Intel Core i7-7700K socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Core i7-7700K uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 1 boards. It is a 4-core 8-thread Kaby Lake flagship that runs to 4.5 GHz, on 200 series boards and updated 100 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Launched
- January 3, 2017
- Cores and threads
- 4 and 8
- Base power
- 91 W
- Codename
- Kaby Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 4.2 / 4.5 GHz
Intel Core i7-7700K specifications
| Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 8 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 4.2 GHz base, up to 4.5 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) |
| Cache | 8 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) and 1 MB total L2 |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 91 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2400 MT/s (DDR3L up to 1600 MT/s on some boards), two channels, up to 64 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel HD Graphics 630 (up to 1.15 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Unlocked (K series) |
| Package | FCLGA1151 |
| Cooler in the box | None |
| Launch price | $339 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i7-7700K needs a motherboard with a LGA 1151 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 300 series: B365 and Z390 | Z390, B365 | Not supported |
| 300 series: H310, B360, H370, Q370, Z370 | Z370, H370, B360, H310, Q370 | Not supported |
| 200 series | Z270, H270, B250, Q270, Q250 | Works out of the box |
| 100 series | Z170, H170, B150, H110, Q170, Q150 | Needs a BIOS update Needs a BIOS update before a 7th Gen processor will start. |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1151.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | High-end 1080p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce GTX 1080, Radeon RX Vega 56 |
| Target resolution | 1080p high settings |
Four threaded cores with boost to 4.5 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 match high-end 1080p cards from early 2017. 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 1151 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,151 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | August 2015 |
| Memory | DDR4 on most boards (some early boards use DDR3L). DDR4 only on the second revision |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Core i7-7700K is
The Core i7-7700K is a four core, eight thread processor that Intel released in January 2017 as the Kaby Lake desktop flagship. Its cores run 4.2 GHz base to 4.5 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0. Cache is 8 MB of shared L3 with 1 MB of total L2.
Kaby Lake refined Skylake with higher clocks and better media blocks rather than new cores, so the 7700K reads as a faster 6700K. The TDP is 91 W on the 14 nm process.
Intel HD Graphics 630 cover display output, at up to 1.15 GHz. The multiplier is unlocked. The launch price was $339 (Intel RCP). Intel includes no cooler with K-series processors.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 7700K fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 1 boards. Z270, H270, B250, Q270 and Q250 boards accept it natively. Z170, H170, B150, H110, Q170 and Q150 boards need a BIOS update carrying Kaby Lake support. Revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets never support it.
A Z270 or updated Z170 board unlocks the multiplier. Other chipsets hold rated clocks with memory tuning on most models.
Confirm the minimum BIOS version in the maker's CPU support list, particularly on early 100 series boards.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2400 MT/s, with DDR3L up to 1600 MT/s possible on the few boards built with DDR3L slots instead. Two channels carry up to 64 GB. Faster DDR4 kits run through XMP profiles on Z-series boards.
The CPU supplies 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the processor. Chipset lanes cover the remaining slots and drives at lower speeds.
Cooling should exceed the 91 W base rating under boost. Plan a capable tower cooler on the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide lists bracket requirements.
The last quad-core flagship, revision 1 only
The 7700K closed the quad-core flagship era: four cores with threading at very high clocks, just before Coffee Lake moved the i7 to six cores. Its gaming results kept it relevant for years, since titles of the era scaled with clocks first and eight threads covered background tasks.
The revision split runs the other way here. Revision 1 boards take it, with 200 series native and 100 series after an update, while revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets never accept it despite the identical socket.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i7-8700K, the 7700K gives up two cores on an older platform with most gaming pace intact at the time. Against the Intel Core i7-6700K, it adds clocks and media features on the same socket, subject to BIOS.
Moving to LGA 1200 needs a new board while keeping DDR4. The 7700K fits a Z270 gaming PC from the end of the quad-core era.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-7700K use?
It uses LGA 1151 on revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets, written FCLGA1151 in Intel's documents.
What is the difference between the 7700K and the 8700K?
The 7700K is a Kaby Lake chip for revision 1 boards, while the 8700K is a Coffee Lake chip for revision 2 boards. The two never mix despite sharing the socket name.
Does the 7700K run in a Z170 motherboard?
Yes, after a BIOS update that adds Kaby Lake support. Without the update the board will not start with this processor.
Does the 7700K run in a Z370 motherboard?
No. 300 series boards are revision 2 and never support 7th Gen processors.
Does the 7700K come with a cooler?
No. K-series processors ship without a cooler.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .