Core i9-11900K vs M3 Pro 11-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 i9-11900K

2021

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $539 MSRP, while M3 Pro 11-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while M3 Pro 11-Core moves to none and DDR5.

M3 Pro 11-Core

2023

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,861 vs 24,990).

Core i9-11900K

2021

M3 Pro 11-Core

2023

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $539 MSRP, while M3 Pro 11-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while M3 Pro 11-Core moves to none and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,861 vs 24,990).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900K better than M3 Pro 11-Core?

Yes. Core i9-11900K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.3% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-11900K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.3% more average FPS across 5 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11900K is the better fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i9-11900K is the smarter buy today. Core i9-11900K is at an unclear MSRP at $539 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (46.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 11-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 11-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 i9-11900K Benchmark Check

M3 Pro 11-Core Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-11900K	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	259 FPS	182 FPS
medium	240 FPS	146 FPS
high	201 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	225 FPS	146 FPS
medium	188 FPS	115 FPS
high	152 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	67 FPS
medium	129 FPS	56 FPS
high	99 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i9-11900K Open M3 Pro 11-Core

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-11900K	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	420 FPS	399 FPS
medium	353 FPS	339 FPS
high	314 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	283 FPS	256 FPS
1440p
low	373 FPS	352 FPS
medium	324 FPS	309 FPS
high	287 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	230 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	255 FPS
medium	223 FPS	229 FPS
high	216 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	184 FPS

Open Core i9-11900K Open M3 Pro 11-Core

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-11900K	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	625 FPS	622 FPS
medium	536 FPS	622 FPS
high	460 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	398 FPS	593 FPS
1440p
low	598 FPS	622 FPS
medium	497 FPS	515 FPS
high	421 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	400 FPS
4K
low	427 FPS	452 FPS
medium	370 FPS	356 FPS
high	330 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	280 FPS	248 FPS

Open Core i9-11900K Open M3 Pro 11-Core

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-11900K	M3 Pro 11-Core
1080p
low	625 FPS	622 FPS
medium	625 FPS	622 FPS
high	625 FPS	622 FPS
ultra	625 FPS	621 FPS
1440p
low	625 FPS	622 FPS
medium	625 FPS	622 FPS
high	625 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	625 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	625 FPS	494 FPS
medium	576 FPS	443 FPS
high	515 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i9-11900K Open M3 Pro 11-Core

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-11900K and M3 Pro 11-Core

Core i9-11900K

The Core i9-11900K 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,990 points. Launch price was $539.

M3 Pro 11-Core

The M3 Pro 11-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 11 cores and 11 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: 24,861 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-11900K packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the M3 Pro 11-Core offers 11 cores / 11 threads — the M3 Pro 11-Core has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-11900K versus 4.06 GHz on the M3 Pro 11-Core — a 24.6% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.748 GHz). The Core i9-11900K is built on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i9-11900K scores 24,990 against the M3 Pro 11-Core's 24,861 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-11900K.

Feature	Core i9-11900K	M3 Pro 11-Core
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	11 / 11+38%
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+28%	4.06 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+27%	2.748 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	—
PassMark	24,990	24,861

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-11900K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M3 Pro 11-Core uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.