11th Generation Intel Core desktop processors (codenamed “Rocket Lake-S”) will deliver higher performance and speeds. They will launch in the first quarter of 2021. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
The latest benchmarks of Intel’s Core i9-11900K Rocket Lake flagship CPU have been leaked from Geekbench. The numbers show record-breaking performance for the upcoming chip, which will feature a brand new core architecture on an Intel Desktop platform for the first time in more than 6 years.
Intel Core i9-11900K Rocket Lake desktop CPU decimates all its rivals in single-threaded benchmark performance, 13% faster than AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
The Intel Core i9-11900K with its multiple Cypress Cove core will bring the largest CPU architectural upgrade in over 6 years. This is because since the 6th generation Skylake CPUs, all Intel CPUs up to the 10th generation Comet Lake CPUs have used the same identical chip architecture based on the 14nm process node.
Intel Core i9-11900K Rocket Lake Desktop CPU Specifications:
The Intel Core i9-11900K will be the flagship 11th generation Rocket Lake Desktop CPU. The chip will have 8 cores and 16 threads. This results in 16 MB L3 cache (2 MB per core) and 4 MB L2 cache (512 KB per core). In terms of clocking, the CPU will run on base frequencies of 3.5 GHz, but in terms of boost, the CPU will have a maximum boost clock of 5.2 GHz (1-core) while the all-core boost frequency at 4.8 GHz is maintained.
The chip will also feature Thermal Velocity Boost which should provide a 100 MHz jump in the maximum clock frequency. This should lead to a 5.3 GHz single-core boost clock, making it the first CPU ever to get such a high frequency out of the box. However, keep in mind that regardless of using the Cypress Cove cores, the Core i9-11900K will have lower cores and threads than the Intel Core i9-10900K. This is in part due to Cypress Cove’s backporting on the sophisticated 14nm process node. The CPU is said to have a 1st stage power limit of 125W, which is standard for a flagship Intel SKU and the 2nd stage power limit or PL2 is rated at 250W.
Intel 11th Gen Rocket Lake Desktop CPU lineup specifications (preliminary):
| CPU name | Cores / wires | Basic clock | Boost clock (1-core) | Boost Clock (All-Core) | Cache | Pictures | TDP (PL1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i9-11900K | 8/16 | 3.50 GHz | 5.30 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 125W |
| Core i9-11900 | 8/16 | 1.80 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 65W |
| Core i9-11900T | 8/16 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 35W |
| Core i7-11700K | 8/16 | 3.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 125W |
| Core i7-11700 | 8/16 | 2.50 GHz | 4.90 GHz | TBC | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 65W |
| Core i7-11700T | 8/16 | TBC | TBC | 16 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 35W | |
| Core i5-11600K | 6/12 | 3.90 GHz | 4.90 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 125W |
| Core i5-11600 | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 65W |
| Core i5-11600T | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 35W |
| Core i5-11500 | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 65W |
| Core i5-11500T | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 32 EU (256 colors) | 35W |
| Core i5-11400 | 6/12 | 2.60 GHz | 4.400 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 12 MB | Intel Xe 24 EU (192 colors) | 65W |
| Core i5-11400T | 6/12 | TBC | TBC | TBC | 12 MB | Intel Xe 24 EU (192 colors) | 35W |
To pass the benchmark, the CPU was tested at least three times on the same configuration consisting of a Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Master motherboard and 32 GB DDR4-3600 MHz memory. A maximum single-threaded score of 1905 points and a multi-threaded score of 10994 points were seen during the tests. This makes the Intel Core i9-11900K Rocket Lake CPU the fastest single-threaded chip ever made. Compared to AMD’s fastest Zen 3 chip, the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Intel CPU is 13% faster.
At the same time, it loses in multi-threaded tests due to a maximum of 8 cores and 16 threads, while AMD’s Ryzen 5000 family scales up to 16 cores and 32 threads, which is double the Intel Rocket Lake flagship. The Intel Core i9-10900K scores an average of 1402 points in single-core and 10924 points in multi-core tests. Despite having more cores and threads, the 11900K basically beats its predecessor with a small performance benefit that is very impressive.
However, we must not forget that this is an overclocked result. Sure, the Core i9-11900K can run in stock at 5.3 GHz, but that’s only true for a single-core. The chip here runs on an all-core boost of 5.3 GHz, which is 500 MHz higher than the standard all-core boost of 4.8 GHz. Thus, the stock’s multi-core score would be lower, but not even by a huge margin. But with that said, we’ve seen the Rocket Lake CPU be very difficult to chip to cool with the AIDA64 FPU stress test pushing it to 98C even when using a 360mm AIO liquid cooler.
While this is a nice showcase for Intel, keep in mind that the Rocket Lake CPUs won’t hit retail until the end of March 2021. This brings them close to AMD’s next answer, which should be either in the form of an upgraded Zen 3+ ‘Warhol’ or a next-generation Zen 4-based Ryzen series. Intel also plans to release its 12th generation ‘Alder Lake’ Desktop CPU lineup by 2H 2021 or Q3 2021, meaning Rocket Lake CPUs will be replaced in 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