Intel Core i9-9880H socket: BGA 1440
The Intel Core i9-9880H uses BGA 1440, a soldered package for Coffee Lake-H performance laptops. The 8-core 45 W chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1440
- Launched
- April 2019
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 45 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake-H
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Core i9
- Clocks
- 2.3 / 4.8 GHz
Intel Core i9-9880H specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 2.3 GHz base, up to 4.8 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 |
| Cache | 16 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 45 W |
| Configurable TDP | 35 W down |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2666 and LPDDR3-2133, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 MHz base, up to 1.2 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Not supported |
| Package | FCBGA1440 (42 by 28 mm, soldered) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core i9-9880H 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.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | High-end 1080p laptop (2019 era) |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce RTX 2060 Laptop, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Laptop |
| Target resolution | 1080p high settings (internal display) |
Eight cores with sixteen threads, PCIe 3.0 with 16 lanes, DDR4-2666 memory, and April 2019 launch timing suit high-end 1080p laptop graphics from 2019. The GPU cannot be changed in most chassis. A faster external GPU still works through Thunderbolt, but the internal 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.
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 i9-9880H is
The Core i9-9880H is an eight core, sixteen thread Coffee Lake-H laptop processor. It launched in April 2019 as the first 8-core i9 for 45 W gaming laptops with a 2.3 GHz base and up to 4.8 GHz boost. Sixteen megabytes of Smart Cache back game threads and creator timelines, and the 45 W envelope with a 35 W down option lets makers tune the same silicon for thick workstations or slimmer performance bodies.
Eight cores with sixteen threads separate the 9880H from 6-core i7 H parts in the same chassis generation. Extra threads help video timelines, code compiles and live streaming while a game holds the foreground. The 2.3 GHz base sustains all core work under dual fan cooling, while single core bursts reach 4.8 GHz for loads and lightly threaded tasks.
UHD Graphics 630 covers battery saver display with 350 MHz base and up to 1.2 GHz dynamic frequency. Gaming designs switch to GeForce graphics for 3D through Optimus or a mux switch. The chip arrived with the 9th Gen H refresh in the second quarter of 2019, so launch era boards pair DDR4-2666 memory with PCIe 3.0 graphics links.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 9880H solders to BGA 1440 and cannot be replaced. The FCBGA1440 package at 42 by 28 mm reflows once to the gaming laptop board with mobile chipset logic. There is no socketed path and no desktop board equivalent for this soldered mobile die.
Board makers tune 45 W with a 35 W down mode for thinner bodies, and shared heat pipes cover the CPU plus the GPU under load. Maker software trades fan noise for sustained clocks through performance profiles. The LGA, PGA and BGA: CPU package types explained guide explains why soldered mobile packages stay with their original board.
Memory may be dual SODIMM for user upgrades or partly soldered for thin performance bodies. Display outputs run from integrated graphics in hybrid mode or straight from the discrete GPU where a mux exists. Check the service manual for slot access and thermal policy before buying memory or storage.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR4-2666 with LPDDR3-2133 support in two channels up to 128 GB is the rated laptop memory. Factory 16 GB builds play well, while creator configurations move to 32 GB or 64 GB for timelines and virtual machines. Dual channel mode matters for game stability and for integrated graphics when the discrete GPU idles.
Sixteen PCIe 3.0 lanes from the CPU feed graphics and NVMe storage as x16, x8 plus x8, or x8 plus x4 plus x4 splits. A 9880H with RTX 2060 class graphics and a fast NVMe drive was the classic 2019 high end recipe. Chipset lanes add Wi-Fi, Ethernet and extra SSDs on gaming boards.
Cooling decides long session clocks more than the 4.8 GHz headline. Elevated stands, clean fans and fresh paste restore launch behavior after dust buildup. Soldered packaging means repaste is board work for service centers, never a cooler swap like desktops.
Upgrade paths
No CPU upgrade exists on soldered BGA. Add memory to 32 GB, move to a larger NVMe SSD, and service thermals to extend gaming and creator life. A high refresh external monitor can also lift the experience without opening the chassis.
A laptop replacement with the unlocked Intel Core i9-9980HK adds overclocking headroom in the same BGA 1440 generation for enthusiasts with strong cooling and large heat pipes. A move to newer sockets brings hybrid cores and faster graphics links with full system cost, so weigh board, memory and display together before jumping generations.
For many 9880H owners, a GPU generation jump at replacement time matters more than core count for game frame rates. Keep the old machine as a stream or render node where its eight cores and 16 MB cache still earn their place beside a new primary laptop.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i9-9880H use?
It uses BGA 1440 soldered to the performance laptop board. The 8-core 45 W chip cannot be replaced.
Can the i9-9880H be overclocked?
No, the multiplier is locked on the 9880H. Makers adjust power limits and fan curves instead, while the unlocked Intel Core i9-9980HK serves overclockers.
What memory fits i9-9880H laptops?
DDR4-2666 SODIMMs or LPDDR3-2133 soldered memory in two channels up to 128 GB. Dual channel pairs help games and creator apps.
When did the i9-9880H launch?
April 2019 in the second quarter of 2019 with the 9th Gen Core H refresh for gaming laptops.
How many cores does the i9-9880H have?
Eight cores with sixteen threads at 2.3 GHz base and up to 4.8 GHz boost with 16 MB Smart Cache.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .