Intel Core i7-9700 socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Core i7-9700 uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards. It is a locked 65 W 8-core chip without Hyper-Threading for builders who want i7 cores without overclocking, on 300 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Launched
- April 2019
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 8
- Base power
- 65 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake Refresh
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i7
- Clocks
- 3.0 / 4.7 GHz
Intel Core i7-9700 specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 8 (no Hyper-Threading) |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.0 GHz base, up to 4.7 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) |
| Cache | 12 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 65 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (up to 1.20 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1151 |
| Launch price | $323 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i7-9700 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 | High-end 1440p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce RTX 2070, Radeon RX 5700 |
| Target resolution | 1440p high settings |
Eight physical cores with boost to 4.7 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 suit high-end 1440p cards from 2019. 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 i7-9700 is
The Core i7-9700 is an eight core, eight thread processor that Intel released in 2019 with the locked 65 W 9th Gen range. Its cores run 3.0 GHz base to 4.7 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0. Cache is 12 MB of shared L3.
Like the rest of the 9th Gen i7 line, the 9700 has no Hyper-Threading: eight cores yield eight threads. Lower base clocks separate it from the K, with peak boost close behind. The TDP is 65 W on the 14 nm process.
Intel UHD Graphics 630 cover display output, at up to 1.20 GHz. The multiplier is locked. The launch price was $323 (Intel RCP). On memory tuning, Z390 and Z370 boards accept XMP kits past DDR4-2666 while H-series and B-series boards hold narrower ranges.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 9700 fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards only. Z390 and B365 boards accept it with the shipping BIOS. Z370, H370, B360, H310 and Q370 boards need a BIOS update carrying 9th Gen support. Revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets never support it.
Since the multiplier is locked, B360 and H370 boards are the natural home. Z-series boards add memory profiles and ports rather than overclocking headroom. Office builds on Q370 boards use the same chip.
Check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS on early Z370 stock.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s officially. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. DDR4 boards reuse older kits, while faster XMP kits run on boards that accept them.
The CPU supplies 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the processor. Integrated graphics drive office displays without a card, and fast storage hangs off chipset lanes.
At 65 W base with boosts past it, basic cooling suffices with airflow while a tower cooler runs quieter. Mounting uses the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.
Eight cores, no threading, revision 2 only
The missing Hyper-Threading defines this chip against the i7 chips around it. The 8th Gen i7 had 6 cores with threading for twelve threads, while the 10th Gen i7 restored threading for sixteen. The 9700 sits between them with eight physical cores and no threading, which favors games over renders.
The LGA 1151 revision split still applies: revision 2 boards only, never 100 or 200 series. Within revision 2 the upgrade ceiling is the Intel Core i9-9900K, which adds threading back on top of similar clocks.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i7-9700K, the 9700 trades base clocks and overclocking for a 65 W rating and a lower price, with neither chip offering threading. Against the Intel Core i7-8700K, it adds two physical cores while dropping threading, on newer 300 series boards.
Moving to LGA 1200 needs a new board while keeping DDR4. The 9700 fits an office PC, a family PC with creation side tasks, or a quiet build that keeps integrated graphics.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i7-9700 use?
It uses LGA 1151 on revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets, written FCLGA1151 in Intel's documents.
Does the 9700 have Hyper-Threading?
No. Like the rest of the 9th Gen i7 line, the 9700 has no Hyper-Threading, so 8 cores give 8 threads.
Does the 9700 run in a Z270 motherboard?
No. Z270 and other 100 and 200 series boards are revision 1 and never support 9th Gen processors.
What memory speed does the 9700 support?
Officially up to DDR4-2666. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking.
What cooling and graphics does the 9700 need?
At 65 W base the stock cooling approach works with airflow, while integrated graphics cover office displays without a card.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .