Core i9-11900KF vs Ryzen 7 7840U

Intel

Core i9-11900KF

8 Cores16 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.2 GHz2021
Core family
·······
VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 7840U

8 Cores16 Thrd28 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2023

Core i9-11900KF vs Ryzen 7 7840U 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 i9-11900KF vs Ryzen 7 7840U 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 i9-11900KF vs Ryzen 7 7840U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-11900KF

2021

Why buy it

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.9 vs 61.4 PassMark/$ ($513 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
  • 346.4% higher power demand at 125W vs 28W.
  • Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 7840U moves to FP8 and DDR5.

Ryzen 7 7840U

2023

Why buy it

  • Costs $113 less on MSRP ($400 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
  • Delivers 28.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.4 vs 47.9 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $513 MSRP).
  • Draws 28W instead of 125W, a 97W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (24,547 vs 24,585).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900KF better than Ryzen 7 7840U?
Yes. Core i9-11900KF is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i9-11900KF is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11900KF is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i9-11900KF is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core i9-11900KF comes in 28.2% more expensive on MSRP at $513 MSRP versus $400 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 7840U only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 7840U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with FP8 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i9-11900KF vs Ryzen 7 7840U Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Core i9-11900KF

The Core i9-11900KF 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: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 24,585 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen 7 7840U

The Ryzen 7 7840U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Maio 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-U (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 24,547 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

Both the Core i9-11900KF and Ryzen 7 7840U share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-11900KF versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7840U — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900KF (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i9-11900KF uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7840U uses Phoenix-U (Zen 4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900KF scores 24,585 against the Ryzen 7 7840U's 24,547 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i9-11900KF. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureCore i9-11900KFRyzen 7 7840U
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
8 / 16
Boost Clock
5.2 GHz+2%
5.1 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+6%
3.3 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
256K (per core)+25500%
1 MB (per core)
Process
14 nm
4 nm-71%
Architecture
Rocket Lake (2021)
Phoenix-U (Zen 4) (2023)
PassMark
24,585
24,547
Cinebench R23 Multi
15,500
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-11900KF uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 7840U uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i9-11900KFRyzen 7 7840U
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
No
PCIe Lanes
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-11900KF) / not specified (Ryzen 7 7840U).

FeatureCore i9-11900KFRyzen 7 7840U
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i9-11900KF was priced at $513, while the Ryzen 7 7840U came in at $400. On launch pricing ($513 vs $400), Ryzen 7 7840U was $113 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-11900KF delivers 47.9 pts/$ vs 61.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 7840U — making the Ryzen 7 7840U the 24.6% better value option.

FeatureCore i9-11900KFRyzen 7 7840U
MSRP
$513
$400-22%
Performance per Dollar
47.9
61.4+28%
Release Date
2021
2023

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