Intel Core i7-11700K socket: LGA 1200
The Intel Core i7-11700K uses the LGA 1200 socket. It is an 8-core unlocked Rocket Lake processor sharing the flagship's core count and cache with lower clocks, on 500 series boards and selected 400 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Launched
- March 30, 2021
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 125 W
- Codename
- Rocket Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 3.6 / 5.0 GHz
Intel Core i7-11700K specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Cypress Cove |
| Clocks | 3.6 GHz base, up to 4.9 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0), 5.0 GHz (Turbo Boost Max 3.0) |
| Cache | 16 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 125 W |
| Maximum turbo power | 251 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 | Unlocked (K series) |
| Package | FCLGA1200 |
| Cooler in the box | None |
| Launch price | $399 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i7-11700K 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 5.0 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 i7-11700K is
The Core i7-11700K is an eight core, sixteen thread processor that Intel released in March 2021 with the Rocket Lake desktop range. Its Cypress Cove cores run 3.6 GHz base to 4.9 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0, reaching 5.0 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0. Cache is 16 MB of shared L3.
The i7 matches the flagship's core and cache counts while giving up peak frequency and Thermal Velocity Boost, which kept power draw lower in practice. Intel rates the TDP at 125 W with maximum turbo power at 251 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 unlocked. The launch price was $399 (Intel RCP). Intel includes no cooler with K-series processors.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11700K 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.
A Z590 or updated Z490 board unlocks the multiplier. B560 allows memory overclocking without CPU overclocking. The 251 W ceiling still asks for solid voltage stages.
Check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. Budget boards can limit sustained boost under all-core loads.
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 count as overclocking from the processor's point of view.
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.
Size cooling for the 251 W ceiling with a large air cooler or liquid cooler on the 75 mm LGA 1200 pattern. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide covers aftermarket brackets.
PCIe 4.0 arrives, with steep power draw
PCIe 4.0 from the processor was the platform's headline addition, doubling link speeds over Comet Lake for graphics and NVMe storage where the board supports it. The chipset tables in the socket file show which series to choose.
Power draw is the other headline. Short boosts approach 250 W, so sustained work needs cooling and board power delivery sized for it. A 95 W configurable TDP-down mode exists for constrained builds at reduced clocks.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i9-11900K, the 11700K keeps the same cores and cache with lower peak clocks for less money. 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 11700K fits an LGA 1200 board that already has the right chipset and BIOS.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-11700K use?
It uses LGA 1200, written FCLGA1200 in Intel's documents.
What is the difference between the 11700K and the 11700KF?
The KF has no integrated graphics and needs a separate card. Everything else matches the K.
Does the 11700K run in a Z490 motherboard?
Yes, after a BIOS update that adds Rocket Lake support. B460 and H410 boards never support it, whatever the BIOS.
Does the 11700K work with DDR5 memory?
No. LGA 1200 is a DDR4 platform. DDR5 arrived with LGA 1700.
Does the 11700K come with a cooler?
No. K-series processors ship without a cooler, and 251 W peaks need a large air cooler or liquid cooler.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i7-11700K specifications (Intel)
- Intel Rocket Lake release date, specs and prices (Trusted Reviews)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .