Intel Core i9-11980HK
Also called intel core i9-11980hk, core i9-11980hk, i9-11980hk, core-i9-11980hk
Intel Core i9 laptop processor on Tiger Lake, with 8 cores and 16 threads and 1280 KB L2, 24 MB L3 at 65 W TDP on a 10 nm process addressing up to 128 GB and Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel Processors.
What you need to know
Still a capable laptop cpu.
Intel Core i9-11980HK launched in April 1, 2021., It has 8 cores and 16 threads on Tiger Lake, dropping into the FCBGA1787 socket. It is no longer the newest SKU in every store, but the chip is still useful when the rest of the PC keeps up.
- Still good?
- Yes, for most work this class is sold for
- Product age
- 5 years old
- Upgrade pressure
- Low to moderate
What this hardware means today
Age and usefulness are not the same number. This page keeps them separate.
- Performance today
- Very Good. Laptop performance depends on the OEM power limit as much as this SKU name.
- Product age 5 years old
- Aging. Launched April 1, 2021. Newer platforms exist. That does not make this chip unusable by itself.
- Support status
- Supported. Current Windows and current applications still run on this class of CPU. Platform BIOS support depends on the motherboard or laptop vendor.
- Upgrade pressure
- Low to moderate. Upgrade pressure comes from platform features and specific CPU-bound work, not from the chip being unusable.
Where does it sit?
Tiger Lake sits on Intel's recent Core timeline. Later desktop branding moved toward Core Ultra.
Performance context
These are qualitative readings, not a fake 8.7 out of 10. Workload still wins.
Gaming: Very Good
Fine when the laptop GPU is the limit. CPU names on thin laptops often are not.
Productivity: Very Good
8 cores cover office, browser, and compile work in this class.
Multithreaded workloads: Good
16 threads. Heavy encodes still scale further on higher-core parts.
General use: Excellent
Everyday Windows use is not where most people notice this SKU first.
Efficiency: Depends on the laptop
The same SKU in two laptops can draw very different power. Read the device, not the CPU name alone.
Should you upgrade?
Probably not based on CPU performance alone.
Upgrade makes more sense if
- Your workload is strongly CPU limited
- You need a newer platform for memory, I/O, or chipset features
- You need substantially more multicore performance
- You are buying a whole new laptop anyway
Upgrade makes less sense if
- The GPU is the real bottleneck
- Current applications are already responsive
- The CPU rarely limits your workload
Specifications
Figures below follow the Feex Hardware Database record for this SKU. Fields without a recorded value are omitted.
Processor
Intel Core i9-11980HK is built on Tiger Lake using a 10 nm process.
| Manufacturer | Intel |
|---|---|
| Family | Core i9 |
| Architecture | Tiger Lake |
| Generation | 11th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors |
| Manufacturing process | 10 nm |
| Segment | Laptop |
Cores and threads
Intel Core i9-11980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads.
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| P-cores | 8 |
| Threads | 16 |
Clock speeds
Base clock is 2.6 GHz. Boost reaches 5.0 GHz.
| Base frequency | 2.6 GHz |
|---|---|
| Max boost | 5.0 GHz |
Cache
Cache on this sheet is 24 MB L3.
| L2 cache | 1280 KB |
|---|---|
| L3 cache | 24 MB |
| Total cache | 25.25 MB |
Memory
Intel Core i9-11980HK addresses 128 GB across 2 memory channels.
| Max capacity | 128 GB |
|---|---|
| Channels | 2 |
Package and power
Intel Core i9-11980HK uses the FCBGA1787 socket and a 65 W TDP.
| Socket | FCBGA1787 |
|---|---|
| TDP | 65 W |
| PCIe | Revision 4.0, 20 lanes |
Integrated graphics
Intel Core i9-11980HK includes Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel Processors.
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel Processors |
|---|
Market
Intel Core i9-11980HK launched April 1, 2021.
| Launch date | April 1, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Model | i9-11980HK |
Features
Intel Core i9-11980HK records 14 instruction sets on this sheet.
| Instruction sets | AES-NIAVX-512AVX2AVXFMASHAx86-64-v464-bit (x86-64)RDRANDRDSEEDSSE4.1SSE4.2x86-64-v3x86-64-v2 |
|---|---|
| Security | Control-flow Enforcement (CET)Execute Disable (NX)Boot GuardHardware RNGOS GuardSGXMode-Based Execute Control |
| Virtualization | Extended Page Tables (EPT)VT-d (DMA Remapping)VT-x (Hardware Virtualization) |
| AI acceleration | Gaussian Neural Accelerator |
Compatibility
| Socket | FCBGA1787 |
|---|---|
| Board | A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Check the motherboard CPU list and BIOS revision. |
| Memory | up to 128 GB |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel Processors |
A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Boards often need a BIOS update before a newer chip in the same socket will post.
Laptop power limits, cooling, and the OEM firmware matter as much as the model name.
Read the memory list on the board. The CPU can list more standards than one motherboard will accept.
No post after a CPU swap
Clear CMOS only after you confirm the board list includes this SKU and the BIOS is new enough. A supported name on a box is not the same as a flashed board.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Partially Verified. How we research.
- Feex Hardware Database · Specification source used for this sheet. CC BY 4.0.
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