Intel Core i9-11950H socket: BGA 1787
The Intel Core i9-11950H uses the BGA 1787 package, a grid array that solders to the board. It is an 8-core Tiger Lake-H vPro 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 / 5.0 GHz
Intel Core i9-11950H specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Willow Cove (Tiger Lake-H) |
| Clocks | 2.1 GHz base at 35 W (2.6 GHz at 45 W), up to 5.0 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 i9-11950H 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 i9-11950H is
The Core i9-11950H is an 8-core mobile processor that Intel released in the second quarter of 2021 for workstation laptops with vPro management. Its Willow Cove cores reach up to 5.0 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 16 threads. Cache is 24 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
The 11950H pairs H45 performance with Intel vPro Platform eligibility for remote management and stable drivers. The power envelope spans 35 W with a 2.1 GHz base to 45 W with a 2.6 GHz base, so makers tune the same die for thin mobile workstations or larger coolers. The 10 nm SuperFin process keeps burst clocks high for single thread tools.
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. The package is FCBGA1787 soldered at 50 × 26.5 mm, which locks the configuration at order time.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11950H 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, with vPro features enabled through firmware and the board design.
Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete mobile workstations rather than separate parts. A gaming buyer who does not need management features can use a part such as the Intel Core i7-11800H in a similar chassis. The workstation buyer stays with the vPro part for fleet use.
The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains why chipset and firmware decide which management features appear. For service, a failed processor means a board replacement through the system maker.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. Mobile workstations of this era shipped with 2 by 16 GB DDR4-3200 as a common build for large models and data sets. 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 a professional or gaming GPU and x4 to a fast SSD, with Thunderbolt 4 on many designs for docks and fast 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 workstation chassis, not a boxed cooler. The 35 W base with headroom to 45 W needs dual fans and heat pipes shared with the GPU. Sustained creation loads hold clocks higher in larger bodies, while thin bodies trade sustained speed for noise. 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 i5-11400H, the 11950H adds two cores, more cache and vPro in the same soldered family. The 6-core part suits general gaming builds, while this 8-core vPro part suits managed creation fleets. Both share DDR4 limits and Gen4 links.
Against the gaming 11900H, the difference is management rather than raw clocks. Both reach near 5 GHz turbo with 24 MB of cache, while only the 11950H carries the vPro platform features for business use.
There is no CPU upgrade path on the soldered board. The next step is a full system replacement, either with another H45 workstation of the same era 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 i9-11950H use?
It uses BGA 1787, a soldered grid array. The chip cannot be replaced.
How many cores does the Intel Core i9-11950H have?
8 cores with 16 threads, 2.1 GHz base at 35 W and up to 5.0 GHz turbo, with 24 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
What memory does the Intel Core i9-11950H support?
DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. Workstation builds often use 32 GB in two sticks.
What graphics does the Intel Core i9-11950H include?
Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen with 32 execution units up to 1.45 GHz, plus a discrete GPU in most workstation chassis.
What is the TDP of the Intel Core i9-11950H?
35 W base with a 45 W configurable up option. It also carries vPro platform features for managed fleets.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i9-11950H specifications (Intel)
- Intel Core i7-11800H Specs (TechPowerUp, same H45 platform)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .