Throughout the years, Intel has produced many varying Pentium socket types for its processing units. The advantage of consistently releasing new sockets is that it always meant an increase in processing speed. However, the disadvantage is that a new socket release would almost always require the purchase of a new motherboard and processor to support that particular Pentium socket type.
Socket 5
Socket 5 was the first socket introduced to support the mainstream second-generation Pentium processors, and was designed to support Intel Pentium processors in the range of 75 to 133 MHz, as as well as the Pentium OverDrive. Characteristics of a Socket 5 include 320 pins within 5 rows and a voltage of 3.3 volts.
Socket 6
Socket 6 was the last socket designed to support the 486 (pre-Pentium) standard of Intel processor, and was essentially a modified version of Socket 3. The Socket 6 has significantly fewer pins than the Socket 5, bearing only 4 rows of 235 and a voltage of 3.3 volts.
Socket 7
Socket 7 was originally created to support Intel Pentium processors in the range of 133 to 200 MHz, as well as Pentium MMX. Unlike most Intel sockets and slots of the past, Socket 7 is backwards-compatible with older Socket 5 processors. The primary Socket 7 feature was its ability to provide differing voltages to both the Input/Output Logic and the processor core, which performs reading and executing of instructions. This feature is known as dual plane voltage. Characteristics of a Socket 7 include 321 pins within 5 rows and a voltage of 2.5 to 3.3 volts.
Socket 8
Socket 8 was designed to support the Pentium Pro Processor. However, Intel made the decision to discontinue the Pentium Pro, resulting in minimal production of motherboards that support Socket 8. The Socket 8 has 5 rows of 387 pins, and a varying voltage of 3.1 or 3.3 volts.
Tags: Socket Socket, voltage volts, designed support, Pentium processors, rows voltage