PPGA (plastic pin grid array)

PPGA (plastic pin grid array) is a microchip design from Intel that has the silicon core of the microchip facing down toward the computer motherboard . The core is covered by a heat slug, which helps to dissipate the heat to the heatsink . The chip includes 370 pins that plug into a Socket 370 connector on the motherboard. The PPGA chip is less expensive to manufacture that the slot-based chip, which is why PPGA chips are used in sub-$1000 desktop computers.

Intel has also developed another chip design called FC-PGA ( flip chip-pin grid array ). FC-PGA packages have the processor core flipped up on the back of the chip, facing away from the motherboard. In order to use either type of these microprocessors with its associated 370 socket, a computer's motherboard must support certain guidelines, known as VRM specifications. (For PPGA processors, the motherboard must support VRM 8.2 specifications. For FC-PGA processors, the motherboard must support VRM 8.4 specifications.) Both chip designs are used for the Celeron processor and use the Zero Insertion Force ( ZIF ) feature that helps the chip to come out of its socket easily.