Core i7-11700K vs M3 Pro 12-Core

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 i7-11700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.7% higher average FPS across 4 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 M3 Pro 12-Core needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $399 MSRP, while M3 Pro 12-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while M3 Pro 12-Core moves to none and DDR5.

M3 Pro 12-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (24,170 vs 24,362).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-11700K

2021

M3 Pro 12-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.7% higher average FPS across 4 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 M3 Pro 12-Core needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $399 MSRP, while M3 Pro 12-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while M3 Pro 12-Core moves to none and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (24,170 vs 24,362).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-11700K better than M3 Pro 12-Core?

Yes. Core i7-11700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 14.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-11700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 14.7% 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 i7-11700K is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i7-11700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-11700K is at an unclear MSRP at $399 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 14.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (61.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M3 Pro 12-Core can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

M3 Pro 12-Core is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with none 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 i7-11700K Benchmark Check

M3 Pro 12-Core Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-11700K	M3 Pro 12-Core
1080p
low	302 FPS	182 FPS
medium	265 FPS	146 FPS
high	223 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	247 FPS	146 FPS
medium	195 FPS	115 FPS
high	160 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	67 FPS
medium	136 FPS	56 FPS
high	105 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i7-11700K Open M3 Pro 12-Core

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-11700K	M3 Pro 12-Core
1080p
low	609 FPS	399 FPS
medium	529 FPS	339 FPS
high	454 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	256 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	352 FPS
medium	493 FPS	309 FPS
high	421 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	361 FPS	230 FPS
4K
low	404 FPS	255 FPS
medium	342 FPS	229 FPS
high	320 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	184 FPS

Open Core i7-11700K Open M3 Pro 12-Core

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-11700K	M3 Pro 12-Core
1080p
low	609 FPS	604 FPS
medium	609 FPS	604 FPS
high	609 FPS	604 FPS
ultra	571 FPS	593 FPS
1440p
low	609 FPS	604 FPS
medium	609 FPS	515 FPS
high	549 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	471 FPS	400 FPS
4K
low	586 FPS	452 FPS
medium	485 FPS	356 FPS
high	428 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	248 FPS

Open Core i7-11700K Open M3 Pro 12-Core

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-11700K	M3 Pro 12-Core
1080p
low	609 FPS	604 FPS
medium	609 FPS	604 FPS
high	609 FPS	604 FPS
ultra	609 FPS	604 FPS
1440p
low	609 FPS	604 FPS
medium	609 FPS	604 FPS
high	609 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	609 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	609 FPS	494 FPS
medium	565 FPS	443 FPS
high	510 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i7-11700K Open M3 Pro 12-Core

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-11700K and M3 Pro 12-Core

Core i7-11700K

The Core i7-11700K 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 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,362 points. Launch price was $299.

M3 Pro 12-Core

The M3 Pro 12-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.748 GHz, with boost up to 4.06 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,170 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-11700K packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the M3 Pro 12-Core offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the M3 Pro 12-Core has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-11700K versus 4.06 GHz on the M3 Pro 12-Core — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.748 GHz). The Core i7-11700K is built on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-11700K scores 24,362 against the M3 Pro 12-Core's 24,170 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-11700K.

Feature	Core i7-11700K	M3 Pro 12-Core
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	12 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+23%	4.06 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+31%	2.748 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	—
PassMark	24,362	24,170
Cinebench R23 Multi	14,732	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11700K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M3 Pro 12-Core uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-11700K	M3 Pro 12-Core
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 i7-11700K) / not specified (M3 Pro 12-Core). The Core i7-11700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the M3 Pro 12-Core requires a dedicated GPU.