Intel is known for its frequent changes in processor sockets, which requires replacing the motherboard and cooling system ...

you can invest in an anti-static band that you can wear while replacing your PC components, just to be on the safe side. What do you do if your new CPU doesn’t fit the socket of the old one?

If you’re working on a brand new motherboard, remove the protective plastic insert from the socket. If you’re replacing a CPU, you’ll need to remove the old CPU and potentially its cooler too.

Even if there's a different socket that requires a new motherboard for Nova Lake, as rumors indicate, you might be okay ...

That means that you can't replace the heatsink mounting backplate ... We have never tested a Socket AM5 CPU without a SAM, but we have run Intel CPUs without the ILM ("Independent Loading ...

Looks like the two sockets are close enough in dimensions as to note require an all-new CPU cooler when upgrading ... the new socket for two years before replacing it in 2026.