Core i5-11600K

Name: Intel Core i5-11600K
Brand: Intel
Rating: 3.6 (198 reviews)

6 cores · 12 threads · up to 4.9 GHz on FCLGA1200.

3.6 · 198 votes

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Cores

Threads

Boost

4.9 GHz

L3 cache

12 MB

TDP

125W

Socket

FCLGA1200

Performance breakdown

Gaming12

Productivity11

Single-core12

Multi-core25

Power efficiency10

Lab scores

Performance score12

Cores6

Threads12

Boost clock (GHz)4.9 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p26 fps

1440p21 fps

4K14 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores

Architecture: Rocket Lake
Process node: 14 nm
Socket: FCLGA1200
Release year: 2021
Total cores: 6
Threads: 12
Integrated graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 750

Clocks & cache

Base clock: 3.9 GHz
Boost clock: 4.9 GHz
L1 cache: 384 KB
L2 cache: 1.5 MB
L3 cache: 12 MB

Memory & platform

Memory support: DDR4
Max capacity: 128 GB
Channels: 2
Max bandwidth: 50 GB/s
Base power (TDP): 125W
Max temperature: 100°C
PCIe: PCIe 4.0

Technologies

Instruction sets: SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX-512
Extensions: AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d, TXT, TSX

Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners praise its strong single-core speed for gaming and everyday tasks. The common gripe is it runs hot and thirsty under load, needing a beefy cooler.

Pros

Fast and smooth for daily tasks
Runs cool with a decent cooler
Great value for older platform builders
Handles most games without breaking a sweat

Cons

Power hungry under heavy loads
Noisy stock cooler included
Worse performance than cheaper alternatives

Verdict

Our verdict on the Core i5-11600K

The Intel Core i5-11600K is a mid-range desktop chip from 2021 that runs hot but offers strong single-threaded speed for its generation.

Get it if you need a solid mid-range gaming chip that works with an older motherboard you already own. Skip it if you want modern efficiency, PCIe Gen 4 support, or anything faster for heavy multitasking.