Intel Core i9-10900X vs Intel Core i5-11600

Processor comparisons   23-03-2021
   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-10900X vs Intel Core i5-11600 tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like WPrime, Handbrake, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, 7zip, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, SuperPi, AIDA64, Prime95, UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, RealBench, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-11600 or Intel Core i9-10900X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10900X

56%

Core i5-11600

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10900X is 1% better than Core i5-11600. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10900X

57%

Core i5-11600

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that 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 other games in which processors were compared: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	100.7	94.8
Valorant	114.4	107.7
Cyberpunk 2077	64.1	60.3
Apex Legends	107.5	101.3
Call of Duty Warzone	85.8	80.8
Overwatch	92.7	87.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.9	74.3
DOOM Eternal	57.2	53.9
Warzone	89.2	84.0
Assassin's Creed	96.1	90.5
Valheim	95.0	89.4

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 participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 i9-10900X

24%

Core i5-11600

41%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i5-11600 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10900X as it consumes less power: 165W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-10900X	Intel Core i5-11600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	198	189
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2358	1811
Cinbench 20 Single-core	523	442
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6165	4058
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1143	1153
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14301	10741

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

	Intel Core i9-10900X	Intel Core i5-11600
Single-Core	2745	2573
Multi-Core	22786	19594

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

	Intel Core i9-10900X	Intel Core i5-11600
Single-Core	1237	1541
Multi-Core	12434	6664

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-10900X	Intel Core i5-11600
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA1200
Core name	Cascade Lake	Rocket Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	11
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	10	6
Threads	20	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s DMI3	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	5400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-3200
Max. Memory	256 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	94 GB/s	50 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache		3 MB
L3 cache	19.25 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 i9-10900X is 24% better than Core i5-11600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10900X has 4 more core than Core i5-11600. 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 i9-10900X is better: 27
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11600 is better: 8
Although it should be realized that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-10900X and Intel Core i5-11600 before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i9-10900X - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-10900X specs and review.

Intel Core i5-11600 - all data

• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-11600 specs and review.