Intel Core i9-10850K socket: LGA 1200
The Intel Core i9-10850K uses the LGA 1200 socket. It is a 10-core Comet Lake chip that trails the 10900K by 100 MHz for a lower launch price, on 400 series boards and later 500 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Launched
- September 2020
- Cores and threads
- 10 and 20
- Base power
- 125 W
- Codename
- Comet Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i9
- Clocks
- 3.6 / 5.2 GHz
Intel Core i9-10850K specifications
| Cores | 10 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 20 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.6 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0), 5.1 GHz (Turbo Boost Max 3.0), 5.2 GHz (Thermal Velocity Boost) |
| Cache | 20 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) and 2.5 MB total L2 |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 125 W |
| Maximum turbo power | 250 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (up to 1.20 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Unlocked (K series) |
| Package | FCLGA1200 |
| Cooler in the box | None |
| Launch price | $453 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i9-10850K needs a motherboard with a LGA 1200 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 500 series | Z590, H570, B560, H510, Q570, W580 | Works out of the box |
| 400 series: Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Works out of the box |
| 400 series: B460, H410 | B460, H410 | Works out of the box |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1200.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | High-end 1440p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce RTX 3070, Radeon RX 6800 |
| Target resolution | 1440p high settings |
Ten cores with boost to 5.2 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 suit high-end 1440p cards from 2020. 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 1200 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,200 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | April 2020 |
| Memory | DDR4 only |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Core i9-10850K is
The Core i9-10850K is a ten core, twenty thread processor that Intel released in 2020 as a lower priced Comet Lake flagship. Its cores run 3.6 GHz base to 5.0 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0, reaching 5.1 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0 and 5.2 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost. Cache is 20 MB of shared L3 with 2.5 MB of total L2.
Against the 10900K the differences are an across-the-board 100 MHz reduction in base and boost clocks. Reviews found gaming within margin of the flagship for less money, which made it the value 10-core while stock lasted. Intel rates the TDP at 125 W with 125 W PL1 and 250 W PL2. The process is 14 nm.
Intel UHD Graphics 630 cover display output, at up to 1.20 GHz. The multiplier is unlocked. The launch price was $453 (Intel RCP). Intel includes no cooler with K-series processors.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 10850K fits the LGA 1200 socket. Boards with 400 series chipsets (Z490, H470, Q470, W480, B460, H410) accept it from the start. Later 500 series boards accept Comet Lake natively as well.
A Z490 or Z590 board unlocks the multiplier. Other chipsets hold rated clocks with memory tuning on most models. Board voltage stages still matter at 250 W peaks.
The board maker's CPU support list confirms compatibility. Like other Comet Lake chips, it needs no update anywhere on this socket.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2933 MT/s officially. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking from the processor's point of view.
The CPU supplies 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the processor. Chipset lanes cover the remaining slots and drives at lower speeds. There is no PCIe 4.0 here.
Cooling should target the 250 W ceiling rather than the 125 W base. A large air cooler or liquid cooler is realistic. Mounting uses the 75 mm LGA 1200 pattern shared with older Intel sockets, covered in the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.
A price cut in new packaging
The 10850K reads as a price cut in new packaging: nearly the full 10900K experience with 100 MHz shaved off and meaningful savings, launched while the flagship suffered spotty availability. Gaming reviews put the gap inside test variance in many titles.
The platform trade matches other Comet Lake chips: the most threads of its generation against PCIe 3.0 only. Short boosts draw near 250 W, so sustained loads need cooling and board power delivery sized for it.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i9-10900K, the 10850K gives up 100 MHz across the board for savings that were larger at street prices. Against the Intel Core i7-10700K, it adds two cores and more cache for threaded work.
Moving to LGA 1700 needs a new board, new memory for DDR5 builds, and a new cooler bracket. The 10850K fits a 400 series board that stays in service with near-flagship threads.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i9-10850K use?
It uses LGA 1200, written FCLGA1200 in Intel's documents.
What is the difference between the 10850K and the 10900K?
The 10850K runs 100 MHz lower across base and boost clocks for a lower launch price. Most other specs match.
Does the 10850K run in a Z590 motherboard?
Yes. Z590, H570 and B560 boards accept Comet Lake natively, with no update needed.
What memory speed does the 10850K support?
Officially up to DDR4-2933. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking.
Does the 10850K come with a cooler?
No. Intel ships K-series processors without a cooler, and 250 W peaks need a large air cooler or liquid cooler.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .