Details of Intel LGA1700 socket for Alder Lake CPUs appear online
New details have emerged of the LGA1700 socket for Intel’s upcoming Alder Lake CPUs. Among other things, Igor’sLAB publishes socket diagrams showing the dimensions and design of socket LGA1700. The Intel Alder Lake platform will be released this year.
The diagrams from Igor’sLAB show that socket LGA1700 will have a rectangular design, which corresponds to previous rumors. This makes the socket larger than that of previous Intel platforms. For example, the documents show that Intel is switching to a 78x78mm hole pattern for mounting CPU coolers. Previously, these dimensions were 75x75mm. The socket would also be less high than current Intel sockets.
Socket LGA1700 dimensions compared to current Intel sockets. Source: Igor’sLAB
The integrated heat spreaders of Alder Lake CPUs are also less high and can therefore be positioned lower at 6.5mm than those of previous Intel CPUs. The heat spreaders are also more elongated than those of Intel’s current processors, so the heat pipes of existing CPU coolers may not be in the right place to completely cool Alder Lake CPUs. It would therefore be unlikely that old processor coolers are compatible with the upcoming socket. “Continuing to use old CPU coolers, even with new mounting kits, is usually not a good idea,” writes Igor’sLAB.
The German tech website further shows schematics showing a recommended layout for ATX motherboards. For example, the diagram in question shows which motherboard areas around the socket should not have components such as VRMs placed to ensure they do not come into contact with a processor cooler. In addition, the diagrams show that the motherboard pins are split into two L-shaped regions.
Intel previously confirmed that the Alder Lake platform will be released in the second half of this year, although the company did not mention a concrete release date. The CPUs are rumored to be released in the fourth quarter of 2021. Alder Lake variants will be available for desktops and laptops. They are the first Intel desktop processors that the company makes on its 10nm process. The chips will also receive two different types of cores; some high-performance cores with hyperthreading, and some energy-efficient Gracemont cores without hyperthreading. The platform would also receive support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0.
Schematics for ATX motherboards and pin areas for socket LGA1700. Source: Igor’sLAB