Intel Core i9-10900K vs Intel Core i9-11900K
The Intel Core i9-11900K is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 3%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | Intel Core i9-10900K | Intel Core i9-11900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 70/100 | 72/100 |
| Tier | B | B |
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| Cores | 10 | 8 |
| Threads | 20 | 16 |
| Base clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.3 GHz | 5.3 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 125 W | 125 W |
| Release year | 2020 | 2021 |
Which should you buy?
For gaming specifically, the Intel Core i9-11900K is the better buy — it holds a 3% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The Intel Core i9-10900K has more cores (10 vs 8), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. Either way, pair it with a graphics card of similar standing — check the bottleneck calculator before you buy.