LGA1155 is the Intel desktop socket for 2nd generation (Sandy Bridge) Core processors, launched in January 2011, and for the 3rd generation (Ivy Bridge) chips that followed in 2012. It uses DDR3 memory and was replaced by LGA1150 in 2013. It is a long-retired platform, bought today to repair an old PC, to reuse a processor you already own, or to build a cheap retro or server box. The boards still on sale are on the LGA1155 motherboard deals page.
Cheapest LGA1155 boards right now
All 64 LGA1155 motherboards, with price drops and price history
What LGA1155 is
It is a land grid array socket with 1,155 sprung pins in the motherboard and flat pads on the processor. It replaced LGA1156 and is the same size as the sockets either side of it, but the notches that key the processor differ, so an LGA1156 or LGA1150 chip will not fit. The cooler mounting holes did stay the same.
| Item | LGA1155 |
|---|---|
| Socket type | LGA, 1,155 contacts |
| Launched | January 2011 |
| Processors | 2nd generation Core (Sandy Bridge), 3rd generation Core (Ivy Bridge, 2012) |
| Memory | DDR3, dual channel |
| Chipsets | 6-series (P67, H67, H61, Z68, B65, Q67) and 7-series (Z77, H77, B75, Q77) |
| CPU overclocking | P67, Z68 and Z77 |
| Replaced by | LGA1150, in 2013 |
Compatible processors
Every LGA1155 board takes 2nd generation chips: Core i3, i5 and i7 models numbered 2xxx, plus the Pentium and Celeron parts of the same family. 7-series boards take 3rd generation (3xxx) chips as well.
The catch is a 3rd generation chip in a 6-series board. Many 6-series boards can run Ivy Bridge, but only with a BIOS version that supports it, and updating that BIOS usually needs a 2nd generation chip fitted first. If the board you are buying is a P67, H67, H61 or Z68 model, check the maker's CPU support list and the BIOS version the seller says is installed. BIOS updates and CPU compatibility explains how to read the list.
PCIe 3.0 graphics also depends on both parts: it needs a 3rd generation processor in a board that supports it, which in practice mostly means a 7-series board. With a 2nd generation chip everything runs at PCIe 2.0.
Memory
LGA1155 is DDR3 only; DDR4 modules have a different notch and will not go in. 2nd generation chips are rated for DDR3-1333 and 3rd generation chips for DDR3-1600. Entry-level boards, including most H61 models, have two memory slots. Running memory above those speeds is the territory of the overclocking chipsets, and even there it varies by board.
Chipsets
The 6-series and 7-series cover the same ground, and the 7-series is the better buy where you have the choice: it adds native USB 3.0, takes 3rd generation chips without the BIOS question, and is where PCIe 3.0 graphics is found. On 6-series boards any USB 3.0 ports come from an extra controller chip added by the board maker.
P67, Z68 and Z77 overclock K-series processors. P67 has no video output from the processor, so it needs a graphics card. H61 is the 6-series entry level, B75 the business-oriented 7-series chipset that became a common budget choice. B75 has its own page at B75 motherboards and is covered in the B75 chipset guide. Motherboard chipsets explained sets out what the letters mean.
One historical point for used boards: early 6-series chipsets, the B2 stepping, were recalled in February 2011 because their SATA 3Gb/s ports could degrade over time. Fixed boards used the B3 stepping. Almost every board still in circulation will be B3, but on a used P67 or H67 board from early 2011 it is worth confirming.
M.2 and NVMe on an LGA1155 board
Original LGA1155 boards have no M.2 slot and cannot boot from an NVMe drive. Many of the new-build boards on sale now, mostly B75 models from smaller makers, add an NVMe M.2 slot and usually ship with a BIOS that boots from it. Look for NVMe boot in the listing, not just "M.2", which can mean a SATA-only slot or a WiFi card slot. The slot runs at PCIe 2.0 or less, so a fast NVMe drive will not reach its rated speed, though it can still beat a SATA SSD.
Cooler compatibility
LGA1155 shares its cooler mounting holes with LGA1156, LGA1150, LGA1151 and LGA1200, so a cooler from any of those fits without an adapter. LGA1700 and LGA1851 use a wider spacing and need a bracket kit.
Windows and the age of the platform
2nd and 3rd generation Core processors are not on Microsoft's supported list for Windows 11, and Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025. A replacement board keeps an old PC working, but not on a Windows version Microsoft supports for these chips. For a Linux server or a retro gaming box that matters less.
Buying into LGA1155 in 2026
Do not build a new everyday PC on this socket. The fastest processors it takes are four-core chips from 2012, they are only available used, and a budget AM4 or DDR4 LGA1700 board with a new processor is far quicker for the money. Start with how to choose a motherboard for a new build.
The reasons to buy are repair and reuse: a failed board in a working Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge PC, a Core i5 or i7 and DDR3 memory already on the shelf, or a period-correct retro build. For a used or refurbished board, read Are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it? and follow the used motherboard checklist, paying attention to the socket pins and swollen capacitors on a board this old.
What to look for
- A 7-series board for a 3rd generation chip, or a 6-series board confirmed to have an Ivy Bridge BIOS.
- A P67, Z68 or Z77 board if you want to overclock a K-series chip.
- NVMe boot stated in the listing if you want to boot from an NVMe drive.
- Memory slots and size: two slots on most entry-level boards, and many are Micro-ATX. Prebuilt office PCs often use non-standard boards a retail board will not replace.
Current stock is on the LGA1155 motherboard deals page, and Warehouse offers lists open-box boards across every socket.
Questions people ask
Will a 4th gen CPU work in an LGA1155 board?
No. 4th generation Core processors use LGA1150, which is keyed differently, so the chip will not seat in an LGA1155 socket. An LGA1155 board takes 2nd and 3rd generation Core processors only.
Will a 3rd gen Core i5 or i7 work in an H61 or P67 board?
Often, but only with a BIOS version that supports Ivy Bridge, and updating it usually needs a 2nd generation chip fitted. 7-series boards such as B75, H77 and Z77 take 3rd generation chips without that step.
Do B75 boards support NVMe?
Original B75 boards cannot boot from NVMe. Many new-build B75 boards add an NVMe M.2 slot with a BIOS that boots from it; check that the listing says NVMe boot, not just M.2. See the B75 chipset guide.
Can an LGA1155 PC run Windows 11?
Not officially. 2nd and 3rd generation Core processors are not on Microsoft's supported list for Windows 11, and Windows 10 support ended in October 2025.