Intel Core i7-1185G7E socket: BGA 1449

The Intel Core i7-1185G7E uses the BGA 1449 package, a grid array that solders to the board. It is a 4-core Tiger Lake-U embedded processor at 15 W, and the soldered chip cannot be replaced.

Socket
BGA 1449
Launched
September 2020
Cores and threads
4 and 8
Base power
15 W
Codename
Tiger Lake-U
Segment
Mobile (soldered)
Clocks
1.8 / 4.4 GHz

Intel Core i7-1185G7E specifications

Cores4
Threads8
Core architectureWillow Cove (Tiger Lake-U)
Clocks1.8 GHz base at 15 W, up to 4.4 GHz turbo
Cache12 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3)
Processor base power (TDP)15 W (12 to 28 W configurable)
Manufacturing process10 nm SuperFin
Memory supportDDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s, two channels, up to 64 GB
PCI ExpressPCIe Gen4 from the CPU plus Thunderbolt 4 through the board
Integrated graphicsIntel Iris Xe Graphics (96 execution units, up to 1.35 GHz)
MultiplierLocked
ECC memoryNot supported
PackageFCBGA1449 soldered, 45.5 × 25 mm
Cooler in the boxNone (board heatsink)

Motherboard compatibility

Intel Core i7-1185G7E needs a motherboard with a BGA 1449 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1449 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.

BGA 1449 at a glance

TypeBGA, 1,449 contacts
Package size45.5 × 25 mm
IntroducedJanuary 2021
MemoryDDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s, two channels, up to 64 GB
Cooler mounting holesNot applicable (soldered)

Read the full BGA 1449 socket guide

What the Core i7-1185G7E is

The Core i7-1185G7E is a 4-core embedded mobile processor that Intel placed in the Tiger Lake-U UP3 range in September 2020 for industrial boards. Its Willow Cove cores run a 1.8 GHz base at 15 W to 4.4 GHz turbo with Hyper-Threading for 8 threads. Cache is 12 MB of Intel Smart Cache.

The E suffix marks an embedded option without ECC for long lifecycle boards. Compute specs sit just below the GRE twin with ECC, with the same 10 nm SuperFin process and Iris Xe graphics. Long lifecycle firmware matters more than headline turbo in this segment.

Intel Iris Xe Graphics handle display output, with 96 execution units at up to 1.35 GHz. The multiplier is locked. The package is FCBGA1449 soldered at 45.5 × 25 mm for pick and place assembly.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 1185G7E fits BGA 1449 only. The chip solders to the embedded board, so there is no socket retention and no later processor upgrade. Board support is fixed to the UP3 embedded platform with DDR4 or LPDDR4x memory.

Because the package is soldered, buyers compare complete boards rather than separate parts. A buyer who needs error correcting memory steps to the Intel Core i7-1185GRE twin with ECC support. A buyer who needs consumer firmware takes the standard Intel Core i7-1185G7 with higher turbo.

The How to find your CPU socket type guide explains how to confirm a soldered package from the board specifications. For service, a failed processor means a board replacement through the vendor.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s across two channels to 64 GB without ECC. Embedded vendors validate specific SO-DIMM or soldered layouts per board for kiosks and gateways. There is no DDR5 path on Tiger Lake-U.

The processor exposes PCIe Gen4 from the CPU plus board I/O for storage and networking. Embedded boards favor serial links and Ethernet over docks, with exact splits fixed per design. Cooler mounting uses no desktop pattern. Cooling follows the board thermal design with compact heatsinks sized around 15 W.

Four cores with eight threads cover control and display tasks without strain. Long lifecycle firmware with locked clocks matters more than manual tuning in this segment, so vendors validate BIOS versions for years. Power supply choice follows the board input range.

Upgrade paths

On the same BGA1449 footprint there is no CPU upgrade path, since the chip is soldered. Owners who need different memory support move to another UP3 board with an E or GRE sibling rather than a chip swap. Storage and memory configuration remain the only practical changes.

Within embedded i7, the twin is the Intel Core i7-1185GRE with ECC memory support at matching clocks. Both share 4 cores, 8 threads and 12 MB cache, so the choice is error correction rather than speed.

Moving past UP3 entirely means a new board on a later embedded platform. For buyers choosing in 2020, the G7E suited non-ECC industrial designs at 15 W, while the GRE asked the same power with ECC. The two share Willow Cove and 10 nm SuperFin on the same package.

Frequently asked questions

What socket does the Intel Core i7-1185G7E use?

It uses BGA 1449, a soldered grid array with 1449 balls. The chip cannot be removed, so an upgrade means replacing the board.

What memory does the Core i7-1185G7E support?

DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s or LPDDR4x up to 4267 MT/s in two channels to 64 GB without ECC. Vendors validate specific layouts per board.

Can the Core i7-1185G7E be overclocked?

No. The multiplier is locked, and embedded firmware does not expose desktop overclocking controls. The 15 W setting suits compact heatsinks.

How does the 1185G7E differ from the 1185GRE?

The G7E lacks ECC memory support, while the Intel Core i7-1185GRE adds it at matching clocks. Both share 4 cores, 8 threads and BGA1449.

Sources and verification

  1. Tiger Lake embedded UP3 1185G7E (Wikipedia)
  2. Intel Core i3-1115G4 specifications - UP3 platform reference (Intel ARK)

Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .