Can I use Intel 13th-generation CPUs on 600 series motherboards?
We explore whether you can use Intel’s new 13th generation CPUs on 600 series motherboards that were released alongside the 12th gen CPUs
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Intel is set to release its 13th-generation CPUs on October 20th, 2022. With this news come many questions about the compatibility and performance of the new Raptor Lake processors. We don’t have all the answers, however, as the CPUs have not been released yet.
Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger, gave us a peak of what we can expect from the 13th generation flagship, the Core i9-13900K. This information was given at Intel’s latest annual Innovation event, held this year.
Pat explained that the recent advancements in Raptor Lake’s CPU technology meant that we could expect up to a 15% better single-core performance gain, and up to 41% better multi-thread performance gain. Presumably, thanks to the eight additional E-cores the 13900K has over the 12900K.
Read all the latest info here in our article covering Intel’s Innovation event 2022.
Can I use Intel 13th-generation CPUs on 600 series motherboards?
Yes, you can, When the 600 series motherboards were announced on the new LGA 1700 socket, Intel promised that they’d keep that socket supported for a number of years. We don’t know about you, but we were sick of upgrading our motherboard every single time a new CPU hit the shelves.
The LGA 1700 socket is still compatible with 13th-generation CPUs. Therefore you can get a new Raptor Lake CPU and use it with your old Alder lake era 600 series motherboard. It looks like you may need a BIOS update for absolute compatibility though.
How do I know when a CPU is compatible with a motherboard?
This one’s pretty simple to work out and it’s not as complicated as you might think. When we talk in terms of sockets and LGA this, and PGA that, it can all sound complex. But it isn’t.
Every motherboard has a CPU socket, and that socket does exactly what you’d expect, it seats the CPU. The CPU has to have a socket corresponding to the CPU socket on the motherboard to fit correctly. All of this information will be on the product information sheet.
For example, 13th-generation CPUs belong to the socket LGA 1700 and will only be compatible with boards of that same socket. LGA 1700 socket motherboards include the intel 600 series and 700 series motherboards.
Similarly, the new Ryzen 7000 series CPUs belong to the socket AM5, this is a brand new socket and currently, there is only one motherboard generation that carries that socket.
AM5 is the new AMD LGA 1718 socket, and it belongs to AMD 600 series motherboard. So you will not be able to use a Ryzen 7000 series CPU on an older Ryzen motherboard. This is because those older motherboards carry the AM5 socket, not the AM5 socket required.
Final Word
There you have it, you can use the new 13th generation Raptor Lake CPUs on both the current 700 series Intel motherboards and the last generation Intel 600 series motherboards. (not to be confused with the current gen AMD 600 series motherboards)
You now also know how to identify the correct socket type of your CPU and find a corresponding motherboard. This will aid you in future CPU and motherboard-related choices. We hope you found this “Can I use Intel 13th-generation on 600 series motherboards?” article helpful. It’s also worth noting that the Intel 14th gen release date is fast approaching – so be sure to check out our latest news and guides.
Are 13th gen CPUs compatible with Z790 motherboards?
Yes, they are, as both the CPU and motherboard still belong to the same LGA 1700 socket. Meaning they can be used together.
Are Z690 motherboards still good?
Yes, of Corse. However, Z690 motherboards lack the higher speed DDR5 memory support, and PCIe 5.0 support on both GPU x16 slots and M.2 SSD slots. And lacks a few connectivity advancements, such as USB4.
All of these and more are available on most Z790 motherboards.
