Motherboard question

[Ahpook]

I am currently using this motherboard: https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z270XP-SLI-rev-10#kf

I do a bit of gaming and would like to squeeze every ounce of power out of that MB. I don't want to change that just yet if possible. I have 32 RAM right now, and probably moving up from SLI 1080ti to a 3080 ASAP.

Anyway, my main question is this MB has the 1151 socket for CPU. I found an i9 that actually has an 1151 socket, but a friend of mine said my MB will not handle it. It confuses me because my thinking is an 1151 socket is an 1151 socket Place the new CPU and fire it up!

Is he correct? It states 7th and 6th gen CPU capability. I am not exactly sure what that is referring to.

Thanks for any help

On edit: I am assuming 7th gen is referring to i7 processors?

[cos dem]

1. NO. I learned the hard way that "socket" doesn't mean jack about whether your MB will support CPU.

Setting up a VM server, and the MB gave the socket spec (don't remember which one), so ordered the MB, CPU, and memory. Doesn't work. Tech support says MB won't support that chip. It's in the fine print. BTW, CPU and memory are non-returnable. The form-factor is ITX, so not a lot of MB options.

I decided to buy a used CPU, which is a risk, but I didn't feel like buying new. It works pretty well. But, now I've got a totally useless CPU on my shelf.

[Ahpook]

2. Ugh

Hate to hear that. Maybe you can use it in a future build?

This is precisely why I am asking questions. I've been burned before, and hope to not have that happen again. I had my finger on the order button, but stopped prior to ask a few questions with more knowledgeable people

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

3. No I-9s on the list. Here is the list of compatible CPUs. Sorry.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z270XP-SLI-rev-10/support#support-cpu

[Ahpook]

5. Oh wow

I didn't see that link when researching. So the Core i7-7700K it is.

Thank you

[PoliticAverse]

4. The socket is just what the CPU fits into. You need the same socket that your CPU is, but...

there are other factors. The issue is when later CPUs are issued for the same physical socket as older ones, the newer CPUs often use an updated electrical "revision" of the socket specification with features not available on older motherboards using the same physical (but older revision) socket. Often the new CPUs will use lower voltages not supported on older motherboards or use pins on the socket that the older motherboards didn't assign and a different set of CPU support chips on the motherboard. For minor revisions sometimes a motherboard BIOS update is all that is required to support a newer CPU.

For 1151 socket there were 2 major revisions....

(From: https://levvvel.com/lga-1151-cpu-list/ ):

LGA 1151 revision 1 vs revision 2

LGA 1151 revision 1 supports Skylake and Kaby Lake CPUs. This means you’ll have to look towards revision 2 if you want to get your hands on some of the newest Intel CPUs, like some of the Intel Core i9 processors. Most motherboards with the LGA 1151 revision 1 socket only support DDR4 memory but there are a few with DDR3(L) support. This socket is compatible with Intel 100 and 200 chipset series, including H110, B150, Q150, B250, H270, and others.
LGA 1151 revision 2 supports Coffee Lake CPUs and it’s compatible with 8th and 9th generation CPUs that use the 300 series chipsets from Intel, including H310, B360, Z370, and Z390. Despite it being a revision of the original socket, it’s physically the same and compatible with the first revision. However, there are some pin reassignments to add more power lines that would support 6-core and 8-core CPUs.

Despite physical compatibility, there is no backward compatibility between the two revisions. The cause of this is a relocated processor detection pin. This means that you can’t use the revision 1 socket for 300 series chipsets and you can’t use revision 2 for 100 and 200 series Intel chipsets. This means you should be extra careful when buying a motherboard with an LGA 1151 socket. Intel doesn’t actually recognize the two revisions (formally) and they don’t refer to them with a distinct name. However, depending on your CPU chipset, you’ll need to use the proper revision! Each motherboard manufacturer keeps a list of supported chipsets so you should have no problems with finding that information.

Here is the list of CPUs your motherboard supports (you may need a BIOS update to support the later ones):
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z270XP-SLI-rev-10/support#support-cpu

Your board uses the Z270 Express Chipset so it is 1151 revision 1.

[Ahpook]

6. VERY informative

Thank you.

Financially I can't keep up with PC technology. This MB is going to be pushed to its limit

The 3080 is probably going to be bottle necked a bit, but I'll have it when I upgrade the MB eventually.