PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i9-11900KF

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.9 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($513 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $214 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
✅Delivers 97.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 47.9 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11900KF across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,300 vs 15,500).

Core i9-11900KF

2021

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $214 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
✅Delivers 97.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 47.9 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.9 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($513 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11900KF across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,300 vs 15,500).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900KF better than Ryzen 5 7600X?

Yes. Core i9-11900KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 10.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-11900KF is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11900KF is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-11900KF is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 7600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-11900KF is 71.6% more expensive on MSRP at $513 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 7600X is also 97.7% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 47.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 7600X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 7600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB). That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i9-11900KF Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-11900KF	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	295 FPS	266 FPS
medium	261 FPS	246 FPS
high	220 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	242 FPS	226 FPS
medium	192 FPS	189 FPS
high	157 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	167 FPS	157 FPS
medium	135 FPS	131 FPS
high	104 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KF Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-11900KF	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	615 FPS	649 FPS
medium	527 FPS	524 FPS
high	457 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	601 FPS	544 FPS
medium	490 FPS	455 FPS
high	422 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	401 FPS	341 FPS
medium	339 FPS	290 FPS
high	320 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KF Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-11900KF	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	615 FPS	708 FPS
medium	615 FPS	652 FPS
high	615 FPS	571 FPS
ultra	563 FPS	484 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	708 FPS
medium	615 FPS	554 FPS
high	543 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	464 FPS	409 FPS
4K
low	577 FPS	463 FPS
medium	480 FPS	392 FPS
high	427 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	281 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KF Open Ryzen 5 7600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-11900KF	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	615 FPS	708 FPS
medium	615 FPS	708 FPS
high	615 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	615 FPS	708 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	708 FPS
medium	615 FPS	708 FPS
high	615 FPS	658 FPS
ultra	615 FPS	571 FPS
4K
low	615 FPS	560 FPS
medium	565 FPS	502 FPS
high	512 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	391 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KF Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-11900KF and Ryzen 5 7600X

Core i9-11900KF

The Core i9-11900KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 24,585 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-11900KF packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-11900KF has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-11900KF versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Core i9-11900KF uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900KF scores 24,585 against the Ryzen 5 7600X's 28,325 — a 14.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 15,500 vs 15,300 (1.3% advantage for the Core i9-11900KF). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900KF vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X.

Feature	Core i9-11900KF	Ryzen 5 7600X
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz	5.3 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4.7 GHz+34%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	6 MB+2300%
Process	14 nm	5 nm, 6 nm-64%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	24,585	28,325+15%
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,500+1%	15,300
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-11900KF uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i9-11900KF versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 5 7600X — the Ryzen 5 7600X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-11900KF) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) — the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z590,B560 (Core i9-11900KF) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X).

Feature	Core i9-11900KF	Ryzen 5 7600X
Socket	LGA1200	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-11900KF) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X). The Ryzen 5 7600X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the Core i9-11900KF requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core i9-11900KF	Ryzen 5 7600X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-11900KF launched at $513 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 7600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($513 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 7600X is $214 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-11900KF delivers 47.9 pts/$ vs 94.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 7600X — making the Ryzen 5 7600X the 65.6% better value option.