Intel Core i7-4860HQ socket: BGA 1364

What the Core i7-4860HQ is

The Core i7-4860HQ is an early Crystalwell quad for gaming and mobile workstation laptops on BGA 1364. Intel set 4 cores and 8 threads at 2.4 GHz base with turbo to 3.6 GHz. Six megabytes of Smart Cache back multitasking across play, streaming and builds. Power is 47 W on 22 nm from February 2014. It sits above the 2.2 GHz 4770HQ in base clocks within the same 47 W limit.

Higher base frequency helps laptops that cool the CPU and GPU from shared pipes. Turbo to 3.6 GHz lifts single thread work such as game logic and photo filters. Hyper-Threading doubles threads for capture software beside the game. Most chassis pair it with discrete graphics for 1080p, since Iris Pro alone suits older titles and desktop use.

Iris Pro Graphics 5200 from 200 MHz to 1.2 GHz drives the internal panel when the discrete card sleeps. DDR3L-1333 and 1600 over two channels to 32 GB give up to 25.6 GB/s for cores and graphics. The mix fits early 2014 performance notebooks where buyers want a proven soldered quad with strong integrated graphics as backup.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 4860HQ solders to BGA 1364 as FCBGA1364 at 37.5 × 32 mm. No socket exists and no processor swap is possible. The chip cannot be replaced. Buyers fix display, graphics tier, memory and storage at purchase. Later service covers drives, wireless and batteries per chassis manual.

Companion mobile chipsets in this family include QM87, HM87 and HM86 for laptop I/O and display output. Boards are custom per laptop model, so support lists never transfer between brands. The LGA, PGA and BGA: CPU package types explained guide sets out soldered trade offs. Maker specs decide exact memory and display limits.

A faster CPU on the same board is not an option. A new performance level needs a new laptop or a new board design. Order graphics and memory for the full planned life of the machine.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is DDR3L-1333 and 1600 in two channels to 32 GB. Matched pairs aid graphics performance in editing and calls. Eight gigabytes suits office use, while 16 GB suits games with background tools. Voltage follows DDR3L laptop levels.

The CPU supplies 16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 for discrete graphics and storage paths. Vendors divide lanes per design, often with eight lanes to graphics in gaming bodies. Board pages list slot wiring and drive support. Extra USB and SATA come from the mobile chipset.

Cooling is Not applicable (soldered) as a mount pattern. There is no boxed cooler. Dual fan modules cool the 47 W processor plus the discrete card. Shared pipes tie CPU and GPU temperatures, so reviews of fan noise matter. Keep intakes clear for steady 2.4 GHz operation.

Upgrade paths

No upgrade exists on soldered BGA-1364. At purchase compare the Intel Core i7-4710HQ at 2.5 GHz to 3.5 GHz with HD Graphics 4600 where integrated needs are light, and the Intel Core i7-4770HQ at 2.2 GHz to 3.4 GHz with Iris Pro graphics in the same power class. All share the soldered package, so base clocks and GPU tier decide the pick.

A move to a newer architecture means a new laptop platform with new memory and cooling. The How to find your CPU socket type guide helps tell soldered gaming models from socketed desktops. For a swappable desktop path, see LGA 1150 with the Intel Core i7-4790K.