Core i7-11700 vs M4 (8 cores)

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.

Core i7-11700 vs M4 (8 cores) FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-11700 vs M4 (8 cores): Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-11700

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 750, while M4 (8 cores) needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike M4 (8 cores).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (20,625 vs 20,761).
❌Launch MSRP is still $323 MSRP, while M4 (8 cores) mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1525% higher power demand at 65W vs 4W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while M4 (8 cores) moves to none and DDR5.

M4 (8 cores)

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 4W instead of 65W, a 61W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11700 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-11700.

Quick Answers

So, is M4 (8 cores) better than Core i7-11700?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-11700 is ahead with a 14.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M4 (8 cores) pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M4 (8 cores) is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

M4 (8 cores) is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-11700 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. M4 (8 cores) comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $323 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-11700 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 14.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-11700 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (63.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i7-11700 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

M4 (8 cores) makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-11700 vs M4 (8 cores) Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-11700

The Core i7-11700 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,625 points. Launch price was $299.

M4 (8 cores)

The M4 (8 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 28 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.89 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5x. Passmark benchmark score: 20,761 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-11700 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, matching the M4 (8 cores)'s 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-11700 versus 4 GHz on the M4 (8 cores) — a 20.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.89 GHz). The Core i7-11700 is built on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-11700 scores 20,625 against the M4 (8 cores)'s 20,761 — a 0.7% lead for the M4 (8 cores).

Feature	Core i7-11700	M4 (8 cores)
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 8
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+23%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.89 GHz+16%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	—
PassMark	20,625	20,761

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11700 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M4 (8 cores) uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-11700	M4 (8 cores)
Socket	LGA1200	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700) / not specified (M4 (8 cores)). The Core i7-11700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the M4 (8 cores) requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-11700 rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.