Intel

Intel Core i7-11700K

Name: Intel Core i7-11700K
Brand: Intel
SKU: intel-core-i7-11700k
Price: 282.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Intel's 11th-gen Rocket Lake eight-core on LGA1200, the first to support PCIe 4.0 and infamous for running hot, now found only on the used market.

In stock8 cores / 16 threads5.0 GHz boostPCIe Gen 4.0LGA1200 socketNo cooler included

8 cores / 16 threads5.0 GHz boostPCIe Gen 4.0LGA1200 socketNo cooler included

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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

The PCIe 4.0 debut on LGA1200 that ran notoriously hot, best approached with caution at any used price.

75/100

vs. other ageing used LGA1200 eight-core CPUs
Scored within its class as an ageing used LGA1200 eight-core CPU, not against current-gen LGA1700 hybrid chips or AMD Zen 3 alternatives.

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What we think

Swipe or tap to explore what we like, what to watch for, and who it's for

First Intel desktop PCIe 4.0

Rocket Lake brought PCIe 4.0 to Intel's LGA1200 platform, enabling full PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD speeds and bandwidth for compatible GPUs. This was Intel's parity response to AMD's PCIe 4.0 advantage.

5.0 GHz boost potential

5.0 GHz single-core boost was competitive for 2021. Games and single-threaded tasks hit the available clock headroom, and on a quality 500-series board with good cooling it's achievable.

Compatible with 400 and 500 series boards

Works with Intel 400-series boards with a BIOS update, and natively on 500-series. If you're on either platform, this is the best available chip for those boards.

Unlocked for overclocking

K suffix means the multiplier is unlocked on Z590 boards. Some headroom exists beyond stock, though Rocket Lake's architecture limits how far practical OC goes before temperatures become the constraint.

In our testing

The 11700K is the hot-running oddity of the LGA1200 lineup. It draws more power than expected for 8 cores and runs warm. If you're on a 500-series board, it's the platform peak but Zen 3 is still better value.

−

Runs significantly hot for 8 cores

Rocket Lake is architecturally power-hungry relative to its performance. The i7-11700K can draw more power and produce more heat than equivalent Comet Lake chips. A capable cooler is essential.

−

IPC per clock below Zen 3

Despite strong clocks, the Rocket Lake architecture delivers lower IPC than AMD's Zen 3. In gaming and productivity at similar clocks, Zen 3 wins. The 11th gen was not Intel's strongest generation.

−

No cooler in the box

Ships without a CPU cooler. Combined with the higher-than-expected heat output, a quality 240mm AIO or large tower cooler is recommended rather than a budget cooler.

−

12th gen Alder Lake massively outperforms it

The i7-12700K on LGA1700 is a dramatic improvement over the 11700K and is often available at similar or lower used prices. At any budget where there's a choice, the 12th gen chip wins decisively.

Worth knowing

The 11th gen was Intel's weakest performance generation in years. Caught between Zen 3 above and Alder Lake below in time, the 11700K was commercially reasonable but technically disappointing. It's the weakest LGA1200 pick at any used price.

Best for

Intel 500-series board owners with limited options

If you're on a Z590 or B560 board and the 11700K is the available chip at a very low price, it gets the job done. There's no better choice on the 500-series without buying new hardware.

Skip if

Anyone with a choice between this and Zen 3 or 12th gen

If Zen 3 chips or LGA1700 12th gen options are available at similar prices, buy those instead. The 11700K underperforms both at any comparable price point.

Our take

The weakest of the LGA1200 chips. It runs hot, its IPC trails Zen 3, and 12th gen Alder Lake is a better chip at similar or lower used prices. Approach with caution and a decent cooler.

How it performs & what it pairs with

Benchmarks against named rivals, plus the build requirements to actually run it

Benchmarks

Stock clocks, 240mm AIO cooler, RTX 4060, DDR4-3200

Counter-Strike 2 (1080p competitive)

Core i7-11700K

370 fps avg

Core i7-10700K

368 fps avg

Ryzen 7 5700X

404 fps avg

Cinebench R23 multi-core

Core i7-11700K

16400 pts

Core i7-10700K

15400 pts

Ryzen 7 5700X

14900 pts

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p high)

Core i7-11700K

78 fps avg

Core i7-10700K

78 fps avg

Ryzen 7 5700X

91 fps avg

Test bench

Tested with RTX 4060, 16GB DDR4-3200, Windows 11 24H2. Stock clocks, 240mm AIO required for stable sustained operation.

Build compatibility

What your PC needs

✓

LGA1200 socket, 500-series native

Native on Z590 and B560. Works with 400-series boards with a BIOS update. Z590 for full overclocking access.

No cooler included, runs hot

No bundled cooler. Rocket Lake draws high power relative to performance. A 240mm AIO or large tower is strongly recommended.

✓

PCIe Gen 4.0

First LGA1200 chip with PCIe 4.0 support. Enables full-bandwidth PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs.

12th gen is a better used buy

The i7-12700K on LGA1700 often costs similarly on the used market and delivers dramatically better performance.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used LGA1200 eight-core CPUs

75/100

Best in class scored 84
Class average 66
Lowest in class 48

Gaming performance68 / 100

Decent gaming but Zen 3 IPC leads at similar prices

Multi-threaded performance66 / 100

8 cores and 16 threads, Rocket Lake IPC trails Zen 3

Power efficiency44 / 100

Runs hot and draws more power than performance warrants

PCIe 4.0 bandwidth80 / 100

First LGA1200 chip with PCIe 4.0, useful for fast NVMe

Who this is right for

Picture yourself in these scenarios. How well does this fit?

Intel 500-series board owner

Has a Z590 or B560 board and the 11700K is the best available chip for it. At a very low price it rounds out the platform's capability, though cooling demands are higher than expected.

Okay fit

LGA1200 used system buyer

Buying a used system that comes with an 11700K already installed. Functional for 1080p gaming and productivity. Just make sure the existing cooling is adequate.

Okay fit

Budget used gaming builder

The 11700K at a very low price is better than nothing for 1080p gaming. The 10700K or 10700F are often better value at similar prices for this same use case.

Okay fit

Anyone comparing to LGA1700 or Zen 3

The i7-12700K on LGA1700 delivers dramatically better performance. Used Zen 3 chips beat it in gaming IPC. At any similar price, there are clearly better options.

Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

generation11th gen Rocket Lake

11th gen Rocket Lake is the weakest of Intel's modern desktop generations. It offers PCIe 4.0 but trails Zen 3 in IPC and draws more power than its performance warrants.

pcie_genPCIe Gen 4.0

First Intel desktop chip to support PCIe 4.0, enabling fast NVMe SSD bandwidth. This was the chip's main advantage over 10th gen at launch and remains relevant for fast storage builds.

thermal_profileHigh for 8 cores

The 11700K runs hot relative to its performance. Budget for a quality 240mm AIO or substantial tower cooler. Cheap or compact coolers will throttle the chip under sustained loads.

socketLGA1200

LGA1200 platform reached end of life after 11th gen. No further CPU upgrades. Intel's 12th gen moved to LGA1700 with a dramatically better architecture.

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

Is the i7-11700K worth buying over the i7-10700K?

Usually not. The 10700K often delivers better performance per pound at similar used prices, runs cooler, and the PCIe 4.0 advantage of the 11700K is minimal in practice. The 11700K's main value is PCIe 4.0 for fast NVMe.

Why does the i7-11700K run so hot?

Rocket Lake uses a backported desktop architecture (Cypress Cove) that wasn't designed from scratch for desktop thermals. It's architecturally inefficient relative to Zen 3 and Intel's own 12th gen that followed.

What cooler does the i7-11700K need?

No cooler is included. A quality 240mm AIO or a large tower cooler like a Noctua NH-U12S is strongly recommended. Budget or compact coolers will throttle the chip under sustained load.

How does the i7-11700K compare to the i7-12700K?

Not favourably. The i7-12700K's Alder Lake architecture delivers dramatically better performance across gaming and productivity, with better efficiency. At any comparable price, the 12700K is the clear choice.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Better LGA1200 value

Intel Core i7-10700K

10th gen Comet Lake often delivers similar performance, runs cooler, and is typically available at similar or lower prices.

£329

See review →

Massive LGA1700 step up

Intel Core i7-12700K

12-core Alder Lake hybrid on LGA1700 dramatically outperforms 11th gen. Often similarly priced on the used market now.

8 Zen 3 cores at similar or lower used prices. Better gaming IPC and efficiency than Rocket Lake.

£171

See review →

Compare Electronic editors

Independent cpus comparison since 2025

Every product is scored against its own product class, not against flagship models. Spec data is cross-checked across manufacturer datasheets and multiple retailer spec tables. Prices are verified daily. We never rank by affiliate commission.

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