Intel Core i3-1120G4 socket: BGA 1598
The Intel Core i3-1120G4 uses the BGA 1598 package, a grid array that solders to the board. It is a 4-core Tiger Lake-U processor at 15 W, and the soldered chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1598
- Launched
- January 2021
- Cores and threads
- 4 and 8
- Base power
- 15 W
- Codename
- Tiger Lake-U
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i3
- Clocks
- 1.5 / 3.5 GHz
Intel Core i3-1120G4 specifications
| Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 8 |
| Core architecture | Willow Cove (Tiger Lake-U) |
| Clocks | 1.5 GHz base at 15 W, up to 3.5 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 8 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 15 W (7 to 15 W configurable) |
| Manufacturing process | 10 nm SuperFin |
| Memory support | LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s, two channels, up to 32 GB |
| PCI Express | PCIe Gen4 from the CPU plus Thunderbolt 4 through the board |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (48 execution units, up to 1.10 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCBGA1598 soldered, 26.5 × 18.5 mm |
| Cooler in the box | None (laptop cooling) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i3-1120G4 needs a motherboard with a BGA 1598 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1598 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 1598 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,598 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | n/a |
| Introduced | January 2021 |
| Memory | LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s, two channels, up to 32 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Core i3-1120G4 is
The Core i3-1120G4 is a 4-core mobile processor that Intel launched in the first quarter of 2021 for thin laptops in the UP4 range. Its Willow Cove cores run a 1.5 GHz base at 15 W to 3.5 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 8 threads. Cache is 8 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
The chip gives thin buyers a low power entry to Tiger Lake without dropping to two cores. The 10 nm SuperFin process keeps burst clocks useful for web work and office tasks. Configurable power from 7 W to 15 W lets makers tune the same die for fanless moments or active cooling.
Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen processors handle display output, with 48 execution units at up to 1.10 GHz. The multiplier is locked. The package is FCBGA1598 soldered at 26.5 × 18.5 mm.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 1120G4 fits BGA 1598 only. The chip solders to the laptop board, so there is no socket retention and no later processor upgrade. Board support is fixed to the UP4 platform with LPDDR4x memory soldered nearby.
Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete thin laptops rather than separate parts. A buyer who needs a lower core count in a similar envelope looks at the Intel Core i3-1110G4 with 2 cores. The 4-core 1120G4 stays in its study and office role for its whole service life.
The How to find your CPU socket type guide explains how to confirm a soldered package from the system specifications. For service, a failed processor means a board replacement through the laptop maker.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s across two channels to 32 GB. UP4 designs use soldered LPDDR4x for low idle power, so capacity is fixed at purchase. There is no DDR4 SO-DIMM path on UP4 boards.
The processor exposes PCIe Gen4 from the CPU plus Thunderbolt 4 through the board for storage and docks. Laptop designs lean on Thunderbolt where internal lanes stay few. Cooler mounting uses no desktop pattern. Cooling follows the laptop thermal design with a single fan sized for 15 W, and the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide places soldered mobile cooling against desktop mounts.
Configurable power shapes sustained results. A 7 W setting with 800 MHz base stretches battery life, while the 15 W setting holds 1.5 GHz base with more fan noise. Makers publish the configured value per model, so two laptops with the same 1120G4 can differ under load.
Upgrade paths
On the same BGA1598 footprint there is no CPU upgrade path, since the chip is soldered. Owners who need more graphics move to an i5 UP4 part such as the Intel Core i5-1130G7 rather than a chip swap. Memory is also soldered, which closes that path as well.
Within UP4 i3, the nearby step down is the Intel Core i3-1110G4 for 2 cores at lower prices. Both share 6 to 8 MB cache and UHD graphics, so the choice is core count rather than platform.
Moving past UP4 entirely means a new laptop on UP3 with DDR4 options or a later platform. For buyers choosing in 2021, the 1120G4 suited thin 15 W designs with four threads per core pair, while UP3 parts asked larger bodies. The two share Willow Cove and 10 nm SuperFin, but they do not share boards.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i3-1120G4 use?
It uses BGA 1598, a soldered grid array with 1598 balls. The chip cannot be removed or replaced.
What memory does the Core i3-1120G4 support?
LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s in two channels to 32 GB. UP4 boards solder the memory, so capacity is fixed at purchase.
Can the Core i3-1120G4 be overclocked?
No. The multiplier is locked, and laptop firmware does not expose desktop overclocking controls. Sustained speed follows the maker configured value between 7 W and 15 W.
How does the 1120G4 differ from the 1110G4?
The 1120G4 has 4 cores at 15 W on BGA1598, while the Intel Core i3-1110G4 has 2 cores on the same package. Both share UHD graphics and 10 nm SuperFin.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .