Intel Core i7-11700 socket: LGA 1200
The Intel Core i7-11700 uses the LGA 1200 socket. It is a locked 65 W 8-core Rocket Lake processor for builders who want i7 throughput without overclocking, on 500 series boards and selected 400 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Launched
- March 30, 2021
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 65 W
- Codename
- Rocket Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 2.5 / 4.9 GHz
Intel Core i7-11700 specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Cypress Cove |
| Clocks | 2.5 GHz base, up to 4.8 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0), 4.9 GHz (Turbo Boost Max 3.0) |
| Cache | 16 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) and 4 MB total L2 |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 65 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 1.30 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1200 |
| Cooler in the box | Intel stock cooler in the retail box |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i7-11700 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 | Mid-range 1440p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce RTX 3070, Radeon RX 6700 XT |
| Target resolution | 1440p high settings |
Eight cores with boost to 4.9 GHz, 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes and DDR4 suit mid-range 1440p cards from early 2021. 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 i7-11700 is
The Core i7-11700 is an eight core, sixteen thread processor that Intel released in March 2021 with the locked 65 W Rocket Lake range. Its Cypress Cove cores run 2.5 GHz base to 4.8 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0, reaching 4.9 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0. Cache is 16 MB of shared L3 with 4 MB of total L2.
Lower base clocks separate it from the K: 2.5 GHz against 3.6 GHz, with peak boost close behind. Intel rates the TDP at 65 W. The process is 14 nm.
Intel UHD Graphics 750 cover display output, with 32 execution units at up to 1.30 GHz. The multiplier is locked. Retail boxes include an Intel stock cooler.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11700 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 Rocket Lake, whatever the BIOS says.
Since the multiplier is locked, B560 and H570 boards are the natural home. Z-series boards add memory profiles and ports rather than overclocking headroom.
Check the board maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS on 400 series stock. USB BIOS flashback boards 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. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which B560 and Z-series boards accept while H510 holds official speeds.
The CPU supplies 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes: x16 for graphics plus x4 for storage. Rocket Lake introduced PCIe 4.0 to the mainstream platform, but the board must be wired for it. Integrated graphics drive office displays without a card.
The boxed stock cooler handles stock settings in a ventilated case. Sustained all-core loads run quieter under a tower cooler on the 75 mm LGA 1200 pattern, described in the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.
The 400 series split and power behavior
The 400 series split is the detail that catches buyers out. Z490, H470, Q470 and W480 boards can take Rocket Lake after a BIOS update, while B460 and H410 boards cannot take it at all. A locked chip does not change that rule: the chipset decides, not the TDP.
Power behavior is the other trait. Short boosts draw well past the 65 W base, so sustained loads need cooling and board power stages sized beyond the base rating.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i7-11700K, the 11700 trades base clocks and overclocking for a 65 W rating and a boxed cooler. Against the Intel Core i7-10700K, it adds Cypress Cove IPC and PCIe 4.0 on the same socket, subject to chipset support.
Moving to LGA 1700 needs a new board, new memory for DDR5 builds, and a new cooler bracket. The 11700 fits an office PC, a family PC with creation side tasks, or a quiet build that keeps integrated graphics.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-11700 use?
It uses LGA 1200, written FCLGA1200 in Intel's documents.
What is the difference between the 11700 and the 11700K?
The K has higher base clocks and an unlocked multiplier at 125 W. The 11700 keeps close peak boost at 65 W with a boxed cooler included.
Does the 11700 run in a B460 motherboard?
No. B460 and H410 boards never support Rocket Lake. Z490, H470, Q470 and W480 boards can after a BIOS update.
Does the 11700 work with DDR5 memory?
No. LGA 1200 is a DDR4 platform. DDR5 arrived with LGA 1700.
Does the 11700 come with a cooler?
Yes. Retail boxes include an Intel stock cooler, which covers stock operation.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .