Final answer:
A ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket ensures even force is applied to the processor during installation, which is designed to protect the CPU and socket from damage. LGA, FM2, and AM3 are different socket types that do not incorporate a ZIF design.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of socket that ensures that even force is applied to the processor when it is being installed in the socket is a ZIF socket, which stands for Zero Insertion Force. A ZIF socket has a lever that, when lifted, allows a CPU to be inserted with minimal to no force. This helps prevent damage to the CPU pins or the socket itself during installation. After the CPU is placed into the socket, the lever is pushed back down to secure the CPU, thereby applying even force across all the contacts.
Other socket types, like LGA (Land Grid Array), FM2, and AM3 have different mechanisms for CPU installation and are not characterized by a zero-insertion force design. LGA sockets, for example, use a grid of pins on the socket to make contact with pads on the bottom of the CPU, and a separate cover is brought down to secure the CPU. FM2 and AM3 are AMD sockets that employ a different installation method, but they do not have the ZIF mechanism to ensure even force during installation.