Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) socket: BGA 1449

The Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) uses the BGA 1449 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 1449
Launched
September 2020
Cores and threads
4 and 8
Base power
15 W
Codename
Tiger Lake-U
Segment
Mobile (soldered)
Clocks
1.4 / 4.2 GHz

Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) specifications

Cores4
Threads8
Core architectureWillow Cove (Tiger Lake-U)
Clocks1.4 GHz base at 15 W, up to 4.2 GHz turbo
Cache8 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3)
Processor base power (TDP)15 W (12 to 28 W configurable)
Manufacturing process10 nm SuperFin
Memory supportDDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s, two channels, up to 64 GB
PCI ExpressPCIe Gen4 from the CPU plus Thunderbolt 4 through the board
Integrated graphicsIntel Iris Xe Graphics (80 execution units, up to 1.30 GHz)
MultiplierLocked
PackageFCBGA1449 soldered, 45.5 × 25 mm
Cooler in the boxNone (laptop cooling)

Motherboard compatibility

Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) needs a motherboard with a BGA 1449 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1449 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.

BGA 1449 at a glance

TypeBGA, 1,449 contacts
Package size45.5 × 25 mm
IntroducedJanuary 2021
MemoryDDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s, two channels, up to 64 GB
Cooler mounting holesNot applicable (soldered)

Read the full BGA 1449 socket guide

What the Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) is

The Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) is a 4-core mobile processor that Intel launched in September 2020 for thin laptops in the UP3 range. Its Willow Cove cores run a 1.4 GHz base at 15 W to 4.2 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 8 threads. Cache is 8 MB of Intel Smart Cache.

The IPU suffix marks a variant with the image processing unit enabled for camera and vision tasks. Compute specs match the standard 1135G7, with the same 10 nm SuperFin process and the same configurable power from 12 W to 28 W. The low base at 15 W suits thin bodies, while the 2.4 GHz base at 28 W suits active cooling.

Intel Iris Xe Graphics handle display output, with 80 execution units at up to 1.30 GHz. The multiplier is locked. The package is FCBGA1449 soldered at 45.5 × 25 mm.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 1135G7 (IPU) fits BGA 1449 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 UP3 platform with DDR4 or LPDDR4x memory soldered nearby.

Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete thin laptops rather than separate parts. A buyer who needs no camera pipeline takes the standard Intel Core i5-1135G7 with identical clocks. The IPU variant suits designs that use the vision pipeline for video calls.

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 DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s across two channels to 64 GB. Iris Xe needs dual channel memory for full graphics speed, so single module builds lose graphics pace. There is no DDR5 path on Tiger Lake-U.

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 around 15 W.

Four cores with eight threads cover office multitasking and light creation. Single thread bursts to 4.2 GHz keep launches snappy, while all-core holds near 3.8 GHz follow the configured TDP. Makers publish the configured value per model, so results vary between quiet and performance tunings.

Upgrade paths

On the same BGA1449 footprint there is no CPU upgrade path, since the chip is soldered. Owners who need faster graphics move to an i7 UP3 part such as the Intel Core i7-1195G7 rather than a chip swap. Memory is often soldered, which closes that path as well.

Within i5 UP3, the twin is the standard Intel Core i5-1135G7 with matching 1.4 GHz base and 4.2 GHz turbo. Both share 8 MB cache and Iris Xe graphics, so the choice is the IPU camera pipeline rather than speed.

Moving past UP3 entirely means a new laptop on a later platform. For buyers choosing in 2020, the IPU variant suited video heavy thin designs at 15 W, while non-IPU boards saved little. The two share Willow Cove and 10 nm SuperFin on the same package.

Frequently asked questions

What socket does the Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) use?

It uses BGA 1449, a soldered grid array with 1449 balls. The chip cannot be removed or replaced.

What memory does the Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) support?

DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s in two channels to 64 GB. Dual channel memory matters for Iris Xe graphics speed.

Can the Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) be overclocked?

No. The multiplier is locked, and laptop firmware does not expose desktop overclocking controls. Sustained speed follows the maker configured value between 12 W and 28 W.

How does the IPU variant differ from the standard 1135G7?

Compute specs match the standard Intel Core i5-1135G7, with the same 1.4 GHz base and 4.2 GHz turbo. The IPU variant adds the image processing unit for camera tasks.

Sources and verification

  1. Tiger Lake UP3 1135G7 (Wikipedia)
  2. Intel Core i3-1115G4 specifications - UP3 platform reference (Intel ARK)

Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .