Intel
Core i5-11600K
Rocket Lake · 6C/12T · 125 W · LGA1200
70
/ 100
From $269
VS
Core i7-11700K wins by 2
Intel
Core i7-11700K
Rocket Lake · 8C/16T · 125 W · LGA1200
72
/ 100
From $399
Specdex verdict
Core i7-11700K takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Core i5-11600K lands at 70 and Core i7-11700K at 72. That puts Core i7-11700K ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Core i5-11600K if…
- ✓Strong per-core performance
- ✓Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- ✓Wide platform availability
Pick Core i7-11700K if…
- ✓Strong per-core performance
- ✓Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- ✓Wide platform availability
Core i5-11600K 70
vs 72 Core i7-11700K
Score breakdown
Core i5-11600K
70 single 72
multi 70
gaming 69
efficiency 78
Core i7-11700K
72 single 74
multi 72
gaming 71
efficiency 78
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Core i5-11600K | Core i7-11700K |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Rocket Lake |
| Cores | 6 | ▲ 8 |
| Threads | 12 | ▲ 16 |
| TDP | 125 W | 125 W |
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA1200 |
| Release year | 2021 | 2021 |
Core i5-11600K
Pros
- +Strong per-core performance
- +Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- +Wide platform availability
Cons
- −Power draw on top SKUs
- −Frequent socket changes
- −Arrow Lake gaming regressions
Core i7-11700K
Pros
- +Strong per-core performance
- +Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- +Wide platform availability
Cons
- −Power draw on top SKUs
- −Frequent socket changes
- −Arrow Lake gaming regressions
FAQ: Core i5-11600K vs Core i7-11700K
Which is better, Core i5-11600K or Core i7-11700K? +
Core i7-11700K scores 72 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Core i5-11600K worth the price? +
At $269, Core i5-11600K delivers a Specdex score of 70 — strongest in efficiency.
Is Core i7-11700K worth the price? +
At $399, Core i7-11700K delivers a Specdex score of 72 — strongest in efficiency.
Does Core i5-11600K or Core i7-11700K last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.