Intel Core i7-11600H socket: BGA 1787
The Intel Core i7-11600H uses the BGA 1787 package, a grid array that solders to the board. It is a 6-core Tiger Lake-H processor at 35 W, and the soldered chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1787
- Launched
- May 2021
- Cores and threads
- 6 and 12
- Base power
- 35 W
- Codename
- Tiger Lake-H
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 2.5 / 4.6 GHz
Intel Core i7-11600H specifications
| Cores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 12 |
| Core architecture | Willow Cove (Tiger Lake-H) |
| Clocks | 2.5 GHz base, up to 4.6 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 18 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 35 W |
| Manufacturing process | 10 nm SuperFin |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | PCIe Gen4 with 20 lanes from the CPU |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 750 |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCBGA1787 soldered, 50 × 26.5 mm |
| Cooler in the box | None (laptop cooling) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i7-11600H needs a motherboard with a BGA 1787 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1787 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 1787 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,787 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 50 × 26.5 mm |
| Introduced | May 2021 |
| Memory | DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Core i7-11600H is
The Core i7-11600H is a 6-core mobile processor that Intel released in May 2021 for gaming laptops built around Tiger Lake-H. Its Willow Cove cores run 2.5 GHz base to 4.6 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 12 threads. Cache is 18 MB of Intel Smart Cache shared across the die.
The 11600H sits at the entry of the Core i7 H45 stack. It keeps the same 10 nm SuperFin process as the 8-core parts, with DDR4 memory and Gen4 links intact. The 35 W base can rise to 45 W in chassis that allow the higher configurable limit. That range lets makers tune the same chip for thin gaming bodies or larger coolers with more headroom.
Intel UHD Graphics 750 handle display output for the laptop panel and external monitors. The multiplier is locked, so tuning stays with power limits and memory settings in the board firmware. The package is FCBGA1787 soldered at 50 × 26.5 mm, which rules out later processor swaps.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11600H fits BGA 1787 only. The chip solders to the board at the factory, so there is no socket retention and no later processor upgrade. Board compatibility is fixed at order time to QM580, HM570 and WM590 mobile chipsets for this generation.
Because the package is soldered, the choice is between complete systems rather than boards and chips. A buyer who needs more cores in the same generation steps to an 8-core part such as the Intel Core i7-11800H in a different chassis. The board, cooler and firmware ship as one unit.
The LGA, PGA and BGA: CPU package types explained guide explains why soldered BGA packages list no cooler mounting pattern. For repair, 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 in two channels, up to 128 GB. A 2 by 8 GB or 2 by 16 GB DDR4-3200 kit was the standard build, since dual channel feeds both the CPU cores and the integrated graphics. The controller does not accept DDR5.
The CPU supplies 20 PCIe Gen4 lanes for graphics and storage through the board. Makers typically wire x16 to the discrete GPU and x4 to a fast SSD, with Thunderbolt 4 on many designs for docks and external drives. The board layout decides the exact split, so the laptop specifications state which slots run at full speed.
Cooling is part of the chassis, not a boxed cooler. The 35 W base with turbo headroom needs dual fans and heat pipes in gaming bodies. Thin designs that hold the lower limit trade sustained clocks for noise and surface temperature. No LGA cooler fits, and the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide covers why desktop brackets do not apply here.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i5-11400H, the 11600H adds Core i7 cache and higher turbo within the same 6-core layout. The i5 part carries 12 MB of L3, while this chip carries 18 MB, which helps games that reuse large data sets. Both share the 35 W to 45 W band and the same memory limits.
Against 8-core H45 parts, the 11600H trades two cores for lower price and cooler operation. A buyer who renders or compiles often will feel the missing cores, while a buyer who plays and streams will find the 6-core layout balanced with a mid range discrete GPU.
There is no CPU upgrade path on the soldered board. The next step is a full system replacement, either with a higher core H45 laptop of the same era or a move to a later platform. Memory and storage stay as ordered, apart from drive swaps the chassis allows.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-11600H use?
It uses BGA 1787, a soldered grid array. The chip cannot be replaced.
How many cores does the Intel Core i7-11600H have?
6 cores with 12 threads at 2.5 GHz base and up to 4.6 GHz turbo, with 18 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
What memory does the Intel Core i7-11600H support?
DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. Dual channel is the expected build.
What graphics does the Intel Core i7-11600H include?
Intel UHD Graphics 750 for laptop panels and external displays. Gaming laptops pair it with a discrete GPU for 3D work.
What is the TDP of the Intel Core i7-11600H?
35 W base, configurable to 45 W in chassis that allow it. The laptop cooler handles turbo bursts above the base.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .