Intel Core i9-10980HK socket: BGA 1440
The Intel Core i9-10980HK uses BGA 1440, a soldered laptop package. The unlocked 8-core 45 W flagship cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1440
- Launched
- April 2020
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 45 W
- Codename
- Comet Lake-H
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i9
- Clocks
- 2.4 / 5.3 GHz
Intel Core i9-10980HK specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 2.4 GHz base, up to 5.3 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost |
| Cache | 16 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 45 W (65 W cTDP up) |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2933, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 10th Gen processors (350 MHz base, up to 1.25 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Unlocked (HK series) |
| Package | FCBGA1440 (42 by 28 mm, soldered) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i9-10980HK needs a motherboard with a BGA 1440 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1440 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 1440 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,440 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 42 × 28 mm |
| Introduced | April 2018 |
| Memory | DDR4-2933 on Comet Lake-H and DDR4-2666 on Coffee Lake-H, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Core i9-10980HK is
The Core i9-10980HK is an eight core, sixteen thread unlocked mobile processor from Comet Lake-H. It launched in April 2020 as the flagship gaming laptop chip with a 2.4 GHz base and up to 5.3 GHz Velocity Boost. The HK suffix marks an unlocked multiplier for tuning on premium boards.
Sixteen megabytes of Smart Cache feed streaming, 3D rendering and compilation across eight cores. Velocity Boost touches 5.3 GHz on a cool favored core, with Max 3.0 at 5.1 GHz behind it. The 45 W base stretches to 65 W cTDP up in thick desktop replacement bodies.
UHD Graphics cover the laptop panel with the discrete GPU idle. Gaming designs pair the chip with high end GeForce RTX cards of 2020. The unlocked multiplier allows memory and core tuning through maker tools, which suits enthusiasts who accept heat and noise.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 10980HK solders to BGA 1440 on flagship gaming boards. There is no socketed path. Makers validate unlocked power tables with vapor chamber cooling and 200 W plus adapters.
Mobile chipsets HM470 and QM480 sit behind the CPU for ports and management. Memory is dual SODIMM for user expansion on most flagships. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows where maker specs confirm the soldered package.
Desktop LGA 1200 boards cannot host the chip. The ball map and unlocked mobile firmware are unique to BGA 1440.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR4-2933 in two channels up to 128 GB is the rated laptop memory. Flagships ship 16 or 32 GB with room to 64 GB for 4K editing. Dual channel operation keeps minimum frame rates steady.
PCIe 3.0 x16 from the CPU feeds the discrete GPU and fast NVMe storage. A typical flagship pairs the chip with an RTX 2070 class GPU and a 1 TB NVMe SSD.
Cooling is a flagship shared assembly with large fans and multiple exhausts. The 65 W up mode needs a thick chassis with rear vents. Tuning raises heat fast, so maker performance profiles should be tested before long renders.
Upgrade paths
Soldered BGA blocks CPU upgrades. Memory to 64 GB, a second NVMe SSD and a calibrated external display are the flagship upgrades. Thermal service restores launch behavior after a year of dust.
A laptop change to desktop silicon or to BGA 1744 hybrid mobile brings newer architecture. Inside BGA 1440, the Intel Core i7-10870H gives similar 8-core throughput as a later value option.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i9-10980HK use?
It uses BGA 1440 soldered to the gaming laptop board.
Is the i9-10980HK unlocked?
Yes. The HK suffix means an unlocked multiplier for tuning on supported boards.
How fast is the i9-10980HK?
2.4 GHz base with up to 5.3 GHz Velocity Boost across eight cores.
What memory fits i9-10980HK laptops?
DDR4-2933 SODIMMs in two channels up to 128 GB.
When did the i9-10980HK launch?
April 2020 as the Comet Lake-H mobile flagship.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .