Core i7-11700K vs Ryzen Z2 Extreme
Core i7-11700K
Ryzen Z2 Extreme
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-11700K
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-11700K | Ryzen Z2 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-11700K | Ryzen Z2 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-11700K and Ryzen Z2 Extreme
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 Z2 Extreme
The Ryzen Z2 Extreme is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,177 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-11700K and Ryzen Z2 Extreme share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-11700K versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-11700K uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700K scores 24,362 against the Ryzen Z2 Extreme's 24,177 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-11700K. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700K vs 16 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme.
| Feature | Core i7-11700K | Ryzen Z2 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz | 5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+80% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 16 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 8 MB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm | 4 nm-71% |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) |
| PassMark | 24,362 | 24,177 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 14,732 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-11700K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-11700K | Ryzen Z2 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700K) / not specified (Ryzen Z2 Extreme). The Core i7-11700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-11700K | Ryzen Z2 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 750 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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