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 i9-11900KB

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Ryzen 7 3700X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 42.1 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($539 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $210 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).
✅Delivers 61.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 22,693).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-11900KB can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i9-11900KB

2021

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics, while Ryzen 7 3700X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $210 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).
✅Delivers 61.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 42.1 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($539 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 22,693).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-11900KB can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900KB better than Ryzen 7 3700X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 7 3700X is ahead with a 15.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11900KB pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. Ryzen 7 3700X also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11900KB is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i9-11900KB is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 3700X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-11900KB is 63.8% more expensive on MSRP at $539 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you 1.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 7 3700X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 15.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 3700X is also 61.9% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 42.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i9-11900KB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i9-11900KB Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 3700X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-11900KB	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	250 FPS	200 FPS
medium	231 FPS	163 FPS
high	194 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	167 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	156 FPS
medium	186 FPS	121 FPS
high	152 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	155 FPS	84 FPS
medium	131 FPS	71 FPS
high	102 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KB Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-11900KB	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	567 FPS	561 FPS
medium	490 FPS	525 FPS
high	410 FPS	428 FPS
ultra	374 FPS	383 FPS
1440p
low	477 FPS	545 FPS
medium	421 FPS	471 FPS
high	365 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	317 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	294 FPS	350 FPS
medium	262 FPS	304 FPS
high	247 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	219 FPS	242 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KB Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-11900KB	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	567 FPS	561 FPS
medium	567 FPS	561 FPS
high	488 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	388 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	567 FPS	561 FPS
medium	501 FPS	561 FPS
high	426 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	470 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	499 FPS
medium	369 FPS	394 FPS
high	325 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	260 FPS	275 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KB Open Ryzen 7 3700X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-11900KB	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	567 FPS	561 FPS
medium	567 FPS	561 FPS
high	567 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	567 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	567 FPS	561 FPS
medium	567 FPS	561 FPS
high	567 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	492 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	523 FPS	561 FPS
medium	469 FPS	501 FPS
high	417 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core i9-11900KB Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-11900KB and Ryzen 7 3700X

Core i9-11900KB

The Core i9-11900KB is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Maio 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,693 points. Launch price was $539.

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i9-11900KB and Ryzen 7 3700X share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i9-11900KB versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900KB (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-11900KB uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900KB scores 22,693 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i9-11900KB. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900KB vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Core i9-11900KB	Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+11%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	3.6 GHz+9%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	32 MB+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	22,693+1%	22,430
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,264	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,645	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-11900KB uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-11900KB) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Mobile (Core i9-11900KB) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).

Feature	Core i9-11900KB	Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket	FCBGA1787	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-11900KB) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). The Core i9-11900KB includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core i9-11900KB	Ryzen 7 3700X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-11900KB launched at $539 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. On MSRP ($539 vs $329), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $210 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-11900KB delivers 42.1 pts/$ vs 68.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 47.3% better value option.