Frequently Asked Questions About Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors
Review the most frequently asked questions about Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors. Get an overview and learn about integration, compatibility, memory, and supported features.
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About
Which Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors have Intel Graphics?
Processor | Supported Graphics |
10th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-10700xx Processors | Intel® UHD Graphics 630 |
9th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-9700xx Processors | Intel® UHD Graphics 630 |
8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-87xx Processors | Intel® UHD Graphics 630 |
7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-77xx Processors | Intel® HD Graphics 630 |
6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-6785R Processors | Intel® Iris® Pro 580 |
6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-6xxx Processors | Intel® HD Graphics 530 |
5th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-5775C Processors | Intel® Iris® Pro 6200 |
4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4xxx Processors | Intel® HD Graphics 4600 |
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-37xx Processors | Intel® HD Graphics 2500/4000 |
2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-2xxx Processors | Intel® HD Graphics 2000/3000 |
Which Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors do not have the Intel® Graphics?
The following Intel® Desktop Processors do not support Intel® Graphics and they require a discrete video card.
Do Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors support Intel® Turbo Boost Technology?
All Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors support Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
Are there any new chassis requirements for the Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor platform?
No, there are no new chassis requirements for the Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor platform. We highly recommend using a Thermally Advantaged Chassis (TAC).
Can my 16-bit application run with the 4th, 5th, and 6th Generation Intel® Processors?
Note | Document 325462; Intel® 64-bit and IA-32 Intel® Architectures Software Developer’s Manual. Section 21.2, Performance: Always use 32-bit code segments when possible. They run much faster than 16-bit code segments on P6 family Processors, and somewhat faster on earlier IA-32 Processors. |
- 64-bit operating systems don't support 16-bit components, 16-bit processes, or 16-bit applications
- 16-bit applications and software aren't validated on 4th Generation Intel® Processor families
- 16-bit may run on 32-bit operating systems, but it's not optimized for 32-bit OS
- Consult with your software vendor for a 32-bit or 64-bit version to use with the newer hardware and operating system
Integration
Where can I find processor installation instructions?
Visit the Intel® Processor Installation Support Center for more information on installation and socket integration.
What thermal solution should I use for the Intel® Core™ i7-9700K, i7-9700KF, i7-8700K, i7-8086K, i7-7700K, and i7-6700K Processors?
The Intel® Core™ i7-9700K, i7-9700KF, i7-8700K, i7-8086K, i7-7700K, and i7-6700K Processors require a thermal solution for a 130W Processor Thermal Design Power (TDP). These processors have a thermal envelope of 130W and a power consumption of 95W except i7-7700K which has 91W.
What thermal solution should I use for the Intel® Core™ i7-9800X Processor?
The Intel® Core™ i7-9800X Processor requires a thermal solution for a 165 Watt Processor Thermal Design Power (TDP).What thermal solution should I use for the Intel® Core™ i7-7800X and i7-7820X Processors?
The Intel® Core™ i7-7800X and i7-7820X Processors require a thermal solution for a 140 Watt Processor Thermal Design Power (TDP).Can I update my Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor?
It depends. First, check that the socket of your desktop board supports your processor package type. You can get this information from your desktop board manufacturer.
Once you find the model number of your desktop board, visit the appropriate support page on the manufacturer support site. The site typically lists supported processors for your board. Use the Intel® Desktop Compatibility Tool to see if your board supports your new processor.
Compatibility
What sockets do Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors use?
Processor | Socket Used |
Intel® Core™ i7-8xx Processors | LGA1156 |
Intel® Core™ i7-9xx Processors | LGA1366 |
Intel® Core™ i7-2xxx / i7-37xx Processors | LGA1155 |
Intel® Core™ i7-37xx / i7-47xx / i7-5775C Processors | LGA1150 |
Intel® Core™ i7-38xx / i7-39xx / i7-48xx / i7-49xx Processors | LGA2011 |
Intel® Core™ i7-5820K / i7-5930K / i7-6800K / i7-6850K / I7-6900K Processors | LGA2011-v3 |
Intel® Core™ i7-67xx Processors | LGA1151 |
Intel® Core™ i7-6785R Processors | BGA1440 |
Intel® Core™ i7-77xx Processors | LGA1151 |
Intel® Core™ i7-7740X Processor | LGA2066 |
Intel® Core™ i7-78xxX Processors | LGA2066 |
Intel® Core™ i7-9700xx, and i7-87xx Processors | LGA11511 |
Intel® Core™ i7-9800X Processor | LGA2066 |
Intel® Core™ i7-10xxx Processors | LGA1200 |
1Requires Intel® 300 Series Chipset motherboards to deliver the rated performance.
- Fan heatsinks for the LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, and LGA1156 sockets are compatible if the processor thermal and power requirements are the same.
- Fan heatsinks for the LGA2011 and LGA2011-v3 sockets are also compatible if the processor thermal and power requirements are the same.
What are the compatibility concerns for Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors that use the LGA1151 socket?
Intel® Core™ i7-87xx Desktop Processors use a chipset based on the Intel® 300 Series Chipset Boards. Intel® Core™ i7-67xx and i7-77xx Desktop Processors use a chipset based on the Intel® 100 and 200 Series Chipset Boards. The i7-87xx processors are NOT compatible with Intel® 100 and 200 Series Chipset Boards.
We recommend you check with your board manufacturer. Confirm your desktop board supports the processor you want to use.
What are the compatibility concerns for Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors that use the LGA1155 socket?
Intel® Core™ i7-2xxx Desktop Processors use a chipset based on the Intel® 6 Series Chipset Boards. Intel® Core™ i7-3xxx Desktop Processors use a chipset based on the Intel® 7 Series Chipset Boards. The processors are backward and forward compatible with some notable exceptions.
We recommend you check with your board manufacturer. Confirm your desktop board supports the processor you want to use.
If you're installing an Intel® Core™ i7-3xxx Processor into a desktop board based on the Intel® 6 Series Chipsets, you may need an updated BIOS, ME8 firmware, and drivers. Always check with your desktop board manufacturer for supported processors and the recommended update process.
What are the compatibility concerns for Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors that use the LGA2011 / LGA2011-v3 sockets?
LGA2011 socket compatibility
The following processors are compatible with the LGA2011 socket. They're backward and forward compatible if the board manufacturer provided a BIOS update with the processor microcode updates. Check with your board manufacturer to confirm your board is compatible with the processor you intend to use.
- 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3820K, i7-3930K, and i7-3960X Processors
- 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4820K, i7-4930K, and i7-4960X Processors
Note | These processors aren't compatible with the LGA2011-v3 socket. |
LGA2011-v3 socket compatibility
The following processors are compatible with the LGA2011-v3 socket. They're backward and forward compatible if the board manufacturer provided a BIOS update with the processor microcode updates. Check with your board manufacturer to confirm your board is compatible with the processor you intend to use.
- Intel® Core™ i7-5960X Processor Extreme Edition, Intel® Core™ i7-5930K Processor, and Intel® Core™ i7-5820K Processor
- Intel® Core™ i7-6950X Processor Extreme Edition, Intel® Core™ i7-6900K Processor, Intel® Core™ i7-6850K Processor, and Intel® Core™ i7-6800K Processor
Note | These processors aren't compatible with the LGA2011 socket. |
To find out more about board and processor compatibility, go to the Intel® Desktop Compatibility Tool.
What desktop boards is the Intel® Core™ i7-4790K compatible with?
The Intel® Core™ i7-4790K Processor is compatible with Intel® Desktop Boards with Intel® 9 Series Chipsets (Z97, H97). Check with your desktop board manufacturer for i7-4790K compatibility based on the Intel® 8 Series Chipsets.
Memory
What are the Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor DDR3 / DDR4 memory voltage limitations?
We recommend using memory that adheres to the JEDEC memory specification. Anything over this voltage can damage the processor or significantly reduce processor life span.
- For DDR3 memory: 1.5 volts, plus or minus 5%
- For DDR3L memory: 1.35 volts, plus or minus 5%
- For DDR4 memory: 1.2 volts, plus or minus 5%
What is the maximum frequency for DDR3 / DDD4 memory for Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors?
Processor | Memory supported | Maximum frequency |
Intel® Core™ i7-9xx Processors | 3 channels of DDR3 memory | 800/1066 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-8xx/i7-2xxx Processors | 2 channels of DDR3 memory | 1066/1333 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-37xx/i7-47xx Processors | 2 channels of DDR3 memory | 1333/1600 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-3820/i7-3930K Processors | 4 channels of DDR3 memory | 1066/1333/1600 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-47xx / i7-5775C Processors | 2 channels of DDR3 / DDR3L memory | 1333/1600 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-4820K/i7-4930K Processors | 4 channels of DDR3 memory | 1600/1833 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-5830K/i7-5920K Processors | 4 channels of DDR4 memory | 1333/1600/1833/2133 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-5775C Processor | DDR3L memory | 1600 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-5775R Processor | 2 channels of DDR3L memory | 1833 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-68xx / i7-69xx Processors | 2 channels of DDR4 memory | 2133 MHz |
2 channels of DDR3L memory | 1600 MHz | |
The Intel® Core™ i7-68xx / i7-69xx Processors | Up to 4 channels of DDR4 memory | 2400 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-77xx Processors | 2 channels of DDR4 memory | 2400 MHz |
2 channels of DDR3L memory | 1600 MHz | |
Intel® Core™ i7-7740X Processors | 2 channels of DDR4 memory | 2666 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-7800X Processor | Up to 4 channels of DDR4 memory | 2400 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-7820X Processor | Up to 4 channels of DDR4 memory | 2666 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-9700K, i7-87XX Processors | Up to 2 channels of DDR4 memory | 2666 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-9800X Processor | Up to 4 channels of DDR4 memory | 2666 MHz |
Intel® Core™ i7-10xxx Processors | Up to 2 channels of DDR4 memory | 2933 MHz |
Does the Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor support Error Correction Code (ECC) memory?
ECC support depends on the motherboard and chipset. If your processor is supporting ECC, you need to check with your motherboard vendor to see if they are also supporting it.
Supported Features
Does the Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor family support Intel® Turbo Boost Technology?
All Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors support Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
Learn about Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and see Intel® Turbo Boost Technology frequently asked questions.
Does the Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor family support Intel® Turbo Boost Max 3.0 Technology?
The specific SKUs that support this product are:
- Intel® Core™ i7-68xx and i7-69xx processor series (Desktop processor)
- Intel® Core™ i7-7820X Processor (Desktop processor)
- Intel® Core™ i7-9800X Processor (Desktop processor)
- Intel® Core™ i7-10xxx Processor (Desktop processor)
Related topics |
Intel® Processor Installation Center |
Comparison Charts for Intel® Core™ Desktop Processor Family |
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology Frequently Asked Questions |