Intel Core i5-11600K Review

The six-core/12-thread Core i5-11600K adds some steadiness to Rocket Lake’s launch. Intel’s single-core performance is still strong. For some, the required platform update may be too costly an entry barrier. But what about Intel fans seeking a good CPU to pair with a low-cost video card to play PC games on a budget?

Chipset and Features:

The Intel Core i5-11600K uses a 14nm manufacturing process instead of the 7nm Ice Lake architecture used in prior generations. This enables Intel to achieve far faster clock speeds than it could on 7nm, which is critical for PC gaming. The 11600K consumes far more electricity and generates significantly more heat than the previous generation, and it is not even close to being as fuel-efficient. For the first time, we’re advising everyone who buys this chip to get a rather powerful CPU cooler. The introduction of PCIe 4.0 compatibility in this generation of Intel processors is the nicest feature, as it means you’ll be able to use the fastest SSDs on the market.

Intel Core i5-11600K Specs: An Upgrade at the Midrange

The Intel Core i9-11900K is the next generation’s flagship processor, but what about the rest of the lineup? Intel’s new Core i5-11600K is a mid-range processor that could serve as a foundation for future improvements. It includes a new Intel UHD Graphics 750 integrated graphics processor, just like many other chips in the Intel 11th Generation stack (IGP). Even while AMD doesn’t currently have any processors with IGP plus more than four cores onboard, Intel faces some surprising competition in this area.

Benchmarks and Performance:

For heavy-duty creative workloads like Blender and Adobe Premiere Pro, the Intel Core i5-11600K is 30% less expensive than AMD’s flagship processor, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. In 3DMark Time Spy, Metro Exodus at 1080p on low settings, and Total War: Three Kingdoms on low settings, it also wins. Even its defeat in Total War 2 is only a 5% defeat. The Intel Core i5-11600K is one of the best processors available right now, with a significant performance boost over its predecessor. You will have to deal with the out-of-control power usage and temperatures, which will add to the expense of your build once cooling and electricity are taken into account.

Testing the Core i5-11600K: A Stable Six-Core Churner:

An Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero (Wi-Fi) Z590 motherboard with a Deepcool GamerStorm Captain 240 EX 240mm liquid cooler and an MSI 850-watt MPG A850GF power supply was used in the testing. Competing and sister AMD and Intel processors are included in the charts below. The Intel Core i5-11600K is the first Intel CPU in a long time to compete on price with AMD. In some older-game tests, it comes close enough to AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X to deserve a second look. In AAA games like Far Cry 5, it gets close to AMD’s 5600X, allowing it to outperform it in terms of price-to-performance.

The Intel Core i5-11600K is a mid-range CPU with integrated graphics that, with the support of a discrete GPU, can run the show on its own. For budget-conscious gamers searching for CPU and GPU power in a small package, AMD’s G 3000 Series CPUs are still the best option.

Analysis:

The Intel Core i5 11600K is now available at retail. That’s a saving for a processor that can handle whatever graphics card you throw at it .It also offers PCIe 4.0, which is still a bit disappointing in terms of platform and performance at this moment.

A Quick Overview of Overclocking and Thermals:

In our stress tests, the Intel Core i5-11600K never exceeded 86 degrees Celsius; however, this could be due to the excessive 240mm AIO liquid cooling system employed in our testbed. Which one you choose will depend on the quantity of room in your case (and your budget) rather than the amount of cooling power you may expect. We’ve seen some stability concerns with our current BIOS build in our Asus Z590 testbed, as noted above, and we’re working with Asus to find a solution.

Pros:

• Single-threaded performance is excellent. 
• Most integrated-graphics scores are doubled when compared to equivalent Intel 10th Generation CPUs. 
• It doesn’t get too hot. 
• Good frame rates with a discrete video card Competitive cost compared to AMD’s Ryzens

Cons:

• The Ryzen 5 5600X isn’t quite as quick as the Ryzen 5 5600X. 
• Adoption of a new platform is costly. 
• There is no cooler included in the package.

Conclusion:

The intermediate Core i5-11600K is a six-core 11th Generation CPU that is just fast enough to keep Intel’s new “Rocket Lake” CPUs competitive against AMD.