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 i5-1250P

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 125W, a 97W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU), while Core i5-11600KF needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-11600KF across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,250 vs 11,277).

Core i5-11600KF

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $237 MSRP, while Core i5-1250P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌346.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-1250P moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1250P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-1250P

2022

Core i5-11600KF

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 125W, a 97W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU), while Core i5-11600KF needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-11600KF across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,250 vs 11,277).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $237 MSRP, while Core i5-1250P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌346.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-1250P moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1250P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-11600KF better than Core i5-1250P?

Yes. Core i5-11600KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 29.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 21.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 1.6% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-11600KF is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 29.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-11600KF is the better fit. You are getting 21.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-11600KF is the smarter buy today. Core i5-11600KF is at an unclear MSRP at $237 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 29.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (82.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i5-1250P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200. 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 i5-1250P Benchmark Check

Core i5-11600KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Core i5-11600KF
1080p
low	169 FPS	301 FPS
medium	151 FPS	263 FPS
high	123 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	142 FPS	247 FPS
medium	122 FPS	195 FPS
high	98 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	170 FPS
medium	74 FPS	136 FPS
high	59 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	92 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Core i5-11600KF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Core i5-11600KF
1080p
low	195 FPS	476 FPS
medium	166 FPS	380 FPS
high	153 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	295 FPS
1440p
low	172 FPS	409 FPS
medium	150 FPS	332 FPS
high	141 FPS	301 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	262 FPS
4K
low	139 FPS	339 FPS
medium	125 FPS	279 FPS
high	119 FPS	254 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	214 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Core i5-11600KF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Core i5-11600KF
1080p
low	479 FPS	487 FPS
medium	479 FPS	487 FPS
high	461 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	406 FPS	487 FPS
1440p
low	479 FPS	487 FPS
medium	465 FPS	487 FPS
high	415 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	367 FPS	451 FPS
4K
low	435 FPS	487 FPS
medium	356 FPS	456 FPS
high	315 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Core i5-11600KF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Core i5-11600KF
1080p
low	479 FPS	487 FPS
medium	479 FPS	487 FPS
high	479 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	479 FPS	487 FPS
1440p
low	479 FPS	487 FPS
medium	479 FPS	487 FPS
high	479 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	448 FPS	487 FPS
4K
low	470 FPS	487 FPS
medium	427 FPS	487 FPS
high	375 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Core i5-11600KF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1250P and Core i5-11600KF

Core i5-1250P

The Core i5-1250P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,167 points. Launch price was $299.

Core i5-11600KF

The Core i5-11600KF 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 19,468 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-1250P packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-11600KF offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-1250P has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1250P versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i5-11600KF — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-11600KF (base: 1.7 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-1250P uses the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-11600KF uses Rocket Lake (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1250P scores 19,167 against the Core i5-11600KF's 19,468 — a 1.6% lead for the Core i5-11600KF. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,250 vs 11,277 (19.7% advantage for the Core i5-11600KF). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,785 vs 2,138, a 18% lead for the Core i5-11600KF that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,420 vs 8,631 (2.5% advantage for the Core i5-11600KF). Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-1250P	Core i5-11600KF
Cores / Threads	12 / 16+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.9 GHz+11%
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	3.9 GHz+129%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-P (2022)	Rocket Lake (2021)
PassMark	19,167	19,468+2%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,250	11,277+22%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,785	2,138+20%
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,420	8,631+3%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1250P uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-11600KF uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-1250P versus DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-11600KF — the Core i5-1250P supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-11600KF supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: BGA1744 (Core i5-1250P) and LGA1200 (Core i5-11600KF).

Feature	Core i5-1250P	Core i5-11600KF
Socket	FCBGA1744	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-11600KF has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-1250P) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11600KF). The Core i5-1250P includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU)), while the Core i5-11600KF requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11600KF targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-11600KF rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.