Intel Core i7-11700

The Intel Core i7-11700 is an 8-core, 16-thread desktop processor from the Rocket Lake generation, built on Intel’s 14nm process. It operates at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 65W TDP. The chip supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, offering 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and includes 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It had a launch MSRP of $323. In the benchmark database, the i7-11700 holds an 80th percentile rank among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23326, placing it in the upper mid-range of desktop processors.

Benchmark Performance

The i7-11700’s average benchmark score of 23326 puts it in a tight cluster of rivals. It is 0.3% above the Intel Core i9-11900F (23255) and 0.8% above the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U (23148). It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U by 0.4% (23419) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX by 0.5% (23443). These margins are within run-to-run variance, meaning the i7-11700 is effectively performance-equivalent to all four competitors in aggregate workloads.

Looking at specific tests, the Cinebench R23 results show a multi-core score of 17572 and a single-core score of 2480. The single-core figure is notably strong, reflecting the high 4.90 GHz boost clock. The multi-core score is respectable for an 8-core part, though it does not reach the scaling that a perfect 8× single-core would imply. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 7380 and single-core is 1041; in R15, they are 1771 and 249, respectively. These numbers confirm a consistent pattern: strong single-thread performance and moderate multi-thread throughput.

Passmark results reinforce this. The multithread score is 20672, while the single-thread score is 3263. The data compression score of 263563 and encryption score of 12704 indicate solid throughput in data-intensive tasks. The extended instructions score of 18323 suggests capable SIMD and cryptographic processing. The floating-point math score of 46369 and integer math score of 79687 show balanced arithmetic capability. The find prime numbers score of 55 is low, but that test is highly dependent on integer division, which is not a strength of this architecture.

In 3DMark, the processor scores 949 in single-thread, 1827 in 2-thread, 3413 in 4-thread, 5640 in 8-thread, and 7640 in max-thread tests. The progression from 2 to 8 threads shows good scaling, but the jump from 8 to max threads (which likely engages all 16 threads) yields only a 35% increase over the 8-thread score. This indicates that the additional threads provide diminishing returns in this workload, a common trait for processors with high boost clocks that cannot sustain peak frequency across all cores.

Who Should Consider It

The i7-11700 is well suited for gamers who also perform light content creation. Its single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2480 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 949, ensures high frame rates in CPU-bound games. The 8-core/16-thread configuration, with a Passmark multithread score of 20672, can handle modern game streaming, background recording, and other concurrent tasks without bottlenecking the main game thread.

For office productivity, the high single-thread performance accelerates spreadsheet recalculation, web browsing, and document processing. The multi-thread capability is sufficient for occasional video encoding or 3D rendering, as shown by the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17572. However, users who regularly run heavily threaded workloads—such as professional video editing, 3D simulation, or large-scale compilation—would benefit from a processor with more cores, as the i7-11700’s multi-thread scaling is not ideal beyond 8 threads.

The 3DMark 8-thread score of 5640 and max-thread score of 7640 suggest that the CPU performs best in workloads that use up to 8 threads, which is the typical thread count for most modern games. For tasks that can leverage 16 threads, the gains are smaller, but still present. This makes the i7-11700 a balanced choice for a single-user desktop where gaming and occasional productivity are the primary demands.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The ratio between multi-thread and single-thread scores reveals the processor’s scaling characteristics. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score of 17572 is 7.09 times the single-core score of 2480. This is close to the 8-core/16-thread topology, but the fact that it is below 8 indicates imperfect scaling, likely due to thermal or power limits. The 3DMark scores show a similar pattern: single-thread 949, 2-thread 1827 (1.93×), 4-thread 3413 (3.60×), 8-thread 5640 (5.94×), and max-thread 7640 (8.05×). The jump from 8 to max threads yields only a 35% increase, confirming that the additional threads provide diminishing returns.

Passmark results give a single-thread to multithread ratio of 6.34 (3263 vs 20672), which is lower than the Cinebench ratio. This discrepancy arises because Passmark’s multithread test includes a mix of workloads that do not scale perfectly across cores. In real-world terms, the i7-11700 excels in applications that rely on high single-thread performance, such as legacy code, games, and interactive tools. For heavily threaded workloads, it performs adequately but not exceptionally, and users should expect scaling to plateau beyond 8 threads.

How It Compares

The Intel Core i9-11900F is the closest rival, with an average score of 23255, which is 0.3% below the i7-11700. The two processors are virtually identical in overall performance, which is expected given they share the same Rocket Lake architecture and core count. The i7-11700’s slight edge likely comes from its higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz, but the difference is negligible in practice.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5825U posts an average score of 23419, 0.4% higher than the i7-11700. This is a mobile processor, yet it matches the desktop part in overall benchmark average, highlighting the efficiency of the Zen 3 architecture. However, the i7-11700’s desktop platform offers more consistent sustained performance in long workloads, even though the average scores are nearly equal.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, a high-end mobile chip, scores 23443, 0.5% above the i7-11700. Again, the delta is tiny, and the two are performance-equivalent in the database’s aggregate metrics. The i7-11700’s advantage lies in its desktop socket and upgrade path, but in raw benchmark terms, there is no meaningful difference.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U scores 23148, 0.8% below the i7-11700. This is a newer low-power part, but the i7-11700 still holds a slight lead in the database’s average benchmark. The i7-11700’s higher boost clock and larger cache (16 MB L3) contribute to its edge, though the Core Ultra 5 125U is designed for efficiency rather than peak performance.

Power and Thermals

With a TDP of 65W, the i7-11700 sits in the mainstream desktop power envelope. This allows for a wide range of compatible coolers, from compact low-profile units to standard tower air coolers. The boost clock of 4.90 GHz, however, means that the CPU will draw more than 65W under sustained all-core loads, so a cooler with moderate heat dissipation capacity is recommended. The 14nm process node, while older, does not require exotic cooling solutions; a typical tower air cooler should suffice for stock operation.

The base clock of 2.50 GHz is low enough to keep idle power consumption modest, but the high boost clock demands adequate thermal headroom. For users who plan to run heavy multi-threaded workloads for extended periods, ensuring good case airflow and a cooler with a larger heatsink will help maintain boost frequencies. The i7-11700’s 65W TDP class makes it easy to cool in most desktop builds, and its power characteristics are not a limiting factor for mainstream users.