Intel Core i9-10900F vs Intel Core i9-11900T Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900T and Intel Core i9-10900F are both end-of-life desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1200 platform, yet they represent two distinct philosophies from Intel’s 11th and 10th generations. The 11900T is a low-power Rocket Lake part designed for efficiency, while the 10900F is a higher-power Comet Lake chip with more cores. Benchmark data shows the 10900F wins the majority of head-to-head tests, but the 11900T claims a significant single-core victory in Geekbench. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the 11900T at 4685 and the 10900F at 4664, a delta of just 0.5% in favor of the 11900T. Both CPUs sit at the 58th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are evenly matched overall despite their architectural differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900F has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i9-11900T has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The 11900T has an average benchmark score of 4685, while the 10900F scores 4664. The 11900T leads by 0.5%, and both processors occupy the 58th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: In which benchmark does the 11900T beat the 10900F?

A: The 11900T wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 2157, compared to 1708 for the 10900F, a 26.3% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The 11900T has a TDP of 35 watts, whereas the 10900F has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Which processor has faster memory bandwidth?

A: The 11900T supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the 10900F supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: No, the 11900T includes UHD Graphics 750, while the 10900F has no integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i9-11900T is built on the Rocket Lake architecture, while the Intel Core i9-10900F uses Comet Lake. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node and use the same Intel Socket 1200, but the internal designs diverge sharply. Rocket Lake represents a new core design with a different cache hierarchy: the 11900T features 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the 10900F has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache also differs, with the 11900T offering 16 MB shared versus 20 MB shared on the 10900F.

The 11900T has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the 10900F runs at a 2800 MHz base and a 5.20 GHz boost. The 10900F compensates for its older architecture with two additional cores and higher clock speeds, but the 11900T counters with a newer core design and a much lower 35 W TDP versus the 10900F’s 65 W TDP. Memory and I/O also differ: the 11900T supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 10900F is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The 11900T has integrated UHD Graphics 750, a feature absent from the 10900F. Both processors lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The die size for the 11900T is 276 mm²; the 10900F’s die size is not listed.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split decision. The Intel Core i9-10900F is the multi-threaded workhorse, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and Geekbench multi-core. Its 10 cores and higher boost clock give it a consistent 6.9% lead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, plus a 2.2% edge in Geekbench multi-core. For users running heavily threaded workloads like video rendering or compilation, the 10900F is the stronger pick.

The Intel Core i9-11900T is the single-core specialist and efficiency champion. It wins Geekbench single-core by a commanding 26.3%, a massive margin that reflects its newer Rocket Lake core design. Its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for compact or thermally constrained systems, and it includes integrated graphics, which the 10900F lacks. The 11900T also supports faster PCIe Gen 4 storage and graphics. However, the 10900F’s extra cores and raw clock speed dominate most productivity benchmarks. For general desktop use with lighter loads, the 11900T’s single-core strength is valuable, but for sustained multi-core performance, the 10900F is the better investment based on benchmark results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The 11900T has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 10900F has 10 cores and 20 threads. The 11900T’s base clock is 1500 MHz compared to 2800 MHz on the 10900F, and the boost clock is 4.90 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. The TDP is 35 watts on the 11900T versus 65 watts on the 10900F.

Cache configurations vary: the 11900T has 80 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with 16 MB shared L3, while the 10900F has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 20 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is higher on the 11900T at 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s on the 10900F. PCIe support differs, with the 11900T offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes and the 10900F offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The 11900T includes UHD Graphics 750, while the 10900F has no integrated graphics. The release dates are March 2021 for the 11900T and April 2020 for the 10900F, and the launch MSRP for the 11900T is $439, while the 10900F launched at $464. The 11900T has a listed die size of 276 mm², but the 10900F’s is not provided.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are overwhelmingly in favor of the Intel Core i9-10900F, but the one win for the 11900T is decisive. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 10900F scores 1688 against 1572 for the 11900T, a 6.9% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the 10900F ahead at 238 versus 221, a 7.1% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the 10900F leads multi-core with 7036 versus 6550, again by 6.9%, and single-core with 993 versus 924, another 6.9% gap. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: the 10900F wins multi-core 16753 to 15596, and single-core 2365 to 2201, both at 6.9% deltas. Geekbench multi-core also goes to the 10900F, 8447 to 8257, a 2.2% lead.

The sole win for the 11900T is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 2157 against the 10900F’s 1708. That is a 26.3% advantage, the largest delta of any test. This result highlights the architectural efficiency of Rocket Lake’s newer cores, which deliver far superior per-thread performance despite the 11900T’s lower clock speeds. The 10900F’s wins are consistent but modest in percentage terms, ranging from 2.2% to 7.1%. The 11900T also benefits from its integrated graphics, a feature that does not appear in these CPU benchmarks but adds functionality the 10900F cannot offer. Overall, the 10900F wins 7 benchmarks to 1, but the 11900T’s single-core dominance and lower power draw make it a compelling alternative for specific use cases.