Review: Intel Core i9-11900K

Test Methodology

Notes

Knowing that many will want to know how the Core i9-11900K compares against its direct predecessor, Core i9-10900K, we took the opportunity of rebenchmarking that chip on the same Asus Z590-E Gaming as used on the review processor. Providing a clear back-to-back comparison will yield interesting results, and we were careful to keep the GPU driver the same across all tested chips.

We also have a page on the integrated performance of the two UHD IGPs - 630 vs. 750 - to verify Intel's claims of generational improvement.

A note on how we run the Core i9-11900K. Per the methodology established during the previous generation and explained on the previous page, we enable the Asus motherboard to unleash the full power of the chip by activating Multi-core Enhancement (MCE) before entering BIOS. This has the effect of enabling both Thermal Velocity Boost and Adaptive Boost Technology, along with higher all-core speeds. High speeds matched by super-high power.

Memory is run at DDR4-3200 with a 1:1 ratio with the memory controller, known as Gear 1 mode. It's only available at this ratio on the Core i9 range, with Core i7 and Core i5 supporting the same speed but with the memory controller runing at half speed, or Gear 2.

It's worth noting that, even with Intel pushing back benchmark numbers by two weeks, the platform doesn't feel totally mature and ready. Intel slipped in ABT capability for Core i9 very recently, motherboard BIOSes are coming in thick and fast - some over the weekend - and we reckon it will be a further week or two before launch niggles are ironed out. Such a state of affairs is unusual for Intel and infers that performance and platform robustness is not where it ought to be.