What CPU Compatible Motherboard

What CPU Is Compatible With My Motherboard (MOBO Compatibility With Processor)

If you’ve asked yourself the question, what CPU is compatible with my motherboard, then you’re reading the right article. Gamers who have built or upgraded their custom PC know how important it is to make sure all the components fit together properly and there is mobo compatibility with the processor. If you don’t do this, it can lead to many problems and will ultimately result in your computer not working. 

Want to get building but need a quick answer? In short, it’s quite simple to know if your CPU is compatible with your motherboard. All motherboards have a socket type they are compatible with, for Intel it is LGA and for AMD it is AM. Once you know the socket type of your mobo, you just check the CPU socket type, and you’ll know if it is a match.

How To Know If CPU Is Compatible With Motherboard

In order to know how to tell if the CPU is compatible with the motherboard follow the steps below and you’ll quickly have the answer.

  1. Find out the socket type of your motherboard. Typically it will either be LGA or AM.
  1. Once you have found this out, look up the socket type of your CPU. It will also either be LGA or AM.
  1. Now that you have the information, you can figure out which CPU will match your mobo.

LGA CPUs will only fit LGA sockets and the same goes for AM. Once you know the socket type, it’s easy to find out which CPU is compatible.

What Processors Are Compatible With My Motherboard

The motherboard you are using will determine what processor is compatible with the mobo.

For LGA socket types the Intel Core i7-9700K Desktop Processor is typically the highest-rated.

As for AM socket types, you’ll want to go with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Desktop Processor

Of course, the CPU you buy will also depend on what you’re wanting the PC to do.

If you’re going to be mainly streaming, you’ll want either the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Desktop Processor or the Intel Core i9-10900K Desktop Processor.

However, if you’re mainly going to be gaming then you’ll need different CPUs.

The best Intel CPU for gaming in 2024 is the Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor, and if you’re going with an AMD CPU, you’ll want the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Desktop Processor.

What Processors Are Compatible With My Motherboard FAQ

Can You Put Any CPU In Any Motherboard?

No, you cannot put any CPU in any motherboard. Only the same socket types are compatible with each other. The two main socket types are Intel’s LGA and AMD’s AM. LGA and AM are not compatible with each other and will not fit together, let alone operate.

You can only put an LGA CPU into an LGA-compatible motherboard, and the same goes for AM CPUs. They are only compatible with AM mobos.

What CPU Can My Motherboard Support?

If you have an LGA-compatible motherboard, then it can support any CPU produced by Intel, as they are LGA socket types.

The three best Intel CPUs are the Intel Core i7-9700K Desktop Processor, the Intel Core i9-10900K Desktop Processor, and the  Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor.

If your motherboard is AM compatible, this means it will support any CPU from AMD. The best of these are the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Desktop Processor, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Desktop Processor, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Desktop Processor.

What Happens If You Put An Incompatible CPU In A Motherboard?

There are a couple of outcomes for putting an incompatible CPU in a motherboard. Firstly if the CPU fits all the pins on the motherboard, but your PC only has a blank screen, there is no compatibility between the motherboard and CPU.

This shouldn’t lead to any damage to your PC or electronic damage to your CPU. However, if you have forced the CPU onto the motherboard, then this will definitely damage both the motherboard and CPU. When correctly installing a CPU there should be little to no resistance.

Can My Motherboard Support i7?

To find out if your motherboard supports i7, you should go onto the manufacturer’s website. When you’re on the website, go to your mobo model and look up the technical specifications. This will tell you the socket type, as well as what CPUs it supports.

These are the best motherboards that support i7:

Can I Get Into Bios With Incompatible CPU?

Most of the time you cannot get into the Bios without a compatible CPU. However, some motherboards do feature a special function called Bios flashback, which allows you to update the Bios without a CPU installed or with an incompatible CPU installed.

The best motherboards with bios flashback are the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme Z490 and the GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Xtreme.

These mobos are beneficial if you’re needing to access the bios without a CPU.

It is fairly simple to use this feature, though you’ll need to go onto the manufacturer’s website for your motherboard to find the instructions on how to do it.

That being said, the process is basically just downloading the bios software onto a USB stick and plugging it into your computer.

Do All CPUs Fit All Motherboards?

No, all CPUs do not fit all motherboards. You will need to buy the correct CPU for your motherboard. To do this, first find out what socket type your motherboard is, it should either be LGA (Intel) or AM (AMD). This information will be listed on the manufacturer’s website, or the box your motherboard came in. 

Then, once you have figured this information out, you can go ahead and find the compatible CPU. If you want an Intel CPU, the best is the Intel Core i7-9700K Desktop Processor, the Intel Core i9-10900K Desktop Processor, and the  Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor.

If you need an AMD CPU the best of these are the, AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Desktop Processor, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Desktop Processor, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Desktop Processor.

It is important to make sure you’re buying the correct CPU for your motherboard, otherwise, you can end up seriously damaging both parts. Never try to force a CPU onto the motherboard pins, are you’ll end up damaging both items.

A CPU should fit onto a mobo with little to no resistance. If you do some research and buy the correct socket type CPU you won’t have any issues and your custom PC will be operating to the fullest capacity.

MOBO Compatibility Processor

Final Words About Motherboard Compatibility With CPU

It is always important for you to get the exact right CPU for your motherboard, and by now you should know how to tell if the CPU is compatible with the motherboard and what CPU is compatible with my motherboard. Remember, it is easy to know the mobo compatibility with the processor.

First, check the socket type of the motherboard, you can do this either on the website or the box it came in.

Once you know that, it’s easy to find either LGA or AM socket CPUs. This way you ensure you’re not going to damage the CPU or motherboard, your PC will run perfectly, and you’re not spending money unnecessarily.

If you’re needing a great LGA or AM CPU, the Intel Core i7-9700K Desktop Processor is the highest-rated. Likewise, for AM sockets, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Desktop Processor is the highest-rated.