Core i9-11900F vs Ryzen 7 5800X

Intel

Core i9-11900F

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2021
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5800X

8 Cores16 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2020
Ryzen family
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Core i9-11900F vs Ryzen 7 5800X Performance Spectrum

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 i9-11900F vs Ryzen 7 5800X 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 i9-11900F vs Ryzen 7 5800X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-11900F

2021

Why buy it

  • Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (22,052 vs 27,712).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 7 5800X

2020

Why buy it

  • +25.7% higher PassMark.
  • +100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $449 MSRP, while Core i9-11900F mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900F better than Ryzen 7 5800X?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i9-11900F is ahead with 8.5% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5800X pulls ahead with 25.7% better PassMark. Ryzen 7 5800X also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5800X is the stronger fit. You are getting 25.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i9-11900F is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 5800X is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i9-11900F comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $449 MSRP, and it still gives you 8.5% higher max boost clock. The compromise is that Ryzen 7 5800X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 25.7% better PassMark. Ryzen 7 5800X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (61.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 7 5800X 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?
Core i9-11900F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i9-11900F vs Ryzen 7 5800X Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Core i9-11900F

The Core i9-11900F 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 5.1 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: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 22,052 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen 7 5800X

The Ryzen 7 5800X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.

Processing Power

Both the Core i9-11900F and Ryzen 7 5800X share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-11900F versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i9-11900F uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900F scores 22,052 against the Ryzen 7 5800X's 27,712 — a 22.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900F vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X.

FeatureCore i9-11900FRyzen 7 5800X
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
8 / 16
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz+9%
4.7 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.8 GHz+52%
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
32 MB+100%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512K (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture
Rocket Lake (2021)
Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark
22,052
27,712+26%
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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-11900F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i9-11900FRyzen 7 5800X
Socket
LGA1200
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-11900F) / AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop.

FeatureCore i9-11900FRyzen 7 5800X
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Desktop