Intel Core i9-11900K
The current Intel Core i9-11900K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i9-11900K. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt $434 the Intel Core i9-11900K is priced in line with its $434 representative market level. Only one verified new offer stands behind it, so the level can move quickly.
Consider: Intel Core Ultra 5 225F offers stronger value around $129.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i9-11900K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9-11900K | Newegg | New | $434 | 20 | 2026-11-08 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i9-11900K | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 17 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#116 of 270 graded processors
- #113 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 8600G 15
- #114 IntelIntel Core i9-7940X 15
- #115 IntelIntel Core i5-14400 15
- #116 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 15
- #117 IntelIntel Core i9-9920X 14
- #118 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2699 v4 14
- #119 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 14
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#215 of 270 currently priced processors
- #212 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 6950X 20
- #213 AMDAMD Athlon X4 860K 20
- #214 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KS 20
- #215 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 20
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 19
- #217 AMDAMD Athlon X4 760K 19
- #218 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 19
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#97 of 270 graded processors
- #94 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5900X 65
- #95 IntelIntel Core i7-12700F 65
- #96 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7600 65
- #97 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 65
- #98 IntelIntel Core i5-14400F 64
- #99 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 8500G 64
- #100 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 64
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#153 of 270 currently priced processors
- #150 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 38
- #151 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 38
- #152 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 38
- #153 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 38
- #154 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600G 37
- #155 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 37
- #156 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 37
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#116 of 270 graded processors
- #113 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 8600G 15
- #114 IntelIntel Core i9-7940X 15
- #115 IntelIntel Core i5-14400 15
- #116 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 15
- #117 IntelIntel Core i9-9920X 14
- #118 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2699 v4 14
- #119 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 14
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#159 of 270 currently priced processors
- #156 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 3800X 30
- #157 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 30
- #158 IntelIntel Core i5-10600 30
- #159 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 30
- #160 IntelIntel Core i9-7940X 30
- #161 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2400G 30
- #162 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 30
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#147 of 270 graded processors
- #144 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 23
- #145 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 21
- #146 IntelIntel Xeon E 2236 21
- #147 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 20
- #148 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 20
- #149 IntelIntel Core i5-11500 20
- #150 IntelIntel Core i5-9500T 20
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#218 of 270 currently priced processors
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-6600T 14
- #216 IntelIntel Core i9-10920X 14
- #217 IntelIntel Core i9-13900 13
- #218 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 13
- #219 AMDAMD Threadripper 2920X 13
- #220 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 13
- #221 IntelIntel Core i9-10940X 13
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value20 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 49 +176% capability · -24% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 225F 88 +25% capability |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value38 | Higher capability Ryzen 7 9850X3D S 72 +55% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 100 +7% capability · -76% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeC Value30 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus S 98 +176% capability · -24% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 100 +93% capability |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value13 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 9 7900 S 37 +397% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 100 +100% capability |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallycompeting products deliver so much more per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 225F holds Relative Value 88 against its 20 with Balanced priorities. Check on Amazon.
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades only F there
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 100 against its 38 for Gaming, at $106
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades C for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades C there; Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus grades S at $330
- You want strong value for Productivity specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Productivity per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 30 for Productivity. Check on Amazon.
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Performance per Watt, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 9 7900 reaches S. Check on Amazon.
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 100 against its 13 for Performance per Watt. Check on Amazon.
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i9-11900K
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- Performance cores
- 8
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3500 MHz
- Boost clock
- 5300 MHz
Power / Interface
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 4 MB
- L3 cache
- 16 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2021
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8070804400161
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09
What to check in your build
LGA 1200 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1200. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 225 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 225 W on socket LGA 1200.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i9-11900K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #116 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 702. Intel Core Ultra 5 225F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-11900K offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #97 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 702. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-11900K offers C-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #116 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 702. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i9-11900K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #147 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 702. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 · formula cpu-value-v6.1 · facts facts-2026-11-09 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.