The 11th generation Intel Core desktop processors (codenamed “Rocket Lake-S”) will deliver an increase in performance and speeds. They begin in the first quarter of 2021. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
Intel’s Core i9-11900K Rocket Lake processor made its first appearance in the Passmark CPU standard database and achieved the highest performance with single threads of all desktop processors. The chip has a brand new core architecture and has a clock frequency over the 5 GHz barrier, which enables it to make some tremendous gains over its predecessor.
Intel Core i9-11900K Rocket Lake Flagship Desktop CPU achieves the fastest performance with single screws in Passmark, up to 7% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5000 ‘Zen 3’ Chips
The Intel Core i9-11900K with its multiple Cypress Cove core brings the biggest CPU architectural upgrade in over 5 years. This is because since the 6th generation Skylake CPUs, all the Intel CPUs up to the 10th Generation Comet Lake CPUs have used the same identical disk architecture, based on the 14nm process node. There has been little refinement of the process node over the years, but nothing as important as what Intel is going to offer with Rocket Lake CPUs. The Rocket Lake line will still rely on a 14nm process node, but the architecture is a brand new start for Intel to try to catch up with AMD’s rapid progress with their Zen core architecture.
Intel Core i9-11900K 8 Core and 16 thread Rocket Lake Desktop CPU specifications
The Intel Core i9-11900K will be the flagship 11th Gen Rocket Lake Desktop CPU. The chip contains 8 cores and 16 wires. This will result in 16 MB L3 cache (2 MB per core) and 4 MB L2 cache (512 KB per core). In terms of clocks, the CPU operates at base frequencies of 3.5 GHz, but in terms of boost, the CPU will have a maximum gain clock of 5.2 GHz (1 core), while maintaining the overall boost frequency at 4.8 GHz.
The chip also contains Thermal Velocity Boost which should deliver a 100 MHz jump in the maximum clock frequency. This should result in a 5.3 GHz single-core gain clock, making it the first CPU to ever hit such a high frequency outside the box. However, keep in mind that the Core i9-11900K, regardless of the use of the Cypress Cove cores, has lower cores and wires than the Intel Core i9-10900K. This is partly due to the back port of Cypress Cove on the refined 14nm process node. It is said that the CPU has a power limit on the first phase of 125W, which is standard for a flagship Intel SKU and the second phase power limit or PL2 is 250W.
Intel 11th Generation Rocket Lake Desktop CPU Setup Specifications (Preliminary):
| CPU name | Kere / drade | Base Clock | Boost Clock (1-core) | Boost Clock (All-Core) | Cupboard | Graphics | TDP (PL1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i9-11900K | 8/16 | 3.50 GHz | 5.30 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 125W |
| Core i9-11900 | 8/16 | 1.80 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 65W |
| Core i9-11900T | 8/16 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 35W |
| Core i7-11700K | 8/16 | 3.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 125W |
| Core i7-11700 | 8/16 | 2.50 GHz | 4.90 GHz | TBC | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 65W |
| Core i7-11700T | 8/16 | TBC | TBC | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 35W | |
| Core i5-11600K | 6/12 | 3.90 GHz | 4.90 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 125W |
| Core i5-11600 | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 65W |
| Core i5-11600T | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 35W |
| Core i5-11500 | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 65W |
| Core i5-11500T | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 core points) | 35W |
| Core i5-11400 | 6/12 | 2.60 GHz | 4,400 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 12 MB | Intel Xe 24 EU (192 core points) | 65W |
| Core i5-11400T | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 24 EU (192 core points) | 35W |
The listing on Passmark reveals that the Intel Core i9-11900K scored 3764 points in the single-wire and 28082 points in the multi-core tests. Compared to AMD’s flagship Ryzen 9 5950X CPU, the Core i9-11900K offers 7% faster multi-threaded performance, and compared to its predecessor, the Intel Core i9-10900K, the CPU offers a 19% performance improvement. This result makes the Core i9-11900K achieve the Passmark single-performance performance card. But at the same time, the Ryzen 9 5950X is much faster in multi-threaded performance, while the Core i9-11900K achieves a better result compared to the i9-10900K, despite the fact that it offers lower core and wires.
While this is a beautiful showcase for Intel, please note that the Rocket Lake processors will not be in retail until the end of March 2021. This will bring them close to AMD’s next answer, which should be either in the form of an ‘improved Zen 3+ Warhol’ or a next generation Ryzen series on Zen 4. Intel is also planning to launch its 12th generation ‘Alder Lake’ Desktop Procrastinate CPU range by 2H 2021 or Q3 2021, which means Rocket Lake CPUs will be replaced within 1 or 2 quarters, giving them an even shorter lifespan than Kaby Lake which was also replaced by Coffee Lake CPUs a few quarters later.
News source: Videocardz