Intel Pentium Gold 5405U socket: BGA 1528
The Intel Pentium Gold 5405U uses BGA 1528, a soldered package for Whiskey Lake-U thin laptops. The dual core 15 W chip cannot be replaced.
- Socket
- BGA 1528
- Launched
- January 2019
- Cores and threads
- 2 and 4
- Base power
- 15 W
- Codename
- Whiskey Lake-U
- Segment
- Mobile (soldered)
- Family
- Intel Pentium Gold
- Clocks
- 2.3 / 2.3 GHz
Intel Pentium Gold 5405U specifications
| Cores | 2 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 4 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 2.3 GHz base, no Turbo Boost (max 2.3 GHz) |
| Cache | 2 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 15 W |
| Configurable TDP | 12.5 W down (800 MHz) |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2133 and LPDDR3-1866, two channels, up to 64 GB |
| PCI Express | 12 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 2.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 8th Generation Intel Processors (300 MHz base, up to 950 MHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Not supported |
| Package | FCBGA1528 (46 by 24 mm, soldered) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Pentium Gold 5405U needs a motherboard with a BGA 1528 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the BGA 1528 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | Entry 1080p laptop (2019 era) |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce MX130, GeForce MX150 Laptop |
| Target resolution | 1080p high settings (internal display) |
Two cores with four threads, PCIe 2.0 with 12 lanes, DDR4-2133 memory, and first quarter 2019 launch timing suit entry 1080p laptop graphics from 2019. The GPU cannot be changed in most chassis. A faster external GPU still works through Thunderbolt, but the internal 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.
BGA 1528 at a glance
| Type | BGA, 1,528 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 46 × 24 mm |
| Introduced | August 2018 |
| Memory | DDR4-2133 to DDR4-2666, LPDDR3-1866 and LPDDR3-2133 plus LPDDR4-2933, two channels, up to 64 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
What the Pentium Gold 5405U is
The Pentium Gold 5405U is a dual core, four thread Whiskey Lake-U laptop processor. It launched in the first quarter of 2019 with a fixed 2.3 GHz clock and no Turbo Boost at 15 W. Hyper-Threading doubles its two cores to four threads for smoother office multitasking than Celeron parts.
Two megabytes of Smart Cache back documents, video calls and browser tab sets. The extra threads over the Celeron 4305U help meet apps and background sync run together without stutter. The fixed 2.3 GHz clock keeps timing steady for classroom and counter duty across long shifts.
UHD Graphics for 8th Generation Intel Processors with 300 MHz base and up to 950 MHz burst drives the internal panel for study and media. The 50 MHz graphics edge over Celeron value parts aids video playback and calls. The 14 nm die carries Quick Sync for conferencing encode and light editing.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 5405U is soldered to BGA 1528 at 46 by 24 mm and cannot be replaced. Laptop boards define memory type, storage and battery policy for the life of the machine. There is no socket and no CPU swap, so thread count locks at order time.
Value thin lines pair the chip with low cost boards for school, retail and office fleets. Memory is SODIMM slots on serviceable bodies or soldered LPDDR on thinner ones for lightness. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows where maker specs list the package line. Buyers compare thread count and memory options per chassis before fleet orders.
BGA 1440 performance boards and LGA desktop boards cannot host the chip. The low power ball map and firmware are unique to BGA 1528 thin designs, and power delivery targets 15 W rather than 45 W. Chargers and docks follow the thin and light budget for carts and shared desks.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR4-2133 SODIMMs plus LPDDR3-1866 soldered options cover this Pentium SKU, with up to 64 GB in two channels. Office builds ship 8 GB with room to grow where slots exist. Dual channel mode helps the threaded office load and integrated graphics during calls. Offices order 8 GB pairs per desk and keep spares for fast swaps. Dual channel checks during setup avoid single channel slowdowns.
Twelve PCIe 2.0 lanes wire for NVMe SSDs and board devices in thin layouts. Value boards typically give x2 or x4 to a single SSD for fast boot and app loads. Networking and card readers share the rest through maker splits for office connectivity.
Cooling is a small heat pipe and fan for 15 W, quiet under office loads and silent at idle. The 12.5 W down mode at 800 MHz suits sealed bodies with limited vents. Service is fan cleaning per maker guide, never a cooler swap like socketed desktops. Dust filters and vent clearance keep meeting room machines quiet for years.
Upgrade paths
Soldered BGA leaves no CPU path for the life of the laptop. Memory to 8 GB or 16 GB and a larger SSD are the practical office upgrades that lift multitasking. Battery service restores travel time for mobile staff with aging cells. Asset tags track battery age across the fleet for planned swaps. Reimage during holidays to keep startup lean and calls smooth.
A laptop change to Core i3 Whiskey Lake-U adds Turbo Boost in the same BGA 1528 family, while the Celeron Intel Celeron 4305U sits below for lighter duty. A shift to Core i5 adds two more cores for heavier multitasking and photo work.
For fleets, threaded value matters at this tier. The four threads of the 5405U keep video calls smooth beside documents, which fixed dual thread Celerons cannot match during busy school days. Standardize office images with lean startup apps to hold that smoothness across semesters.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Pentium Gold 5405U use?
It uses BGA 1528 soldered to the thin laptop board. The dual core 15 W chip cannot be replaced.
Does the 5405U support Hyper-Threading?
Yes, two cores with four threads through Hyper-Threading, unlike the two thread Celeron U parts.
What memory fits 5405U laptops?
DDR4-2133 or LPDDR3-1866 in two channels up to 64 GB. ECC is not supported on this value SKU.
When did the 5405U launch?
First quarter of 2019 with the Whiskey Lake-U Pentium Gold laptop line for offices and schools.
What graphics does the 5405U use?
UHD Graphics for 8th Generation Intel Processors at 300 MHz base with up to 950 MHz burst.
Sources and verification
- Intel Pentium Gold 5405U specifications (Intel)
- Intel UHD Graphics 610 GPU benchmarks and specs (Notebookcheck, 5405U 300/950)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .