Intel Core i9-11900H socket: BGA 1787
The Intel Core i9-11900H uses the BGA 1787 package, a grid array that solders to the board. It is an 8-core Tiger Lake-H processor at 35 W, and the soldered chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1787
- Launched
- May 2021
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 35 W
- Codename
- Tiger Lake-H
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i9
- Clocks
- 2.1 / 4.9 GHz
Intel Core i9-11900H specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Willow Cove (Tiger Lake-H) |
| Clocks | 2.1 GHz base at 35 W (2.5 GHz at 45 W), up to 4.9 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 24 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 35 W |
| Manufacturing process | 10 nm SuperFin |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | PCIe Gen4 with 20 lanes from the CPU |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (32 execution units, up to 1.45 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCBGA1787 soldered, 50 × 26.5 mm |
| Cooler in the box | None (laptop cooling) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i9-11900H needs a motherboard with a BGA 1787 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1787 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 1787 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,787 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 50 × 26.5 mm |
| Introduced | May 2021 |
| Memory | DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Core i9-11900H is
The Core i9-11900H is an 8-core mobile processor that Intel released in the second quarter of 2021 for gaming laptops in the H45 range. Its Willow Cove cores reach up to 4.9 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 16 threads. Cache is 24 MB of Intel Smart Cache shared across the die.
The H suffix marks a 35 W to 45 W configurable envelope. At 35 W the chip holds a 2.1 GHz base, while carriers that allow 45 W hold a 2.5 GHz base for higher sustained clocks. The 10 nm SuperFin process keeps single thread bursts high for games that depend on one fast core.
Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen processors handle display output, with 32 execution units at 350 MHz base and up to 1.45 GHz boost. The multiplier is locked, so tuning stays with power limits in the laptop firmware. The package is FCBGA1787 soldered at 50 × 26.5 mm.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11900H fits BGA 1787 only. The chip solders to the laptop board, so there is no socket retention and no later processor upgrade. Board support is fixed to QM580, HM570 and WM590 mobile chipsets for this generation.
Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete laptops rather than boards and chips. A buyer who needs vPro management in the same power band steps to a part such as the Intel Core i7-11850H in a workstation chassis. Gaming buyers stay with the H part and its discrete GPU pairing.
The LGA, PGA and BGA: CPU package types explained guide explains why soldered BGA packages list no cooler mounting pattern. For service, a failed processor means a board replacement through the laptop maker.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. Gaming laptops of this era shipped with 2 by 8 GB DDR4-3200 as the common build, since dual channel feeds both CPU cores and integrated graphics. The controller does not accept DDR5.
The CPU supplies 20 PCIe Gen4 lanes for graphics and storage through the board. Makers usually wire x16 to the discrete GPU and x4 to a fast SSD, with Thunderbolt 4 on many designs for docks and external drives. The board layout decides the exact split, so the laptop specifications state which slots run at full speed.
Cooling is part of the laptop chassis, not a boxed cooler. The 35 W base with turbo headroom to 45 W needs dual fans and shared heat pipes with the discrete GPU. Thin gaming bodies hold clocks lower for noise, while larger bodies sustain more. No LGA cooler fits, and the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide covers why desktop brackets do not apply.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i7-11600H, the 11900H adds two cores and more cache in the same soldered envelope. The 6-core part carries 18 MB of L3, while this 8-core part carries 24 MB, which helps creation tasks that reuse large data sets. Both share DDR4 limits and Gen4 links.
Against higher H45 i9 parts, the 11900H trades peak turbo for cooler operation at 35 W. A buyer who wants the top single thread burst in the stack looks at 5.0 GHz parts, while this chip holds 4.9 GHz with lower heat.
There is no CPU upgrade path on the soldered board. The next step is a full laptop replacement, either with another H45 system of higher core count or a move to a later platform. Storage moves with the drive, while memory moves only when the chassis uses slots.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i9-11900H use?
It uses BGA 1787, a soldered grid array. The chip cannot be replaced.
How many cores does the Intel Core i9-11900H have?
8 cores with 16 threads, 2.1 GHz base at 35 W and up to 4.9 GHz turbo, with 24 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
What memory does the Intel Core i9-11900H support?
DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. Dual channel is the expected build.
What graphics does the Intel Core i9-11900H include?
Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen with 32 execution units up to 1.45 GHz. Gaming laptops pair it with a discrete GPU.
What is the TDP of the Intel Core i9-11900H?
35 W base with a 45 W configurable up option. The laptop cooler handles turbo bursts above the base.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i9-11900H specifications (Intel)
- Intel Core i7-11800H Specs (TechPowerUp, same H45 platform)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .