Core i7-11700K vs Ryzen 5 8400F

Core i7-11700K vs Ryzen 5 8400F Performance Spectrum

Core i7-11700K

8 / 16

24,362

0.0%

24,554

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

About PassMark

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 i7-11700K vs Ryzen 5 8400F 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 i7-11700K vs Ryzen 5 8400F: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-11700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.2% 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 Ryzen 5 8400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,362 vs 24,554).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.1 vs 81.0 PassMark/$ ($399 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8400F moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 8400F

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $96 less on MSRP ($303 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 32.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.0 vs 61.1 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8400F better than Core i7-11700K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-11700K is ahead with a 14.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 8400F pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 8400F is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 8400F is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 8400F comes in $96 cheaper on MSRP at $303 MSRP versus $399 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-11700K is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 14.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 32.7% better value on MSRP (81.0 vs 61.1 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i7-11700K 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?

Ryzen 5 8400F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-11700K vs Ryzen 5 8400F Technical Specifications

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

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.

Ryzen 5 8400F

The Ryzen 5 8400F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,554 points. Launch price was $170.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-11700K packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 8400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-11700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-11700K versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8400F — a 6.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i7-11700K uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8400F uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700K scores 24,362 against the Ryzen 5 8400F's 24,554 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 8400F. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-11700K	Ryzen 5 8400F
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+6%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4.2 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+51100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	24,362	24,554
Cinebench R23 Multi	14,732	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11700K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 8400F uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-11700K	Ryzen 5 8400F
Socket	LGA1200	AM5
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	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700K) / not specified (Ryzen 5 8400F). The Core i7-11700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the Ryzen 5 8400F requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core i7-11700K	Ryzen 5 8400F
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 750	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i7-11700K was priced at $399, while the Ryzen 5 8400F came in at $303. On launch pricing ($399 vs $303), Ryzen 5 8400F was $96 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-11700K delivers 61.1 pts/$ vs 81.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8400F — making the Ryzen 5 8400F the 28.1% better value option.

Feature	Core i7-11700K	Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP	$399	$303-24%
Performance per Dollar	61.1	81.0+33%
Release Date	2021	2024

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