The gap changes with resolution.
CPU differences shrink as resolution rises — at 4K the graphics card does most of the work.
| Resolution | i7-11700K | i9-10900K | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 76 | 72 | +6% |
| 1440p | 73 | 70 | +4% |
| 4K | 72 | 68 | +6% |
In a real build with a RTX 3080.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
| Game (1440p, paired with the RTX 3080) | i7-11700K | i9-10900K |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 298 fps | 293 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 256 fps | 251 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 128 fps | 127 fps |
| Elden Ring | 106 fps | 105 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 80 fps | 79 fps |
| Starfield | 80 fps | 79 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
The i7-11700K — it is 4% ahead at 1440p, and it holds that lead in the pairings above.
Affiliate links — we earn a small commission on Amazon purchases at no cost to you, which keeps the calculator free. Full disclosure.
Common questions.
Straight answers on the i7-11700K versus the i9-10900K.
Is the i7-11700K better than the i9-10900K?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the i7-11700K scores 73 against 70 for the i9-10900K — roughly 4% faster.
Does the i7-11700K or i9-10900K bottleneck a RTX 3080?
Paired with a RTX 3080 at 1440p, the i7-11700K build comes out balanced, and the i9-10900K build comes out balanced. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the i9-10900K to the i7-11700K?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The i7-11700K is about 4% ahead at 1440p, and gaps like that shrink further at 4K where the GPU does more of the work. If you are upgrading from the i9-10900K purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the i7-11700K or the i9-10900K?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the i7-11700K wins. The i7-11700K lists at $399 for an index of 73, and the i9-10900K at $547 for 70.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a CPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.