Intel Core i7-10870H socket: BGA 1440
The Intel Core i7-10870H uses BGA 1440, a soldered laptop package. The 8-core 45 W chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1440
- Launched
- September 2020
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 45 W
- Codename
- Comet Lake-H
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 2.2 / 5.0 GHz
Intel Core i7-10870H specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 2.2 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost |
| Cache | 16 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 45 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2933, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 10th Gen processors (350 MHz base, up to 1.20 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCBGA1440 (42 by 28 mm, soldered) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i7-10870H needs a motherboard with a BGA 1440 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1440 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 1440 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,440 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 42 × 28 mm |
| Introduced | April 2018 |
| Memory | DDR4-2933 on Comet Lake-H and DDR4-2666 on Coffee Lake-H, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Core i7-10870H is
The Core i7-10870H is an eight core, sixteen thread Comet Lake-H mobile processor. It launched in September 2020 for creator and gaming laptops with a 2.2 GHz base and up to 5.0 GHz Velocity Boost. The low base keeps 45 W in check while boost lifts single thread bursts.
Sixteen megabytes of Smart Cache support rendering timelines and code builds across eight cores. All core sustained clocks sit well below the 5.0 GHz peak, which is normal for dense H parts. Compared with the 6-core 10750H, thread count rises by a third for VMs and exports.
UHD Graphics cover display output and Quick Sync encode. Gaming and 3D rely on discrete GeForce or Radeon GPUs on the PCIe link. The soldered package fixes the configuration at order time, so buyers weigh 8 cores here against 6 cores plus cost savings.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 10870H solders to BGA 1440 on performance laptop boards. There is no socketed alternative. Makers validate power stages and heat pipes for 45 W sustained with short bursts above.
Mobile chipsets HM470, QM480 and WM490 provide I/O behind the CPU. Memory may be dual SODIMM for growth or partial soldered for thinness. The How to find your CPU socket type guide points to the package line in maker specs for confirmation.
LGA 1200 desktops with similar Comet Lake branding do not share boards or firmware. The mobile power map and ballout are unique.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR4-2933 in two channels up to 128 GB is the rated laptop memory. Creator builds favor 32 GB dual channel kits for timeline smoothness. Single channel factory builds should gain a second stick early.
PCIe 3.0 x16 from the CPU feeds discrete graphics and NVMe. A typical 10870H laptop pairs the chip with an RTX 2060 class GPU and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. Chipset lanes add Thunderbolt on premium boards, USB and SATA.
Cooling is a shared CPU plus GPU assembly with dual fans and rear exhaust. The 35 W down mode helps thin creator bodies. Service is fan cleaning and repaste, never a cooler swap to a desktop pattern.
Upgrade paths
Soldered BGA blocks CPU upgrades. Memory expansion, faster NVMe and a clean thermal service are the effective life extenders. External displays and docks add desk ergonomics without touching the board.
A laptop move to an 8-core i7-10875H adds 100 MHz boost, while a move to BGA 1744 brings hybrid cores and Gen5 links. The Intel Core i7-10750H comparison helps buyers decide whether 6 cores would have sufficed.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-10870H use?
It uses BGA 1440 soldered to the laptop board.
Can the i7-10870H be upgraded?
No. The chip is soldered, so board or laptop replacement is required.
How many cores does the i7-10870H have?
Eight cores with sixteen threads at 2.2 GHz base and up to 5.0 GHz boost.
What memory does the i7-10870H use?
DDR4-2933 in two channels up to 128 GB.
When did the i7-10870H launch?
September 2020 in the late Comet Lake-H wave.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .