What to Know About Xeon LGA 1155 Computer Processors
The Intel Xeon is a brand of 64-bit processors designed for workstations, servers, and embedded systems. They are aimed at businesses that need access to cloud computing, data processing, and real-time analytics. All of these processors are compatible with an LGA 1155 socket.
What are some features of an LGA 1155 socket?
The LGA 1155, also known as Socket H2, has 1,155 protruding pins that provide a mechanical and electrical connection between the processor and the circuit board. The socket supports Direct Media Interface 2.0 and PCI Express 2.0 and 3.0 interfaces. It is also compatible with double-data-rate type 3 (DDR3) memory modules that have data rates up to 1600 MHz. LGA 1155 processors are designed only for the LGA 1155 socket, so you should make sure that your motherboard will support this socket. However, LGA 1156 heatsinks can be used with an LGA 1155 socket.
What kind of architecture are LGA 1155 processors based on?
All LGA 1155 Xeon processors are based on Intel's 32-nanometer Sandy Bridge architecture. Sandy Bridge is similar to Intel's consumer line of desktop processors, but the Xeon version tends to have more advanced features such as additional cores and support for more memory. First released in April 2011, the Xeon-based Sandy Bridge microprocessors all contain four cores with the exception of a single dual-core model. The basic Sandy Bridge architecture has a uniprocessor design. This means all operations are performed by a single central processing unit (CPU) instead of multiple CPUs. Some other factors to consider are:
- Clock speed: This measures the speed of the CPU, meaning its capacity to process a given workload. Every microprocessor has a base clock speed. Intel's Enhanced SpeedStep and Turbo Boost technology will increase the clock speed automatically when you are attempting to process demanding tasks.
- CPU cache: This is a small amount of memory embedded directly in the CPU. There are three levels of cache. When the processor needs to access data, it will turn to each subsequent level of cache before attempting to access the main system random-access memory (RAM).
- Thermal design power: The thermal design power (TDP) measures the amount of heat in watts that can be safely dissipated from the CPU. The TDP of most Sandy Bridge CPUs is 80 to 95 watts. The quad-core, low-power versions have a TDP of 45 watts, and the dual-core version has 20 watts.
Do Sandy Bridge processors have an integrated graphics card?
The presence of an integrated graphics card depends on the individual processor. Some processors are designed to work with the Intel HD Graphics P300 GPU. Others do not have a matching graphics processing unit (GPU) model and require a separate, dedicated graphics card. The main purpose of an integrated graphics card is to share memory with the main system's RAM, while a dedicated card has its own dedicated memory. A dedicated card is generally preferred for graphics-intensive programs and tasks.