Intel 11th Gen Core i5-11600K and Core i9-11900K Review

Test Setup

We’re utilising the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero for our CPU tests today, although we’re also testing a swathe of other motherboards should you want to see what else is in the Z590 range. Don’t say we don’t work hard to give you the best information from which to decide upon your next purchase.

Intel Core i9-11900K in ABT Mode
Intel Core i5-10600K in ABT Mode
ASUS ROG Z590 Maximus XIII Hero
G.Skill Royal 3600 MHz
Corsair MP500 M.2 – OS Drive
ADATA Gammix S70 – Storage Speed Tests
Nvidia RTX 2080Ti
Corsair AX1600i
Corsair H150i with Noctua 3000 RPM fans

Overclocking

The 11th Generation i5-11600K uses the familiar Intel Turbo Boost mode to push the processor hard when it has the spare capacity to do so, either in heat or power terms. The 11th Gen Core i9-11900K however uses a technology unique to this particular processor called Adaptive Boost Technology, or ABT. This takes into account the thermal headroom, power targets, core loading and the like to push the processor as hard as possible whenever possible. This is very similar to the AMD Precision Boost technology with similar results. It’s refined enough that the gap between manually overclocking and letting the CPU/Z590 handle stuff is thin indeed, and all our tests today will be using ABT on the Core i9-11900K, and Turbo Boost 3.0 on the Core i5-11600K.

Core i5-11600K

  

Core i9-11900K

  

Core i9-11900K ABT Maximum