Core i9-11900K vs Ryzen 5 5600
Core i9-11900K
Ryzen 5 5600
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 i9-11900K
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-11900K | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($435) | ✅ More affordable ($115) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (2020−2025) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-11900K | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+226%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($435) | ✅ More affordable ($115) |
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 i9-11900K and Ryzen 5 5600
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.
Ryzen 5 5600
The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i9-11900K packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-11900K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-11900K versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i9-11900K uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900K scores 24,990 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 14.8% lead for the Core i9-11900K. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900K vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i9-11900K | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz+18% | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Vermeer (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 24,990+16% | 21,550 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 11,077 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,052 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,600 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-11900K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-11900K | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-11900K) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i9-11900K | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i9-11900K launched at $539 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($435 vs $115), the Ryzen 5 5600 is $320 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-11900K delivers 57.4 pts/$ vs 187.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 106.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i9-11900K | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $539 | $199-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $435 | $115-74% |
| Performance per Dollar | 57.4 | 187.4+226% |
| Release Date | 2021 | 2022 |
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