“`html
LGA 1150 is Intel’s Socket H3, a zero-insertion-force CPU socket used with Haswell-era and some Broadwell desktop processors.
For the full breakdown, see our best LGA 1150 Motherboard guide.
An LGA 1150 motherboard is simply a desktop board built around that socket. It powered most Intel desktop builds from roughly 2013 to 2015, pairing Haswell-era 4th-gen Core chips with 8-series or 9-series chipsets and DDR3 memory. Because the socket is no longer used on current Intel platforms, LGA 1150 boards show up mostly in budget, office, and legacy builds.
The socket itself does more work than people expect. It uses a land grid array layout, meaning the motherboard carries the pins and the processor has flat contact pads, so the CPU drops into place with almost zero insertion force and a locking lever holds it down.
The LGA 1150 Socket, Explained
The LGA 1150 socket is Intel’s Socket H3, a land grid array design with 1,150 spring-loaded contacts. Intel’s desktop chipsets for the platform are the 8-series and 9-series families, including H81, B85, H87, Z87, H97, and Z97.
The platform is tied to DDR3 memory; there is no DDR4 support. The processor package measures 37.5 × 37.5 mm, which is why many LGA 1156 and LGA 1155 coolers line up with LGA 1150 mounting holes. Still, verify the cooler’s bracket and backplate before reusing it.
Here’s the socket in one table:
| Spec | LGA 1150 Detail |
|---|---|
| Socket name | LGA 1150 (Socket H3) |
| Socket type | Land Grid Array (LGA), zero insertion force |
| Contacts | 1,150 |
| Supported CPUs | Intel 4th-gen Core (Haswell); some 5th-gen Broadwell on select 9-series boards |
| Chipset generation | Intel 8-series and 9-series |
| Memory | DDR3 only |
| CPU package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Cooler compatibility | Many LGA 1156/115
Send us your feedback Tell us what you thought about this post — we read every note. |