Intel Pentium 997 socket: BGA 1023
The Intel Pentium 997 uses the BGA 1023 package. It is a soldered 17 W dual core Sandy Bridge part for thin laptops and cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1023
- Launched
- September 2012
- Cores and threads
- 2 and 2
- Base power
- 17 W
- Codename
- Sandy Bridge
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Pentium
- Clocks
- 1.6 GHz
Intel Pentium 997 specifications
| Cores | 2 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 2 |
| Core architecture | Sandy Bridge cores on 32 nm |
| Clocks | 1.6 GHz (no turbo) |
| Cache | 2 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 17 W |
| Manufacturing process | 32 nm |
| Memory support | DDR3-1066 and 1333, two channels, up to 16 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 2.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel HD Graphics (350 MHz to 1000 MHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | BGA 1023 (FCBGA, 1023 balls, 31 × 24 mm, soldered) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Pentium 997 needs a motherboard with a BGA 1023 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1023 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
BGA 1023 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,023 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 31 × 24 mm |
| Introduced | January 2011 |
| Memory | DDR3 and DDR3L, two channels, 1066 to 1600 MT/s |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Pentium 997 is
Intel Pentium 997 is a dual core Sandy Bridge mobile processor that Intel released in September 2012 for thin soldered laptops. It runs at a fixed 1.6 GHz with no turbo and no Hyper-Threading, so 2 cores give 2 threads. Cache is 2 MB Intel Smart Cache. Power is rated at 17 W on a 32 nm process. The 200 MHz step over the 977 is the only change in kind.
Graphics are Intel HD Graphics for Sandy Bridge at 350 MHz to 1000 MHz. The block covers thin laptop displays without a card. The controller takes DDR3 at 1066 or 1333 MT/s.
Late 2012 thin bodies pair it with HM76 class boards and small SSDs for quiet classroom use. Fixed clocks keep behavior steady across fleets. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows how to confirm the soldered package.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The Pentium 997 solders to BGA 1023 with 1,023 balls in a 31 by 24 mm footprint and cannot be moved. Thin makers qualify each model with a fixed board and BIOS, so another BGA part is not a field swap.
The BIOS must list the exact Pentium 997 string. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains why that list matters more than the chipset name.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
Memory support is DDR3-1066 and 1333, two channels, up to 16 GB. Soldered RAM locks size at purchase on the thinnest bodies. Two channels help shared graphics.
PCI Express is 16 lanes from the CPU at PCIe 2.0 for Wi-Fi and storage. No graphics slot exists at 17 W.
Cooling is a slim 17 W spreader and fan. Cleaning keeps fan noise down under office loads.
Upgrade paths
There is no CPU upgrade path on soldered BGA 1023. The Pentium 997 cannot be removed, so a faster thin laptop means a new board or a new device. A nearby soldered dual is Intel Pentium 977, though boards rarely cross models.
A platform move means a new thin laptop on a current BGA package. Keep the old body for spare duty after a wipe.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Pentium 997 use?
It uses BGA 1023, a soldered package. The chip cannot be removed.
How is the Pentium 997 different from the 977?
Base is 1.6 GHz instead of 1.4 GHz. Cache, power and graphics match.
What memory does the Pentium 997 use?
DDR3-1066 and 1333, two channels, up to 16 GB.
Can the Pentium 997 be upgraded?
No. Soldered BGA parts need a board or laptop replacement for more speed.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .