Buy LGA1851 if you want Intel's current desktop processors, Core Ultra 200S, and are happy to buy DDR5. Buy LGA1700 if you want the lowest cost, want to reuse DDR4, or are upgrading or repairing a 12th, 13th or 14th gen system. The two sockets are not compatible with each other in any direction, so this is a choice of whole platform and not only of board.
The two platforms side by side
| LGA1851 | LGA1700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2024 | 2021 |
| Processors | Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake) | 12th, 13th and 14th gen Core |
| Memory | DDR5 only | DDR4 or DDR5, depending on the board, never both |
| Chipsets | 800-series: Z890, B860, H810 | 600-series (Z690, B660, H610 and others) and 700-series (Z790, H770, B760) |
| CPU overclocking | Z890 only | Z690 and Z790 only |
| PCIe 5.0 from the CPU | Graphics and an M.2 SSD; how each board wires it varies | Graphics only; M.2 from the CPU is PCIe 4.0, though a few boards divert graphics lanes to a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot |
| Newer processors to come | Intel has made no long-term public commitment | None; 14th gen is the last |
What LGA1851 gives you
LGA1851 arrived in 2024 with the Core Ultra 200S processors and the Z890 chipset; the cheaper B860 and H810 followed in 2025. The platform is DDR5 only, which simplifies buying: there is no DDR4 version of any board to order by mistake.
The practical gains over LGA1700 are in connectivity. The processor provides PCIe 5.0 for an M.2 SSD as well as for the graphics card, so a board can offer a PCIe 5.0 SSD slot without taking lanes away from the graphics slot. Boards of this generation also tend to carry newer WiFi, more fast USB and, on many Z890 models, Thunderbolt 4, although every one of those is a board-level feature that you need to confirm on the listing. Core Ultra 200S processors also generally draw less power than the 14th gen chips they replaced, which makes life easier for the board's power delivery and for your cooler.
As on every recent Intel platform, only the Z-series chipset overclocks the CPU. B860 allows memory overclocking and XMP profiles, and H810 is the most cut-down option, with the fewest lanes and ports. Our chipsets guide explains the tiers.
What LGA1700 still offers
LGA1700 launched in 2021 with 12th gen Core and the 600-series chipsets, and the 700-series followed with 13th gen. It ended with 14th gen, so there is no newer processor coming for these boards. That is a weaker position than LGA1851 on paper, but two things keep it relevant.
The first is cost. The boards have been on sale for years, there are a great many of them, and prices at the lower end are keen. Processors from all three generations remain capable, and 12th and 13th gen chips in particular can be inexpensive. The second is DDR4. An LGA1700 board with DDR4 slots lets you carry memory over from an older PC, or buy DDR4 cheaply, which no other current-performance Intel option allows. Read DDR4 vs DDR5 motherboards before choosing, because each board takes one type only and the two versions of a model often differ by just a suffix in the name.
The chipsets to look at are B760 for most builds and Z790 if you have a K-series processor and want to overclock it. H610 is the basic option. Z790 vs B760 covers that decision in detail.
The BIOS catch on LGA1700
A 600-series board such as Z690 or B660 was made for 12th gen. It will run 13th and 14th gen processors, but it may need a BIOS update first, and an early-production 700-series board can need one for 14th gen. Without the update the PC may not start at all. If you own a 12th gen chip this is no problem. If you are buying the board and a newer processor together, choose a board with a CPU-free BIOS update button, or confirm with the seller that the BIOS is current. This applies with particular force to Amazon Warehouse boards, which may have been boxed for a long time. See BIOS updates and CPU compatibility.
LGA1851 is newer, so the issue is smaller there, but the same principle holds for any processor released after the board was made.
Coolers and other parts
The two sockets use the same cooler mounting hole spacing, so most LGA1700 coolers fit LGA1851 boards. Check the cooler maker's compatibility list to be sure, as a few recommend a revised mounting kit. Cases, power supplies, graphics cards and SSDs carry over without any issue. DDR5 memory carries over from a DDR5 LGA1700 board; DDR4 does not.
How long will each last
LGA1700 is finished: whatever you fit now, the best upgrade available later is a faster 13th or 14th gen chip. For LGA1851, Intel has made no public long-term commitment of the kind AMD has made for AM5, and Intel sockets have historically lasted two or three processor generations. The sensible approach on either Intel platform is to buy the processor you intend to keep and not to count on a drop-in upgrade later. If long socket life is a priority, read AMD vs Intel motherboards.
Verdict by type of buyer
- New Intel build with a current processor: LGA1851, on B860 for most people or Z890 if you will overclock or need the extra connectivity.
- Lowest-cost Intel build: LGA1700 on B760, with DDR4 if you already own it and DDR5 if you are buying memory anyway.
- Already on 12th gen and want more speed: stay on LGA1700. Update the BIOS, then fit a 13th or 14th gen processor.
- Replacing a failed LGA1700 board: match the memory type you own, and consider a Warehouse board once you have read are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it.
- Want a PCIe 5.0 SSD and a full-speed graphics slot together: LGA1851.
For the full decision order, from processor to budget, see how to choose a motherboard.
Questions people ask
Can I put a 14th gen Core processor in an LGA1851 board?
No. 12th, 13th and 14th gen Core processors fit LGA1700 only, and Core Ultra 200S processors fit LGA1851 only. The sockets have different contact counts and are not interchangeable.
Does LGA1851 support DDR4?
No. LGA1851 is DDR5 only. If you want to use DDR4 with a recent Intel processor, you need an LGA1700 board built for DDR4.
Will my LGA1700 cooler fit LGA1851?
In most cases, yes. The mounting hole spacing is the same. Check the cooler maker’s compatibility list, as some recommend an updated mounting kit for best contact.
Do Z690 and B660 boards work with 13th and 14th gen processors?
Yes, but they may need a BIOS update first, because they were released for 12th gen. Check the board’s CPU support list for the BIOS version required, and prefer a board with a CPU-free BIOS update button if you do not have an older processor to hand.