Intel Core i9-11900K

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Intel Core i9-11900K
The Core i9 11900K only has a few frame rate wins to show for itself. It's not tangibly quicker than the last-gen i9—in fact, it's notably slower in multithreaded processing power—has a weaker specs sheet, costs more, and is far more thirsty. And Comet Lake itself was already pretty demanding on that front. You shouldn't buy a Core i9 11900K, because there are objectively better chips on offer from AMD or even Intel's previous generation.
- As reviewed by PCGamer on Mar 2021
8
Cores
16
Threads
3.5 GHz
Base Clock
5.3 GHz
Boost Clock
Socket LGA 1200
Socket
125 W
TDP
Intel UHD Graphics 750
Integrated Graphics
$420
Price
Release date:Mar 30, 2021Price at Launch:$593
Cores:8Threads:16
Base Clock:3.5 GHzBoost Clock:5.3 GHz
Type:DesktopMultithreading:Yes
L2 Cache:4 MBL3 Cache:16 MB
Box Cooler:NoTDP:125 W
Socket:Socket LGA 1200Memory Support:DDR4-3200
Codename:Rocket LakeProcess Size:14 nm
Integrated Graphics:YesiGPU Model:Intel UHD Graphics 750
NPU:NoPCIe Support:PCIe 4.0, 20 lanes
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
A newer model is available:
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Performance Benchmarks

All benchmark data reflects aggregated results from dozens of tests conducted in TechSpot’s labs and compiled from our full library of CPU reviews. Single-core productivity scores are based primarily on Cinebench and Adobe Photoshop workloads. Multi-core results draw from Cinebench, Blender, Corona Benchmark, 7-Zip, Adobe Premiere Pro, and shader compilation tests. CPU gaming benchmarks are all 1080p runs (explainer) as published on TechSpot.

Single-Core Productivity

Multi-Core Productivity

Gaming Performance

Price History

Intel Core i9-11900K pricing

Last 6 months
Price Date
Current $420 Dec 15, 2025
Highest* $659 Dec 1, 2025
Lowest* $379 Aug 22, 2025
Average $437
* Prices are based on listings from Newegg and other major retailers over the past 12+ months.
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Reviews and Ratings

71

Average Score

Based on 16 reviews

9.2

User Score

Based on 1,557 reviews

Reviewers Liked

  • Support for PCIe 4.0
  • Slightly faster gaming fps than AMD
  • Compatible with existing Z490 motherboards
  • New overclocking features
  • Core i9-11900K plus Z590 plus Adaptive Boost equals 5.1GHz on all cores

Reviewers Didn't Like

  • Multi-threaded performance can't compete with AMD
  • Early stumbles in BIOS
  • Runs hot and power-hungry
  • Requires (not-included) liquid cooling for optimal operation
  • Power draw is too high
  • Only eight cores (vs. ten on i9-10900K)

All the data we've gathered provides real insight into how AMD and Intel CPU architectures compared over the past decade for gaming. We've seen AMD come from nowhere to often beating Intel, while the latter has made smaller steps in pure architecture...

By TechSpot on
60

The Core i9-11900K is Intel's flagship offering in their new Rocket Lake-S desktop CPU series. Earlier this week we reviewed another new Rocket Lake processor, the mid-range Core i5-11600K and found it to be a decent offering. Although at the MSRP it's...

By TechSpot on
60

If high-end gaming is what you're after, then your focus should still be a GPU upgrade. With a good graphic card having so much more impact on gaming frame rates than your CPU, even an 11th Gen Core i7 or an AMD Ryzen 7 processor will provide plentiful...

By hardwarezone.com.sg on
80

Intel seems to have made some significant improvements core-for-core in 11th Gen processors over 10th Gen processors. However, the Intel Core i9-11900K is not a worthy upgrade but the Intel Core i5-10600K is. And the integrated graphics is certainly a...

By Digit on
90

If things had gone according to plan for Intel many years ago, the 11th Gen Core family would have been a very different product, possibly based on a 7nm or even smaller process. Intel certainly wouldn't have wanted to regress in terms of core count for...

By Gadgets360 on
60

The Core i9-11900K is impressive in gaming and lightly-threaded work, but it trails the Ryzen 9 5900X tremendously in threaded work and doesn't cement itself well enough in gaming to justify the premium price...

By Tom's Hardware on
80

What is 11th-gen Rocket Lake?Thanks to endless leaks, almost everything you need to know about Rocket Lake-S is already out there. The gist is that Rocket Lake is the last lap for Intel's aging 14nm manufacturing process, first introduced in 2014—yes,...

By PCWorld New Zealand on
60

At $550, the Core i9-11900K is roughly priced the same as the Core i9-10900K. At that price point, there is simply no way this is a worthy investment. You're much better off spending that money on the Ryzen 5900X, which costs $550, too. Huge competition also comes from Intel's Core i9-10850K, which costs only $380 and basically matches the Core i9-11900K. Another interesting alternative is AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X, which isn't as overpriced as the 5900X, yet offers better gaming performance and enough application performance for nearly all usage scenarios.

By TechPowerUp on
95

Intel delivers the 11900K processor as a premium Rocket Lake SKU, binned from the cleanest silicon to offer top clock speeds and advanced boost technologies.

By TweakTown on
60

The Intel Core i9-11900K may be the most powerful processor in the world when it comes to gaming, but it's only marginally superior to alternative chips that are significantly cheaper. And with AMD continuing to dominate the desktop processor market for...

By Trusted Reviews on
70

Die-hard gamers and Intel loyalists can safely opt for the "Rocket Lake" Core i9-11900K, Intel's mainstream 11th Generation flagship desktop CPU. But a regression in core count and only modest performance upside add luster to AMD Ryzen 5000 and Intel...

By PC Mag on
70

It's here! Intel's long awaited 11th generation i9, sporting a 19% IPC improvement, all new Cypress Cove cores, higher boost clocks and faster 3200MHz memory support out the box, and PCIe Gen 4 too! That 19% number isn't just marketing either, in my...

By techteamgb.co.uk on
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