Intel Core i7-9700F socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Core i7-9700F uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards. It is the graphics-less 65 W 8-core chip without Hyper-Threading, so a separate graphics card is required on 300 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Launched
- April 2019
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 8
- Base power
- 65 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake Refresh
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 3.0 / 4.7 GHz
Intel Core i7-9700F specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 8 (no Hyper-Threading) |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.0 GHz base, up to 4.7 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 | None (the F suffix means no graphics, a separate card is required) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1151 |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i7-9700F 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 | Needs a BIOS update Needs a BIOS update before a 9th Gen processor will start. Check the board maker's CPU support list. |
| 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 RTX 2070 Super, Radeon RX 5700 |
| Target resolution | 1440p high settings |
Eight physical cores with boost to 4.7 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 match high-end 1440p cards from 2019. 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 i7-9700F is
The Core i7-9700F is an eight core, eight thread processor that Intel released in 2019 with the locked 65 W 9th Gen range. Its cores run 3.0 GHz base to 4.7 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0. Cache is 12 MB of shared L3.
Like the rest of the 9th Gen i7 line, the 9700F has no Hyper-Threading: eight cores yield eight threads. The F suffix removes the integrated GPU on top, so no display connects to the board. The TDP is 65 W on the 14 nm process.
The multiplier is locked. On memory tuning, Z390 and Z370 boards accept XMP kits past DDR4-2666 while H-series and B-series boards hold narrower ranges, so the board decides how far a kit runs.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 9700F fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards only. Z390 and B365 boards accept it with the shipping BIOS. Z370, H370, B360, H310 and Q370 boards need a BIOS update carrying 9th Gen support. Revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets never support it.
A discrete card must be fitted for every boot, including BIOS setup. B360 and H370 boards are the usual pairing for a locked chip, with Z-series boards adding ports and memory profiles rather than overclocking room.
Check the board maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version, and prefer a board with USB BIOS flashback when updating from an older generation.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s officially. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. Gaming builds normally pair the chip with a 2666 MT/s kit or a faster XMP kit on boards that accept it.
The CPU supplies 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes for the discrete graphics card. All monitors connect to the discrete 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. Mounting uses the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.
No threading, no graphics, revision 2 only
The 9700F combines the 9th Gen i7's missing threading with missing graphics for the lowest-cost eight cores of the generation. Games of the era rarely missed either cut, while rendering and encoding did.
The LGA 1151 revision split still applies: revision 2 boards only, never 100 or 200 series. Without integrated graphics, troubleshooting needs a known-good discrete card, so keep one available until the build proves stable.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i7-9700K, the 9700F gives up overclocking and integrated graphics for lower power and price, with neither chip offering threading. Against the Intel Core i9-9900K, it trades threading and cache for savings on the same socket.
Moving to LGA 1200 needs a new board while keeping DDR4. The 9700F fits a gaming tower that will always carry a discrete card.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-9700F use?
It uses LGA 1151 on revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets, written FCLGA1151 in Intel's documents. A discrete graphics card is required.
Does the 9700F have Hyper-Threading?
No. Like the rest of the 9th Gen i7 line, the 9700F has no Hyper-Threading, so 8 cores give 8 threads.
Does the 9700F run in a Z270 motherboard?
No. Z270 and other 100 and 200 series boards are revision 1 and never support 9th Gen processors.
What memory speed does the 9700F support?
Officially up to DDR4-2666. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking.
Can the 9700F encode video without a graphics card?
No Quick Sync block is available, so recording and streaming encode on the discrete card. Choose a card with a capable media block when encoding matters.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .