Intel Core i7-8700 socket: LGA 1151

The Intel Core i7-8700 uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards. It is a locked 65 W 6-core 12-thread Coffee Lake processor for builders who want threads without overclocking, on 300 series boards.

Socket: LGA 1151
Launched: October 2017
Cores and threads: 6 and 12
Base power: 65 W
Codename: Coffee Lake
Segment: Desktop
Family: Intel Core i7
Clocks: 3.2 / 4.6 GHz

Intel Core i7-8700 specifications

Cores	6
Threads	12
Core architecture	Skylake based cores on 14 nm
Clocks	3.2 GHz base, up to 4.6 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0)
Cache	12 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3)
Processor base power (TDP)	65 W
Manufacturing process	14 nm
Memory support	DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB
PCI Express	16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0
Integrated graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630 (24 execution units, up to 1.20 GHz)
Multiplier	Locked
Package	FCLGA1151
ECC memory	Not supported

Motherboard and chipset compatibility

Intel Core i7-8700 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	Works out of the box
300 series: H310, B360, H370, Q370, Z370	Z370, H370, B360, H310, Q370	Works out of the box
200 series	Z270, H270, B250, Q270, Q250	Not supported
100 series	Z170, H170, B150, H110, Q170, Q150	Not supported

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 1440p
Example GPUs	GeForce GTX 1080, Radeon RX Vega 56
Target resolution	1440p high settings

Six threaded cores with boost to 4.6 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 suit high-end 1440p cards from late 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

Read the full LGA 1151 socket guide

What the Core i7-8700 is

The Core i7-8700 is a six core, twelve thread processor that Intel released in October 2017 with the locked 65 W Coffee Lake range. Its cores run 3.2 GHz base to 4.6 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0. Cache is 12 MB of shared L3.

Hyper-Threading stayed on, so six cores yield twelve threads: the same thread count the prior i7 reached with four. Lower base clocks separate it from the K, with peak boost close behind. The TDP is 65 W on the 14 nm process.

Intel UHD Graphics 630 cover display output, with 24 execution units at up to 1.20 GHz. The multiplier is locked. On memory tuning, Z370 and Z390 boards accept XMP kits past DDR4-2666 while H-series and B-series boards hold narrower ranges.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 8700 fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards only. Z370 boards took it from day one, with Z390, B365, H370, B360, H310 and Q370 following. Revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets never support it.

Since the multiplier is locked, B360 and H370 boards are the natural home. Z-series boards add memory profiles and ports rather than overclocking headroom.

Check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS on early Z370 stock.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s officially. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. DDR4 boards reuse older kits, while faster XMP kits run on boards that accept them.

The CPU supplies 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the processor. Integrated graphics drive office displays without a card, and fast storage hangs off chipset lanes.

At 65 W base with boosts past it, basic cooling suffices with airflow while a tower cooler runs quieter under load. Mounting uses the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.

Twelve threads at 65 W, revision 2 begins

The 8700 brought Hyper-Threading to a locked 65 W i7 with six cores, which made it a strong all-rounder for gaming plus threaded side work. Twelve threads carried late-2017 titles well without overclocking, and the 65 W rating kept cooling simple.

The LGA 1151 revision split arrived with Coffee Lake: revision 2 boards only, never 100 or 200 series. Within revision 2 the upgrade path runs to the 9th Gen chips, which add cores on Z390 and updated Z370 boards.

Upgrade paths

Against the Intel Core i7-8700K, the 8700 trades base clocks and overclocking for a 65 W rating and a lower price. Against the Intel Core i7-9700K, it trades two physical cores for threading on the same socket, subject to BIOS.

Moving to LGA 1200 needs a new board while keeping DDR4. The 8700 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 i7-8700 use?

It uses LGA 1151 on revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets, written FCLGA1151 in Intel's documents.

What is the difference between the 8700 and the 8700K?

The K has higher base clocks and an unlocked multiplier at 95 W. The 8700 keeps close peak boost at 65 W.

Does the 8700 run in a Z270 motherboard?

No. Z270 and other 100 and 200 series boards are revision 1 and never support Coffee Lake processors.

What memory speed does the 8700 support?

Officially up to DDR4-2666. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking.

What cooling and graphics does the 8700 need?

At 65 W base the stock cooling approach works with airflow, while integrated graphics cover office displays without a card.

Sources and verification

Facts last checked against these sources on October 3, 2026. Page last edited on October 3, 2026.