Intel
Core i9-9900K
Coffee Lake Refresh · 8C/16T · 95 W · LGA1151
68
/ 100
From $488
VS
Core i5-11600K wins by 2
Intel
Core i5-11600K
Rocket Lake · 6C/12T · 125 W · LGA1200
70
/ 100
From $269
Specdex verdict
Core i5-11600K takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Core i9-9900K lands at 68 and Core i5-11600K at 70. That puts Core i5-11600K ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Core i9-9900K if…
- ✓Strong per-core performance
- ✓Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- ✓Wide platform availability
Pick Core i5-11600K if…
- ✓Strong per-core performance
- ✓Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
- ✓Wide platform availability
Core i9-9900K 68
vs 70 Core i5-11600K
Score breakdown
Core i9-9900K
68 single 70
multi 68
gaming 67
efficiency 74
Core i5-11600K
70 single 72
multi 70
gaming 69
efficiency 78
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Core i9-9900K | Core i5-11600K |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Coffee Lake Refresh | Rocket Lake |
| Cores | ▲ 8 | 6 |
| Threads | ▲ 16 | 12 |
| TDP | 95 W | 125 W |
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1200 |
| Release year | 2018 | 2021 |
Core i9-9900K
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 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
FAQ: Core i9-9900K vs Core i5-11600K
Which is better, Core i9-9900K or Core i5-11600K? +
Core i5-11600K scores 70 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Core i9-9900K worth the price? +
At $488, Core i9-9900K delivers a Specdex score of 68 — strongest in efficiency.
Is Core i5-11600K worth the price? +
At $269, Core i5-11600K delivers a Specdex score of 70 — strongest in efficiency.
Does Core i9-9900K or Core i5-11600K 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.