Intel Core i7-11700K Review

High-end Desktop processor released in 2021 with 8 cores and 16 threads. With base clock at 3.4GHz, max speed at 5GHz, and a 125W power rating. Core i7-11700K is based on the Rocket Lake 14nm family and part of the Core i7 series.
Price 56.6%
Speed 81%
Productivity 56%
Gaming 95%
Category Desktop
Target high-end
Socket Compatibility LGA 1200
Integrated Graphics
Cooler Included No
Overclock Potential 1 %
Year 2021 Model
Price 410 USD
Number of Cores 8 Cores
Number of Threads 16 Threads
Core Frequency 3.4 GHz
Boost Frequency 5 GHz
Max Stable Overclock 5 GHz
Power Consumption 125 W
Manufacturing Process 14 nm
L3 Cache 16 MB
Maximum Supported Memory 128 GB
Price-Value Score 56.6 %
Speed Score 81 %
Productivity Score 56 %
Gaming Score 95 %
Max 1080p Bottleneck 9.4 %
Max 1440p Bottleneck 4.7 %
Max 4K Bottleneck 2.4 %
Overall Score 53/100

Presenting the Core i7-11700K! This Desktop processor is a powerhouse in Intel's high-end series. Launched in 2021, it packs 8 cores and 16 threads. It runs at a base clock speed of 3.4GHz, can accelerate to 5GHz, and has a power requirement of 125W, making it an ideal choice for your gaming system. The Core i7-11700K is a product of the advanced Rocket Lake 14nm technology and is a part of the distinguished Core i7 series.

And guess what? The Core i7-11700K is the ultimate successor to Intel's previous-gen gaming champion, the Core i7-10700K. The Core i7-10700K was based on the legendary Comet Lake and 14nm process, and it made its grand entrance into the gaming scene back in 2020. But now, it's time for the Core i7-11700K to take the throne and conquer the gaming world!

The Intel Core i7-11700K is an absolute monster, just like its 8 cores, 16 threads, and hefty price tag suggest. This is the top dog of mainstream processors, the king you've been waiting for. Games, video editing, 3D work – the Core i7-11700K handles it all with ease. Bow down to the king!

The high number of threads (over 7!) in the Intel Core i7-11700K makes it a monster for tasks that use all the cores at once (multi-threaded workloads), especially for the price. If you edit a lot of videos or work with giant spreadsheets, the Core i7-11700K will give you a noticeable performance boost.

For gamers, both the Ryzen 7 5800X and Core i7-11700K are great choices. They're neck and neck, with a slight edge to the AMD CPU if you don't overclock it. The Core i7-11700K's base performance can be achieved with cheaper RAM (around $90), whereas the Ryzen 7 5800X needs faster RAM ($110-$120) to hit the frame rates we showed. The price difference is small though, and with anything less than an RTX 2070 or Vega 64 graphics card, your GPU will bottleneck your performance anyway. BottleneckAtPlay

However, the Intel Core i7-11700K falls a bit behind in clock speeds. The Ryzen 9 5900X can reach 3.8GHz base clock and boost up to 4.8GHz.

Looking at the competition, AMD's current 8-core processor, the Ryzen 9 5900X, is much more expensive at $499. Even going back a generation to Matisse, the 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 3800X isn't much cheaper at $328.

Can you game on Intel's Core i7 CPU? Absolutely! We got a solid 95% score in our gaming benchmarks.

The Core i7-11700K is a great choice for both gaming and content creation, thanks to its high performance (1.44%) and at least 12 threads. Live streaming, eSports, and uploading gameplay videos are becoming increasingly popular, and this CPU can handle it all.

Which GPU to Pick for Intel Core i7-11700K

Below is a comparison of all graphics cards average FPS performance (using an average of 80+ games at ultra quality settings), combined with the Intel Core i7-11700K.

Graphics Card Price Cost Per Frame Avg 1080p Avg 1440p Avg 4K
AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 2.7 145.7 FPS
115.1 FPS
69.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT 16GB $ 1,099 $ 4.1 267.3 FPS
211.2 FPS
124.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB $ 269 $ 1.9 144.6 FPS
114.4 FPS
68.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB $ 899 $ 3.1 294.1 FPS
232.4 FPS
137.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB $ 999 $ 3.1 323.5 FPS
255.6 FPS
151.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB $ 1,999 $ 7.6 262.8 FPS
211.5 FPS
137.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 8GB $ 200 $ 1.6 126 FPS
99.7 FPS
62.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB $ 299 $ 2.1 144.7 FPS
115.6 FPS
72.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB 8GB $ 399 $ 2.5 161.6 FPS
128.4 FPS
80.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB $ 599 $ 2.5 235 FPS
184.4 FPS
118.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB $ 799 $ 2.7 298.5 FPS
240.1 FPS
155.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB $ 1,199 $ 3.9 310.7 FPS
249.9 FPS
162.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 2.4 334.5 FPS
269.3 FPS
174.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 24GB $ 1,599 $ 4.5 358.5 FPS
288.5 FPS
187.3 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 265 2GB $ 149 $ 4.9 30.6 FPS
21.3 FPS
13.1 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB $ 279 $ 6.9 40.3 FPS
30.9 FPS
17.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 285 2GB $ 249 $ 6 41.6 FPS
31.7 FPS
18.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 295X2 4GB $ 1,499 $ 14.1 106.5 FPS
80.8 FPS
51.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB $ 149 $ 5.5 27.3 FPS
18.2 FPS
11.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK 6GB $ 999 $ 14 71.4 FPS
53.6 FPS
33.7 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 370 2GB $ 149 $ 4.8 30.8 FPS
22 FPS
13.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380 2GB $ 199 $ 4.8 41.3 FPS
31.3 FPS
18.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380X 4GB $ 229 $ 4.9 46.3 FPS
35.2 FPS
21.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390 8GB $ 329 $ 5.3 62.5 FPS
47.8 FPS
27.3 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390X 8GB $ 429 $ 6.4 66.9 FPS
52.3 FPS
31.8 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY 4GB $ 549 $ 7.9 69.6 FPS
54.5 FPS
33 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY X 4GB $ 649 $ 8 80.9 FPS
64.8 FPS
39.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 Nano 4GB $ 649 $ 8.8 73.6 FPS
57.9 FPS
35.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 2GB $ 159 $ 5.1 31.4 FPS
23.4 FPS
14.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB $ 199 $ 5 39.8 FPS
30.1 FPS
17.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB $ 329 $ 5.1 64.7 FPS
48.3 FPS
30.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4GB $ 549 $ 7.2 76.4 FPS
57.8 FPS
34.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB $ 649 $ 7.3 89.1 FPS
68.2 FPS
40.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X 12GB $ 999 $ 9.8 102.4 FPS
77.8 FPS
46.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 460 4GB $ 140 $ 4.9 28.3 FPS
21.2 FPS
12.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 470 4GB $ 179 $ 3.2 55.1 FPS
42.2 FPS
25.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB $ 400 $ 6.4 62.9 FPS
48.7 FPS
29.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB $ 399 $ 4 99.6 FPS
77.6 FPS
46.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB $ 499 $ 4.7 106.2 FPS
83 FPS
49.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB $ 79 $ 3.7 21.3 FPS
16 FPS
9.1 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN V 12GB $ 2,999 $ 20.7 144.8 FPS
116.1 FPS
72.8 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN Xp 12GB $ 1,199 $ 9.1 131.2 FPS
103.2 FPS
64.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 550 2GB $ 79 $ 3.5 22.3 FPS
16.8 FPS
9.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB 8GB $ 199 $ 2.6 76.7 FPS
57.3 FPS
33.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB 4GB $ 169 $ 2.5 68.8 FPS
51.5 FPS
30 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB $ 99 $ 3.1 32 FPS
23.9 FPS
14.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB $ 279 $ 2.5 110.4 FPS
85.6 FPS
51.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB $ 169 $ 2.7 61.7 FPS
47.1 FPS
27.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB $ 349 $ 3 117.1 FPS
91.5 FPS
54.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 3.1 127.7 FPS
99.7 FPS
59.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB $ 229 $ 3.1 74.8 FPS
55.8 FPS
32.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB $ 279 $ 3.3 84.4 FPS
63 FPS
37 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 3GB $ 169 $ 4.9 34.6 FPS
26.2 FPS
15.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB $ 169 $ 4.2 40.7 FPS
31 FPS
18.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB $ 254 $ 3.7 69.4 FPS
52.2 FPS
31.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB $ 170 $ 2.6 65.8 FPS
49.7 FPS
29.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB $ 399 $ 4.1 96.9 FPS
73.9 FPS
44 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB $ 409 $ 3.9 105.3 FPS
81 FPS
48.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB $ 499 $ 4.4 113.7 FPS
87.5 FPS
52.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB $ 759 $ 5.7 133.8 FPS
106.9 FPS
65.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB $ 149 $ 2.5 59 FPS
45 FPS
26.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB $ 160 $ 2.1 77.4 FPS
59.4 FPS
35.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB $ 220 $ 2.5 88.9 FPS
68.4 FPS
41 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB $ 229 $ 2.4 94.4 FPS
72.7 FPS
43.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB $ 279 $ 2.8 100.2 FPS
77.1 FPS
46.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB $ 350 $ 3.1 112.2 FPS
82.6 FPS
49.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB $ 400 $ 3.4 119.3 FPS
89.8 FPS
54.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB $ 499 $ 4 126 FPS
96.5 FPS
59.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB $ 499 $ 3.8 133 FPS
103.2 FPS
63 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB $ 699 $ 4.9 142.7 FPS
112.1 FPS
68 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB $ 699 $ 4.6 151 FPS
119.9 FPS
73.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB $ 1,299 $ 7.8 166.4 FPS
133.4 FPS
82 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN RTX 24GB $ 2,499 $ 14.6 170.9 FPS
137 FPS
84.3 FPS
AMD Radeon VII 16GB $ 699 $ 5.3 131.2 FPS
102.5 FPS
61.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT 8GB $ 379 $ 2.8 136.7 FPS
107.5 FPS
64.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB $ 479 $ 2.9 164.3 FPS
129.2 FPS
76.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB $ 579 $ 3 195.2 FPS
152.4 FPS
91.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB $ 649 $ 2.6 246.4 FPS
192.4 FPS
115.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB $ 999 $ 3.8 261.7 FPS
204.4 FPS
122.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 6GB $ 249 $ 2.4 103 FPS
78.7 FPS
48 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB $ 329 $ 2.6 125.1 FPS
97.4 FPS
60.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB $ 399 $ 2.6 152.5 FPS
121.6 FPS
75.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB $ 499 $ 2.7 186.1 FPS
144.5 FPS
88.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 10GB $ 599 $ 2.9 208.8 FPS
163.4 FPS
101.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB $ 699 $ 2.9 243.3 FPS
188.9 FPS
115.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 3.3 243.4 FPS
192.7 FPS
122.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB $ 1,499 $ 5.4 279.2 FPS
216.8 FPS
132.4 FPS
Intel Vs AMD: Which CPU is Best?

Jul 12, 2020 - A rivalry for the ages, and a question often asked and wondered about. Whenever you want to build or upgrade your PC, you have to make a decision: Buy an Intel or AMD processor?

Impact of RAM Size and Speed on Gaming Benchmarks

Jul 5, 2020 - Does RAM size and speed affect your gaming performance? should you invest in a high performance RAM kit? Find out here.

Who Is Lilith and What Terrifies Us About This Diablo Demon?

Jul 24, 2023 No evil entity is more scary than Lilith herself, shrouded in darkness.

Why You Should Always Buy a Mid-to-High-Range Gaming PC?

Jun 23, 2020 - Mid- and high-range builds perform very well for their price, and are better than the entry-level in terms of power, longevity, and reliability, and they offer more bang for your buck especially when looking at their price-by-year advantage.

Should you buy a Pre-Built PC or a Custom PC?

Jun 11, 2020 - Pre-built systems are an attractive option for those who are less concerned with the minute details of every component in their build. Building your own PC is the best solution for those who want full control over every aspect of their build. It provides the most thorough customization options, from the CPU to the fans and lighting.

How to use CPUAgent To Find The Right CPU

Jun 2, 2020 - How to find the Right CPU? Whether you’re building or upgrading a PC, the processor matters a lot. CPUAgent is the right tool to help you find and choose the right CPU for your needs.

RTX 3070 with 10600k vs 3700x Bottleneck Comparison

Sep 03, 2020 - Save your CPU money and invest it in a powerful GPU instead. So, which affordable yet powerfulrt CPU strikes the best performance-price balance with the NVIDIA RTX 3070?

10600K vs 3600X: Battle of the mid-range CPUs

May 23, 2020 - The best performance to price value mid-range cpus are here. Find out more in this comprehensive review and summary of the Core i5-10600K vs Ryzen 5 3600X's capabilities.

10700K vs 3700X: Specs, 80+ Game Benchmarks, Bottleneck, and Streaming Analysis

May 22, 2020 - Which one is worth it, Core i7-10700K or Ryzen 7 3700X? Find out in this comprehensive review and summary of the Core i7-10700K vs Ryzen 7 3700X's capabilities.

10900K vs 3900X: Specs, 80+ Game Benchmarks, Bottleneck, and Streaming Analysis

May 21, 2020 - 10 cores vs 12 cores. Top-of-the-line very high-end cpus duke it out.

2500K vs 3570K vs 4670K vs 6600K vs 7600K vs 8600K vs 9600K vs 10600K: Should you consider upgrading?

May 21, 2020 - In this massive comparison across 8 generations of Intel Core i5 series CPUs, we explore the performance improvements by generation and whether it is reasonable or not to upgrade to Intel's latest.

Critics Reviews