Intel Core i7-8557U socket: BGA 1528
The Intel Core i7-8557U uses BGA 1528, a soldered thin laptop package. The quad core 15 W chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1528
- Launched
- July 2019
- Cores and threads
- 4 and 8
- Base power
- 15 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake-U
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 1.7 / 4.5 GHz
Intel Core i7-8557U specifications
| Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 8 |
| Core architecture | Coffee Lake-U cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 1.7 GHz base, up to 4.5 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 |
| Cache | 8 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 15 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2400 and LPDDR3-2133, two channels, up to 32 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 (300 MHz to 1.15 GHz, 128 MB eDRAM) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Not supported |
| Package | FCBGA1528 (46 by 24 mm, soldered) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i7-8557U needs a motherboard with a BGA 1528 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1528 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 1528 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,528 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 46 × 24 mm |
| Introduced | August 2018 |
| Memory | DDR4-2133 to DDR4-2666, LPDDR3-1866 and LPDDR3-2133 plus LPDDR4-2933, two channels, up to 64 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Core i7-8557U is
The Core i7-8557U is a four core, eight thread Coffee Lake-U processor for premium thin laptops. It launched in the third quarter of 2019 with a 1.7 GHz base and up to 4.5 GHz boost at 15 W. Intel positions it as the low power Iris Plus option for devices that need faster graphics without a 28 W envelope.
Eight megabytes of Smart Cache back multitasking across eight threads. The low base stretches battery life while boost lifts single thread work such as document loads and web rendering. Hyper-Threading keeps background tasks smooth during calls and sync.
Iris Plus Graphics 645 runs from 300 MHz to 1.15 GHz with 128 MB of eDRAM. The combination covers high resolution displays and 4K video playback. The process is 14 nm and the multiplier is locked. ECC memory is not supported, so builds use standard modules up to 32 GB.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 8557U solders to BGA 1528 permanently. Laptop makers tune power and fan curves per chassis, with some designs allowing brief bursts above 15 W. There is no socketed alternative on this package.
Memory choices span DDR4-2400 and LPDDR3-2133 across designs, with two channels and up to 32 GB. Business lines add firmware features on select chassis. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows where maker specs list the package as FCBGA1528.
Boards with BGA 1526 Ice Lake parts cannot take this Coffee Lake chip. Power envelopes and pin layouts differ. Replacement means board replacement, so buyers choose memory size at order time.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR4-2400 or LPDDR3-2133 in two channels up to 32 GB is the thin laptop memory for this generation. Office builds ship 8 GB with room to 16 GB. Dual channel mode helps the Iris Plus graphics in particular, since shared memory bandwidth limits display throughput.
PCIe 3.0 lanes wire NVMe storage and board devices, with up to 16 lanes from the CPU in 1x4, 2x2 and 4x1 splits. A 256 or 512 GB NVMe SSD is the typical pairing. Chipset links carry extra USB and SATA beside the processor lanes.
Single fan cooling covers 15 W quietly in most 13 inch bodies. Sustained loads settle near base clocks in slim chassis without much airflow. No retail cooler pattern exists, since the die solders to the board and the heat pipe assembly is custom per laptop.
Upgrade paths
Soldered BGA blocks processor upgrades. A move from 8 GB to 16 GB of memory and a larger SSD extends office life where the chassis allows access. Battery service restores travel use once cells wear.
A laptop change to the Intel Core i7-8569U adds higher base clocks and Iris Plus 655 graphics on the same BGA 1528 family at 28 W. That step suits thicker thin laptops with stronger cooling. Newer 10 nm generations raise efficiency for refresh years.
Past BGA 1528 a new laptop is required, since processors do not transfer between boards. The 8557U covers premium thin laptops where 15 W must stretch battery for years, and only a larger thermal budget justifies replacing it.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-8557U use?
It uses BGA 1528 soldered to the thin laptop board. The package reads FCBGA1528 in Intel documents.
How many cores does the 8557U have?
Four cores with Hyper-Threading give eight threads. Base is 1.7 GHz with boost to 4.5 GHz for single thread bursts.
Which graphics does the 8557U include?
Iris Plus 645 with 128 MB of eDRAM, from 300 MHz to 1.15 GHz. It drives 4K displays at 60 Hz over DisplayPort.
What memory fits i7-8557U laptops?
DDR4-2400 or LPDDR3-2133 in two channels up to 32 GB. ECC is not supported on this chip.
When did the 8557U launch?
July 2019 in the third quarter of 2019, alongside other Coffee Lake-U Iris Plus parts for premium thin laptops.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .