Intel Core i5-11500T socket: LGA 1200
The Intel Core i5-11500T uses the LGA 1200 socket. It is a locked 35 W 6-core Rocket Lake processor for compact 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
- 1.5 / 3.9 GHz
Intel Core i5-11500T specifications
| Cores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 12 |
| Core architecture | Cypress Cove |
| Clocks | 1.5 GHz base, up to 3.9 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 750 (32 execution units, up to 1.20 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1200 |
| Launch price | $211 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i5-11500T 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 3.9 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 i5-11500T is
The Core i5-11500T is a 6-core desktop processor that Intel released in March 2021 with the low power Rocket Lake range. Its Cypress Cove cores run 1.5 GHz base to 3.9 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 12 threads. Cache is 12 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
The chip sits one step above the 11400T in base and turbo while holding the same 35 W envelope. The extra 200 MHz helps office tasks that burst for short periods, without changing cooler needs. The 14 nm process keeps costs in line for business fleets and school labs.
Intel UHD Graphics 750 handle display output, with 32 execution units at 350 MHz base and up to 1.20 GHz boost. The multiplier is locked. The launch price was $211 (Intel RCP). The socket package is FCLGA1200 at 37.5 × 37.5 mm.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11500T 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.
Compact business boards with H510 chipsets pair well when memory overclocking is not needed. B560 adds memory tuning for builders who want XMP profiles past DDR4-3200. The Dell OptiPlex 5090 Micro specifications list the 11500T as a supported 35 W option with UHD 750 graphics.
Check the board maker CPU support list for the minimum BIOS on 400 series stock. Boards with flashback apply the update without a supported processor fitted.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s only. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. Business builds often used 2 by 8 GB DDR4-3200 for office work, since integrated graphics benefit from dual channel.
The CPU supplies 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes: x16 for graphics plus x4 for storage. Office systems without a discrete card still gain from the x4 SSD link when the board wires it for Gen4. The board specifications state which M.2 slots run at full speed.
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. A small tower cooler lowers fan speed under sustained loads but is not required for office use.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i5-11400, the 11500T trades sustained clocks for lower heat. The 65 W part holds higher all core speeds, while this 35 W part fits cases and power supplies that cannot cool 65 W. Both share cache size and chipset rules.
Moving to LGA 1700 needs a new board, new memory for DDR5 builds, and a new cooler bracket. The 11500T fits a quiet office PC, a school lab machine, or a small media box with an entry card.
For used buyers, the T part makes sense when noise or power limits dominate. When cooling is ample, the 65 W 11500 gives more sustained speed on the same board.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i5-11500T use?
It uses LGA 1200, written FCLGA1200 in Intel documents.
Does the 11500T run in a B460 motherboard?
No. B460 and H410 boards never support Rocket Lake. B560 and H510 boards accept it from the start.
What memory does the Intel Core i5-11500T support?
DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. No DDR5 on this platform.
What cooling does the 11500T 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 11500T and the 11400T?
The 11500T holds 1.5 GHz base to 3.9 GHz turbo at 35 W, while the 11400T holds 1.3 GHz base to 3.7 GHz turbo. Both share cache and chipset rules.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .