LGA1851 is Intel's current desktop socket. It arrived in 2024 with the Core Ultra 200S processors, known as Arrow Lake, and the 800-series chipsets. It takes DDR5 memory only and does not accept any earlier Intel processor. The boards we track are listed on the LGA1851 motherboard deals page.
Cheapest LGA1851 boards right now
All 158 LGA1851 motherboards, with price drops and price history
Amazon Warehouse offers on LGA1851 boards
What LGA1851 is
LGA stands for land grid array: the 1,851 sprung pins are in the socket on the motherboard and the processor has flat contact pads. Intel has built its desktop sockets this way for many years. The processor is robust, the socket is not, and a single bent pin can stop a memory channel or the whole board from working. That is the first thing to inspect on any open-box Intel board.
LGA1851 replaced LGA1700. The two sockets are close in size but are not interchangeable: a 12th, 13th or 14th generation Core processor will not work in an LGA1851 board, and a Core Ultra 200S chip will not work in an LGA1700 one.
| Item | LGA1851 |
|---|---|
| Socket type | LGA, 1,851 contacts |
| Launched | 2024 |
| Processors | Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake) |
| Memory | DDR5 only, dual channel |
| PCIe from the processor | PCIe 5.0 for the graphics slot and for M.2 storage |
| Chipsets | Z890, B860, H810 |
| CPU overclocking | Z890 only |
Compatible processors and memory
Every LGA1851 board takes the Core Ultra 200S range, up to the Core Ultra 9 285K. Processors with a K suffix are unlocked for overclocking, which only a Z890 board can make use of. Processors with an F suffix have no integrated graphics, so the video outputs on the board will not work with one and you need a graphics card from the start.
Memory is DDR5 only. Unlike LGA1700 there are no DDR4 versions of these boards, so DDR4 from an older system cannot come with you. Intel's memory profiles are called XMP, and they are available on Z890 and B860 boards. The platform also supports the newer CUDIMM type of DDR5, which carries its own clock driver to help at high speeds, alongside ordinary DDR5 modules. Supported speeds vary by board, so check the maker's memory list if you are buying a fast kit. DDR4 vs DDR5 motherboards has more on the change.
Chipsets that pair with LGA1851
- Z890 is the enthusiast chipset and the only one that overclocks the processor. It has the most chipset lanes and ports, and the widest choice of boards.
- B860 is the mainstream chipset. It allows memory overclocking through XMP but not CPU overclocking, and it has fewer chipset lanes than Z890. For a processor run at stock settings it is the sensible pick.
- H810 is the entry level: no overclocking of any kind and a shorter list of ports, aimed at office and basic home PCs.
The PCIe 5.0 graphics and M.2 support comes from the processor, so it is not reserved for Z890. How many M.2 slots a board has, whether it includes Thunderbolt or WiFi 7, and how strong its power delivery is all vary by board, not by chipset. Motherboard chipsets explained sets out what the chipset does and does not decide.
Cooler compatibility
LGA1851 shares its cooler mounting with LGA1700. A cooler that fitted an LGA1700 board, or that came with an LGA1700 bracket, will bolt on to an LGA1851 board. Coolers made only for the older LGA115x and LGA1200 sockets use a different hole spacing and need the maker's LGA1700 kit.
Platform lifespan and upgrade path
Intel has not made a long-term commitment to LGA1851 of the kind AMD has made for AM5. Intel desktop sockets have typically served two or three processor generations before being replaced, and LGA1700 before it had three. The safe approach is to buy the processor you intend to keep for the life of the system and treat any later upgrade option as a bonus. AMD vs Intel motherboards compares the two platforms on this point.
Buying into LGA1851 in 2026
If you want a current Intel system, this is the only socket to buy new. The alternative within Intel is LGA1700, which is cheaper, can reuse DDR4 and still runs fast 13th and 14th generation chips, but is finished as a platform. LGA1851 vs LGA1700 goes through that choice.
Open-box LGA1851 boards are worth a look because Z890 models in particular started out expensive, so the saving can be large in pounds. Check the socket pins under a bright light before fitting the processor, and read Are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it? for what the condition grades mean.
What to look for
- The right chipset for the processor: Z890 for a K-series chip you mean to tune, B860 for everything else.
- Four memory slots if you may add memory later; H810 boards have two.
- M.2 slots: how many, and which of them is wired to the processor at PCIe 5.0.
- Rear ports and WiFi, which differ widely between boards on the same chipset. See motherboard WiFi explained.
- Size: most models are ATX, with Micro-ATX common on B860.
Compare current prices on the LGA1851 motherboard deals page, or see price drops across all sockets.
Questions people ask
Can I use a 14th generation Core processor in an LGA1851 board?
No. LGA1851 only takes Core Ultra 200S processors. 12th, 13th and 14th generation Core chips need an LGA1700 board.
Will my LGA1700 cooler fit LGA1851?
Yes. The two sockets share the same cooler mounting, so an LGA1700 cooler or bracket fits an LGA1851 board. Coolers made only for LGA1200 or LGA115x need an adapter kit from the maker.
Does LGA1851 support DDR4?
No. Every LGA1851 board is DDR5 only. If reusing DDR4 matters, an LGA1700 board in its DDR4 version is the Intel option.
Do I need a Z890 board for a Core Ultra 200S processor?
Only if you want to overclock a K-series processor. B860 boards run the same chips at stock settings and still support XMP memory profiles, usually for less money.