Intel’s LGA 1200 socket will reportedly be compatible with LGA 115x coolers

Rumour has it that Intel’s next-generation processors will utilise a new socket, moving the company away from LGA 1151 after four generations of products (Skylake, Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake and Coffee Lake R). 

Moving forward, Intel needs to add more cores and features to its mainstream processor platform to compete with AMD, who can currently deliver two times as many cores on its mainstream AM4 socket. Enter LGA 1200. 

Sketches of Intel’s new LGA 1200 socket have been posted online by momomo_us, revealing a socket design that ‘s similar in size to LGA 1151 and features 49 additional pins. Thanks to LGA 1200’s similar size to LGA 1151, it looks like LGA 1200 will support existing Intel-compatible coolers. This means that LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1150, and LGA1151 compatible coolers will all be supported on LGA 1200, assuming these heatsinks meet the cooling requirements of LGA 1200 processors. 

Intel’s LGA 1200 socket will reportedly be paired with Intel’s planned 400-series of motherboard chipsets, which are due to release in the first half of 2020.