Intel Core i3-9300T socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Core i3-9300T uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards. It is a locked 35 W quad-core chip for compact office PCs on 300 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1151 (revision 2)
- Launched
- April 2019
- Cores and threads
- 4 and 4
- Base power
- 35 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake Refresh
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i3
- Clocks
- 3.2 / 3.8 GHz
Intel Core i3-9300T specifications
| Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 4 (no Hyper-Threading) |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.2 GHz base, up to 3.8 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) |
| Cache | 8 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 35 W (25 W cTDP down at 2.5 GHz) |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2400 MT/s, two channels, up to 64 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 MHz to 1.1 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Supported |
| Package | FCLGA1151 |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i3-9300T needs a motherboard with a LGA 1151 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 300 series: B365 and Z390 | Z390, B365 | Works out of the box |
| 300 series: H310, B360, H370, Q370, Z370 | Z370, H370, B360, H310, Q370 | Needs a BIOS update Needs a BIOS update before a 9th Gen processor will start. Check the board maker's CPU support list. |
| 200 series | Z270, H270, B250, Q270, Q250 | Not supported |
| 100 series | Z170, H170, B150, H110, Q170, Q150 | Not supported |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1151.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | Entry 1080p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce GTX 1650, Radeon RX 570 |
| Target resolution | 1080p high settings |
Four cores with boost to 3.8 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4-2400 suit entry 1080p cards from 2019 for light gaming in a compact build. A faster card still works and the 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.
LGA 1151 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,151 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | August 2015 |
| Memory | DDR4 on most boards (some early boards use DDR3L). DDR4 only on the second revision |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Core i3-9300T is
The Core i3-9300T is the low power quad-core i3 that Intel released in the second quarter of 2019. Its four cores run 3.2 GHz base with Turbo Boost 2.0 reaching 3.8 GHz on demanding threads. Like the rest of the 9th Gen i3 range it has no Hyper-Threading, so four cores give four threads.
Cache is 8 MB of shared L3, the larger i3 allocation, which helps when several office programs and browser tabs stay open together. The 35 W rating fits small form factor cases, with a configurable TDP down to 25 W at 2.5 GHz for tight enclosures. The process is 14 nm and the multiplier is locked.
Intel UHD Graphics 630 runs from 350 MHz to 1.1 GHz and drives three displays for multidisplay office work. ECC memory is supported to 64 GB, an unusual trait in a low power desktop chip that suits small business servers. DDR4-2400 is the official memory speed.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 9300T fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards only. Z390 and B365 boards accept it with the shipping BIOS, while Z370, H370, B360, H310 and Q370 boards may need a BIOS update carrying 9th Gen support. Revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets never support it.
H310 and B360 mini boards are the expected home for a 35 W quad-core, pairing low board cost with digital display outputs. Q370 adds management features for office fleets. Z series boards add little except ports, since the multiplier stays locked.
Check the maker CPU support list for the minimum BIOS before fitting the chip to early Z370 or H370 stock. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains why the two LGA 1151 revisions do not mix.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2400 MT/s over two channels with a 64 GB ceiling. Two matched modules open dual-channel mode, which helps both integrated graphics and application loading. ECC modules are supported where the board wiring allows it.
Sixteen PCIe 3.0 lanes feed one discrete card at full width, so an entry 1080p card fits for light games in a compact tower. Most office builds run from UHD 630 alone. Cooling uses the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide, and a low profile cooler handles 35 W quietly.
The 25 W cTDP down mode at 2.5 GHz helps fanless and behind-screen mounts that cannot move much air. Turbo behavior stays available inside the lower limit, just with less headroom. Chipset lanes carry SATA drives and extra USB ports beside the processor lanes.
Upgrade paths
In the same socket, the Core i3-9300 raises base and boost clocks at 62 W for standard towers that need more speed. The Intel Core i5-9400 moves to six cores for heavier office multitasking and light content work. Both reuse the board, memory and cooler after a BIOS check.
Higher up, the Intel Core i7-9700 brings eight cores for demanding desks, while the Intel Core i9-9900K is the ceiling of revision 2. Each step wants a look at power delivery and cooler capacity.
Past LGA 1151 a new board is required since LGA 1200 processors do not fit. The 9300T covers quiet offices where four cores are enough, and a platform change only pays off when the workload clearly outgrows it.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i3-9300T use?
It uses LGA 1151 on revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets, written FCLGA1151 in Intel documents.
What is the difference between the 9300T and the 9300?
The 9300T runs 3.2 GHz base to 3.8 GHz boost at 35 W, while the 9300 runs 3.7 GHz base to 4.3 GHz boost at 62 W. Both share 8 MB of cache and UHD 630 graphics.
Which graphics card pairs with the 9300T?
Entry 1080p cards such as the GeForce GTX 1650 and Radeon RX 570 fit light gaming, while UHD 630 covers office displays on its own.
What memory does the 9300T support?
Officially up to DDR4-2400 over two channels, with a 64 GB ceiling and ECC support where the board allows it.
Does the 9300T need a BIOS update?
Yes, after a BIOS check. Z390 and B365 boards take it with the shipping BIOS, while early Z370, H370, B360, H310 and Q370 boards may need an update carrying 9th Gen support.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .