Intel Core Ultra 200S “LGA 1851” CPUs Won’t Be Compatible With Existing LGA 1700 Contact Frames Due To A Different IHS

Intel’s Core Ultra 200S “LGA 1851” CPUs won’t be compatible with the contact frames designed for the LGA 1700 platform due to structural changes.

Intel Reaffirms LGA 1700 Cooler Compatibility on Core Ultra 200 “LGA 1851” Socket But Contact Frames Aren’t Going To Be Supported Due To Changes To The IHS

There has been quite a buzz around Intel’s next-gen Core Ultra 200S desktop CPUs and their respective cooling solutions, especially since it was disclosed that Intel has adjusted the CPU hotspot slightly to the north of the IHS when compared with the previous generations.

This ultimately prompted the debate on whether cooling manufacturers would need to completely replace their solutions, but clarity from MSI recently showed us that a whole workaround wouldn’t be needed; rather, dedicated “offset mounts” will do just fine.

The mounting holes for LGA1700 and LGA1851 sockets are positioned in the same locations, so that the backplates used for LGA1700 coolers will align correctly with the LGA1851 socket.

This means that the LGA1700 socket remains mechanically compatible with the LGA1851 (for thermal solution only), and that existing thermal solutions designed for LGA1700 can fit on LGA1851 without modification. It’s important to note that while the mounting mechanism is compatible, users should always consult with your thermal solution provider directly for thermal and power compatibility.

via Intel

Now, Albert Thomas, a renowned CPU cooling expert, has disclosed that contact frames from third-party companies like Thermal Grizzly and Thermalright, which were initially designed for the LGA 1700 socket type, won’t be compatible with Intel’s Core Ultra 200S CPUs since the size of the new LGA 1851 is a bit “bumped up”, which has messed up the contact between the frames and the CPU’s IHS, creating a small gap in the edges, although the gap isn’t visible when looked at initially.

However, the change in the design of Intel’s Core Ultra 200S CPUs might be compensated by the new “Reduced Load” ILM, which is said to be a flatter version of the traditional loading mechanisms we see on motherboards, and this might compensate with the “minor” height difference between existing contact frames and Intel’s Arrow Lake processors, but yet again, we still are unsure how things will turn out.

Certain offset mounts from manufacturers such as MSI will also help further reduce the temps on the Core Ultra 200S CPUs. Arctic and Noctua have also released their LGA 1700 to LGA 1851 socket compatibility list for their respective coolers and they will also be offering support kits for the older coolers.

• Socket: Intel Core Ultra Desktop Processors (Series 2) are designed to fit the new LGA1851 socket to accommodate increased pin count. It’s crucial for users to note that, although the LGA1851 socket shares the same size and dimensions as its predecessor, the LGA1700, it is not backward compatible with older sockets. This means that those looking to upgrade to the Intel Core Ultra Desktop Processors (Series 2) will need a new motherboard designed specifically for the LGA1851 socket.
• Chipset: In addition to the new socket, the Intel Core Ultra Desktop Processors (Series 2) are paired with new Intel 800 Series Desktop Chipsets and are not compatible with older chipsets, such as the Intel 700 and Intel 600 Series Desktop Chipsets.
• Thermal Solution: Intel has maintained mechanical compatibility with cooling solutions. The mounting holes for the LGA1700 socket are designed to be mechanically compatible with the LGA1851 socket. For accurate thermal compatibility information, consult with your thermal solution provider directly. For more information visit Thermal Solution Compatibility: LGA1700 and LGA 1851 Sockets.

via Intel

There will be a need for some sort of a workaround to make existing LGA 1700 cooling solutions compatible with Intel’s LGA 1851 platform, whether that will include dedicated mounts or even adjustments by motherboard manufacturers to change up the loading mechanism. Regardless of it, we’ll be looking around to see whether we get a decisive upgrade by cooling manufacturers, and till then, enjoy Intel’s newest CPU release.