Intel Core i9-11980HK socket: BGA 1787
The Intel Core i9-11980HK uses the BGA 1787 package, a grid array that solders to the board. It is an unlocked 8-core Tiger Lake-H processor at 45 W, and the soldered chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1787
- Launched
- May 2021
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 45 W
- Codename
- Tiger Lake-H
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i9
- Clocks
- 2.6 / 5.0 GHz
Intel Core i9-11980HK specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Willow Cove (Tiger Lake-H) |
| Clocks | 2.6 GHz base at 45 W, up to 5.0 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 24 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 45 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 | Unlocked |
| Package | FCBGA1787 soldered, 50 × 26.5 mm |
| Cooler in the box | None (laptop cooling) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i9-11980HK 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 i9-11980HK is
The Core i9-11980HK is the top mobile processor of the Tiger Lake-H stack, released in the second quarter of 2021 for flagship gaming laptops. Its 8 Willow Cove cores run a 2.6 GHz base at 45 W to 5.0 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 16 threads. Cache is 24 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
The HK suffix marks an unlocked multiplier in a soldered package. Laptop firmware that exposes tuning can adjust ratios and power limits, while many thin designs lock those controls for stability. The 10 nm SuperFin process supports high single thread bursts 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. Most chassis pair the chip with a high power discrete GPU, so the integrated graphics cover setup and battery use. The package is FCBGA1787 soldered at 50 × 26.5 mm.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 11980HK 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 overclocking controls depending on the laptop maker.
Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete flagship laptops rather than separate parts. A buyer who wants similar cores without tuning can use a locked part such as the Intel Core i7-11800H in a lower cost chassis. The HK buyer pays for the unlocked firmware and the larger cooler that sustains it.
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. Flagship laptops of this era shipped with 2 by 8 GB or 2 by 16 GB DDR4-3200 for high frame rates, since dual channel feeds both CPU cores and the display pipeline. 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 high power 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 flagship chassis, not a boxed cooler. The 45 W base with a 65 W configurable up option needs large dual fans, shared heat pipes and high fan speeds under load. Sustained tuning holds only in bodies built for heat and 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 11980HK adds two cores, more cache and unlocked tuning in the same soldered family. The 6-core part suits value gaming builds, while this 8-core HK part suits flagship builds with top GPUs. Both share DDR4 limits and Gen4 links.
Against other 8-core H45 parts, the difference is power and tuning rather than core count. Lower i9 H parts hold 35 W bases, while this chip holds a 2.6 GHz base at 45 W with headroom to 65 W for short bursts.
There is no CPU upgrade path on the soldered board. The next step is a full laptop replacement, either with another high power H system 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 i9-11980HK use?
It uses BGA 1787, a soldered grid array. The chip cannot be replaced.
How many cores does the Intel Core i9-11980HK have?
8 cores with 16 threads, 2.6 GHz base at 45 W and up to 5.0 GHz turbo, with 24 MB of Intel Smart Cache.
Is the Intel Core i9-11980HK unlocked?
Yes, the HK suffix marks an unlocked multiplier. The laptop firmware decides which tuning controls appear.
What memory does the Intel Core i9-11980HK support?
DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s in two channels, up to 128 GB. Flagship builds often use 16 GB or 32 GB in two sticks.
What is the TDP of the Intel Core i9-11980HK?
45 W base with a 65 W configurable up option. The flagship chassis cooler handles turbo bursts above the base.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i9-11980HK specifications (Intel)
- Intel Core i9-11980HK overclocking notes (SkatterBencher)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .