
Ryzen Z2 Extreme vs Core i7-11700K

Ryzen Z2 Extreme

Core i7-11700K
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
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-11700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 Ryzen Z2 Extreme and Core i7-11700K

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.

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.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen Z2 Extreme and Core i7-11700K share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-11700K — identical boost frequencies (base: 2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses the Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Core i7-11700K uses Rocket Lake (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme scores 24,177 against the Core i7-11700K's 24,362 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-11700K. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700K.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz | 5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+80% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+1500% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 4 nm-71% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) | Rocket Lake (2021) |
| PassMark | 24,177 | 24,362 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 14,732 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-11700K uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP8 | LGA1200 |
| 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: not specified (Ryzen Z2 Extreme) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700K). The Core i7-11700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the Ryzen Z2 Extreme requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 750 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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