Intel is currently using the LGA1851 socket for its Arrow Lake processors. This socket is expected to be used for at least one more generation, including the upcoming Arrow Lake Refresh processors, which are rumored to arrive by the end of this year. However, new details are now suggesting that Intel will switch to a new socket for the next series of processors, Intel Nova Lake.
New LGA1954 Socket
Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake processors, which are not expected until 2026, will use a larger LGA1954 socket. This new socket has already appeared in shipment documents along with the NVL-S reference, indicating that Nova Lake processors will require new adapters for testing. It’s also been made clear that these processors will not be compatible with current motherboards.
Therefore, Intel will likely move away from the LGA1851 socket after the Arrow Lake refresh later this year with the Intel Core Ultra 300 series. This marks a change from the trend set by the LGA1700 socket, which was compatible with three generations of processors, but this won’t be the case with LGA1851.
The Future of Arrow Lake
Before the switch to the Nova Lake processors, Intel is expected to refresh the current Arrow Lake processors. The rumors suggest that the refreshed Arrow Lake chips will offer better artificial intelligence performance, as well as slightly improved clock speeds. These new processors, expected to be released by the end of 2025, will likely build on the strengths of the current generation but offer enhancements in key areas.
