Intel Core i7-8700K socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Core i7-8700K uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards. It is the 6-core 12-thread Coffee Lake flagship that brought Hyper-Threading back to the i7 tier, on 300 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Launched
- October 2017
- Cores and threads
- 6 and 12
- Base power
- 95 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 3.7 / 4.7 GHz
Intel Core i7-8700K specifications
| Cores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 12 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.7 GHz base, up to 4.7 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) |
| Cache | 12 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 95 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s, two channels, up to 64 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 | Unlocked (K series) |
| Package | FCLGA1151 |
| Cooler in the box | None |
| ECC memory | Not supported |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i7-8700K 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 Ti, Radeon RX Vega 64 |
| Target resolution | 1440p high settings |
Six threaded cores with boost to 4.7 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 match 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 |
What the Core i7-8700K is
The Core i7-8700K is a six core, twelve thread processor that Intel released in October 2017 as the first Coffee Lake desktop flagship. Its cores run 3.7 GHz base to 4.7 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0. Cache is 12 MB of shared L3.
Two extra cores over the prior i7 changed the tier: Hyper-Threading stayed, so six cores yield twelve threads against four and eight before. Launch reviews showed large gains in threaded work with gaming pace intact, which is why the chip stayed relevant for years. The TDP is 95 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 unlocked. Intel includes no cooler with K-series processors.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 8700K fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards only, and it launched the revision: 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, whatever the BIOS says.
A Z-series board is required for multiplier overclocking. Other chipsets hold rated clocks with memory tuning on most models.
Confirm the minimum BIOS version in the maker's CPU support list when buying late-production boards.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s officially. Two channels carry up to 64 GB. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which Z-series boards accept while H-series and B-series boards hold narrower ranges.
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 95 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.
Six threads become twelve, revision 2 begins
The 8700K matters because it reset i7 expectations: after years of four cores with threading, the mainstream i7 moved to six with threading. That kept it relevant in games long past its launch, with the extra threads aging better than clocks alone. Within revision 2 the upgrade path runs to the 9th Gen i7 and i9 chips, which add cores without a board change on Z390 and updated Z370 boards.
The LGA 1151 revision split arrived with it: revision 2 boards only, never 100 or 200 series. Within revision 2 the upgrade path runs to the 9th Gen i7 and i9 chips, which add cores without a board change on Z390 and updated Z370 boards.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i7-9700K, the 8700K trades two physical cores for Hyper-Threading on the same socket, subject to BIOS. Against the Intel Core i9-9900K, it gives up two cores with most gaming pace intact.
Moving to LGA 1200 needs a new board while keeping DDR4. The 8700K fits a Z370 gaming PC that values threads alongside clocks.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-8700K 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 8700K and the 9700K?
The 9700K has eight physical cores without threading. The 8700K has six cores with threading for twelve threads.
Does the 8700K 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 8700K support?
Officially up to DDR4-2666. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking.
Does the 8700K 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 .