Intel Core i5-11400T socket: LGA 1200
The Intel Core i5-11400T uses the LGA 1200 socket. It is a locked 35 W 6-core Rocket Lake processor for small desktops, with DDR4 memory throughout.
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Launched
- March 2021
- Cores and threads
- 6 and 12
- Base power
- 35 W
- Codename
- Rocket Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i5
- Clocks
- 1.3 / 3.7 GHz
Intel Core i5-11400T specifications
| Cores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 12 |
| Core architecture | Cypress Cove |
| Clocks | 1.3 GHz base, up to 3.7 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) |
| Cache | 12 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 35 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 20 lanes from the CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 plus PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 730 (24 execution units, up to 1.20 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1200 |
| Launch price | $200 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i5-11400T needs a motherboard with a LGA 1200 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 500 series | Z590, H570, B560, H510, Q570, W580 | Works out of the box |
| 400 series: Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Needs a BIOS update Needs a BIOS update from the board maker. PCIe 4.0 depends on how the board is wired. |
| 400 series: B460, H410 | B460, H410 | Not supported |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1200.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | Entry 1080p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce GTX 1650, Radeon RX 6400 |
| Target resolution | 1080p medium settings |
Six cores with boost to 3.7 GHz, 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes and DDR4 line up with low power 1080p cards from its era. A faster card still works and the balance shifts with game, settings and resolution.
This is a rough match for a new build at the stated resolution, not a limit. A faster card still works and helps at higher resolutions or in games that load the GPU more than the CPU. A slower card is fine for lighter games and office use. The exact balance shifts with the game, the settings and the resolution, so no percentage is given.
LGA 1200 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,200 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | April 2020 |
| Memory | DDR4 only |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Core i5-11400T is
The Core i5-11400T is a 6-core desktop processor that Intel released in March 2021 with the low power Rocket Lake range. Its Cypress Cove cores run 1.3 GHz base to 3.7 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 12 threads. Cache is 12 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
The T suffix marks a 35 W envelope for small cases and always on office systems. The chip keeps the same 14 nm process as the 65 W parts, with lower sustained clocks for heat and noise. Memory support stays at DDR4-3200, and PCIe stays at Gen4 from the CPU.
Intel UHD Graphics 730 handle display output, with 24 execution units at 350 MHz base and up to 1.20 GHz boost. The multiplier is locked. The launch price was $200 (Intel RCP). The socket package is FCLGA1200 at 37.5 × 37.5 mm.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11400T fits the LGA 1200 socket. Boards with 500 series chipsets (Z590, H570, B560, H510, Q570, W580) accept it with the shipping BIOS. Among 400 series boards, only Z490, H470, Q470 and W480 can run it, and only after a BIOS update. B460 and H410 boards never support it.
Low power T parts suit H510 and B560 small boards with limited cooler height. The board maker CPU support list for the Asus TUF Gaming Z490-Plus and similar 400 series stock names the minimum BIOS for Rocket Lake. USB BIOS flashback boards apply the update without a fitted processor.
Check power limits in the board firmware when swapping from a 65 W chip. The T part holds lower sustained clocks by design, so a board that forced high limits on the old chip should return to stock limits for the new one.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s only. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. A 2 by 8 GB DDR4-3200 kit was the standard pairing, since the chip responds to memory speed in games despite the low base clock.
The CPU supplies 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes: x16 for graphics plus x4 for storage. The platform needs a board wired for Gen4 to deliver those speeds, so the board specifications matter when fast SSD storage is planned. Integrated graphics drive office displays without a card.
At 35 W base, a low profile cooler with airflow suffices. Mounting uses the 75 mm LGA 1200 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide, shared with LGA 1156 through LGA 1151. A tower cooler runs quieter under sustained loads but is not required for office use.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i5-11400, the 11400T trades sustained clocks for lower heat in the same 6-core layout. The 65 W part holds a 2.6 GHz base to 4.4 GHz turbo, while this 35 W part holds 1.3 GHz base to 3.7 GHz turbo. Both share 12 MB of cache and the same chipset rules.
Moving to LGA 1700 needs a new board, new memory for DDR5 builds, and a new cooler bracket. The 11400T fits a small office PC, a media box, or a quiet family PC with an entry card.
For used buyers, the T part makes sense when the case or power supply cannot cool a 65 W chip. When cooling is not limited, the 65 W 11400 gives more sustained speed on the same board.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i5-11400T use?
It uses LGA 1200, written FCLGA1200 in Intel documents.
Does the 11400T run in a B460 motherboard?
No. B460 and H410 boards never support Rocket Lake. B560 boards accept it from the start, while Z490 and H470 need a BIOS update.
What memory does the Intel Core i5-11400T support?
DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. No DDR5 on this platform.
What cooling does the 11400T need?
At 35 W base a low profile cooler with airflow suffices. The mount is the 75 mm LGA 1200 pattern.
What is the difference between the 11400T and the 11400?
The 11400 holds higher sustained clocks at 65 W, while the 11400T holds lower clocks at 35 W for small cases. Both share cache and chipset rules.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .