECC validation, making it suitable for content creation and light virtualization. These processors maintain compatibility with LGA 1150 while adding features like error-correcting code support, without integrated graphics on most models. Performance enhancements in Haswell include efficiency gains equivalent to a process node shrink through fully integrated voltage regulators (FIVR), enabling better power management and up to 20x reductions in idle power via low-power states. Thermal design power (TDP) spans 35 W to 84 W across the lineup, with Turbo Boost 2.0 allowing dynamic frequency scaling for burst workloads. The family launched in June 2013, comprising over 50 stock-keeping units (SKUs) to address diverse market segments, with K-series models optimized for overclocking on compatible motherboards.[19][20]Broadwell Processors
The Broadwell microarchitecture represents Intel's fifth-generation Core processor family, fabricated on a 14 nm process node as a die shrink of the preceding Haswell architecture, enabling improved power efficiency and integration density while maintaining compatibility with the LGA 1150 socket.[21] These processors incorporate enhancements such as support for unlocked multipliers on select models, allowing overclocking capabilities, and feature the Iris Pro Graphics 6200 integrated GPU paired with 128 MB of on-package eDRAM cache, which provides up to a 20% performance uplift in graphics workloads compared to prior generations without eDRAM.[5] The eDRAM acts as a high-bandwidth Level 4 cache for the GPU, reducing latency and boosting frame rates in applications like gaming and video processing.[22] The desktop lineup for LGA 1150 was notably limited, with only a handful of SKUs released—primarily focused on high-end unlocked variants due to Intel's emphasis on mobile Broadwell implementations—totaling around five to seven models including consumer and enterprise options. Key consumer models include the quad-core Intel Core i7-5775C, with a 3.3 GHz base frequency, Turbo Boost up to 3.7 GHz, 6 MB L3 cache, and 65 W TDP, and the Intel Core i5-5675C, featuring a 3.1 GHz base frequency, Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz, 4 MB L3 cache, and the same 65 W TDP.[5][23] Both integrate the Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and support DDR3-1600 memory. For enterprise use, the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 offers a 3.5 GHz base frequency, Turbo Boost up to 3.8 GHz, 6 MB L3 cache, Iris Pro Graphics 6200, and vPro technology for remote management, with a configurable TDP ranging from 65 W to 95 W.[24] Broadwell processors deliver key advancements in efficiency and media capabilities, including a 65-95 W TDP range that enhances power management over Haswell equivalents, support for DisplayPort 1.2 for higher-resolution multi-monitor setups, and hardware-accelerated HEVC (H.265) decoding at up to 4K at 30 fps via a hybrid engine combining GPU and CPU resources. These features position Broadwell as a bridge for LGA 1150 systems, though compatibility requires a BIOS update on 9-series chipsets like Z97 or H97 to enable full functionality. Released on June 2, 2015, the desktop Broadwell processors saw limited market adoption, as Intel rapidly transitioned to the Skylake architecture on LGA 1151 shortly thereafter, resulting in low production volumes; however, their unlocked nature made them popular among enthusiasts for overclocking, with the i7-5775C capable of stable boosts beyond 4 GHz on air cooling.[22][25]Supported Chipsets
8-Series Chipsets
The Intel 8-series chipsets, codenamed Lynx Point, were introduced in the second quarter of 2013 as the primary platform companion to 4th-generation Core processors (Haswell) on the LGA 1150 socket.[26] The lineup emphasized improved I/O capabilities over prior generations, including native USB 3.0 support via an integrated xHCI controller, up to 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports for storage (with variations by variant), and a Direct Media Interface (DMI) 2.0 link providing 2 GB/s bidirectional bandwidth between the chipset and processor.[17] These chipsets connect to the CPU through 8 PCIe 2.0 lanes configured as DMI 2.0 x4, enabling efficient data transfer for peripherals while the processor handles memory and primary PCIe lanes.[17] Memory support is limited to DDR3 at speeds up to 1600 MHz across 4 DIMM slots in dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 32 GB using non-ECC modules.[17] The Z87 served as the flagship variant, targeted at enthusiasts with full CPU overclocking capabilities, support for RAID 0/1/5/10 configurations via Intel Rapid Storage Technology, and up to 6 PCIe 2.0 root ports configurable for multi-GPU setups.[26] Mid-range options like the H87 offered similar I/O expansion, including 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports and 4 USB 3.0 ports, but omitted overclocking and limited RAID to levels 0/1/5.[17] Budget-oriented B85 and H81 variants reduced features for cost efficiency: B85 supported 4 SATA 6 Gb/s ports (plus 2 at 3 Gb/s) and 4 USB 3.0 ports with RAID 0/1/5, while H81 was more restricted with 2 SATA 6 Gb/s ports (plus 2 at 3 Gb/s), 2 USB 3.0 ports, and no RAID support.[27] Business-focused Q87 and Q85 chipsets prioritized stability and manageability, with Q87 providing 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, 6 USB 3.0 ports, and full RAID 0/1/5/10, alongside enhanced security features like Intel Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP).[17] The Q85 mirrored B85 in I/O with 4 SATA 6 Gb/s ports (plus 2 at 3 Gb/s) and 4 USB 3.0 ports but added business-oriented tools such as hardware-based remote management and no RAID support.[17] For server and workstation use, the C226 variant paired with Xeon E3 v3 processors, enabling ECC DDR3 memory support up to 32 GB, 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports with RAID 0/1/5/10, and additional I/O flexibility for enterprise environments.[28] A key limitation across all 8-series variants was the lack of out-of-the-box compatibility with 5th-generation Core processors (Broadwell), requiring BIOS updates on select implementations that were not universally available or stable.[17] Lower-tier chipsets like H81 and B85 also omitted advanced features such as native SATA RAID, relying instead on AHCI mode for basic storage needs.[17]| Variant | Target Market | Overclocking | SATA Ports (6 Gb/s) | USB 3.0 Ports | RAID Levels | PCIe Root Ports (Max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z87 | Enthusiast | Yes | 6 | 6 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | Up to 8 (x16 config) |
| H87 | Mainstream | No | 6 | 4 | 0, 1, 5 | Up to 8 (x16 config) |
| B85 | Business | No | 4 | 4 | 0, 1, 5 | Up to 8 (x16 config) |
| H81 | Entry-level | No | 2 | 2 | None | Up to 4 (x8 config) |
| Q87 | Business | No | 6 | 6 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | Up to 8 (x16 config) |
| Q85 | Business | No | 4 | 4 | None | Up to 8 (x16 config) |
| C226 | Server/Workstation | No | 6 | 4 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | Up to 8 (x16 config) |