Intel Core i9-10900KF vs Intel Core i5-11600K

Processor comparisons   23-03-2021
   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-10900KF vs Intel Core i5-11600K and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here you can find useful information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as UserBenchmark, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Gears 5, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, RealBench, MATLAB, 7zip, Prime95, Blender, PCMark 10, Blender, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Overwatch
Apex Legends
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Red Dead Redemption 2
Death Stranding
Fallout 76
Valheim
Rainbow Six Siege
DOOM: Eternal
Valorant
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Watch Dogs Legion
Fortnite
Last Man Standing
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Halo Infinite
Grand Theft Auto V
Borderlands 3
Cyberpunk 2077

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-11600K or Intel Core i9-10900KF.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-10900KF

57%

Core i5-11600K

56%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10900KF is 1% better than Core i5-11600K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10900KF

57%

Core i5-11600K

54%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.4	95.2
Valorant	115.2	108.1
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	60.6
Apex Legends	108.3	101.6
Call of Duty Warzone	86.4	81.1
Overwatch	93.3	87.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.5	74.6
DOOM Eternal	57.6	54.1
Warzone	89.9	84.3
Assassin's Creed	96.8	90.8
Valheim	95.6	89.7

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-10900KF

39%

Core i5-11600K

43%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-11600K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10900KF since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-10900KF	Intel Core i5-11600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	234	199
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2677	1905
Cinbench 20 Single-core	539	465
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6399	4270
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1418	1213
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17325	11302

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-10900KF	Intel Core i5-11600K
Single-Core	3105	2707
Multi-Core	23797	20616

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-10900KF	Intel Core i5-11600K
Single-Core	1471	1621
Multi-Core	13125	7012

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-10900KF	Intel Core i5-11600K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA1200
Core name	Comet Lake	Rocket Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	11
Turbo Frequency	5.3 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	10	6
Threads	20	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	5400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-3200
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	50 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		3 MB
L3 cache	20 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-11600K is 5% better than Core i9-10900KF in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10900KF has 4 more core than Core i5-11600K. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10900KF is better: 25
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11600K is better: 7
Although it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-10900KF and Intel Core i5-11600K before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-10900KF - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-10900KF specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-11600K specs and review.