My Build: Intel® Core™ i9-11900K on an ASUS PRIME Z490-P
I recently picked up an ASUS PRIME Z490-P motherboard for $101.22 new from Newegg. This motherboard is older and more budget-friendly, but it still packs a punch. The Z490-P features the Intel® Z490 chipset, two M.2 slots, six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and overall solid build quality for its price point. Although this motherboard was originally designed for 10th Gen Intel CPUs, a BIOS update allows it to support 11th Gen Intel processors, including the i9-11900K used in my build.
The Heart of the System – Intel® Core™ i9-11900K
Although the Intel® Core™ i9-11900K isn’t the most powerful CPU on the market, it still delivers strong performance. It’s an impressive processor that continues to hold up today, especially for gaming and general daily use. In my experience, the i9-11900K handles modern games and multitasking without issue.
The main downside is the amount of heat this CPU generates, along with its relatively high price of $460.73 on Newegg at the time of purchase. Because of this, it’s hard to call the i9-11900K the best value CPU available right now. That said, I personally enjoy using it and plan to continue running it in my system.
Intel® Core™ i9-11900K – Specs (11th Gen Intel)
Socket: LGA 1200
Cores: 8
Threads: 16
Max Turbo Boost: Up to 5.30 GHz
Cache: 16 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Memory Support: DDR4-3200
PCIe Support: PCIe 4.0 (supported on compatible motherboards with 11th Gen CPUs)
Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics 750
Reviews & Benchmarks
For in-depth community and expert opinions, check out these review hubs:
Newegg Reviews – User-submitted real-world experiences
https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i9-11th-gen-core-i9-11900k-rocket-lake-lga-1200-desktop-cpu-processor/p/N82E16819118231?srsltid=AfmBOoqRkMN9UBfuEYymfEIZNFoumHDqSsDcjBbmNbmoeF9ury5mniPg
Specs & Comparison Info – Official Intel specifications and details
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/212325/intel-core-i911900k-processor-16m-cache-up-to-5-30-ghz/specifications.html
My Thoughts
I think the Intel® Core™ i9-11900K processor is a functional and well-built CPU. In my setup, it does struggle with thermal throttling at times, although this is likely due to the cooling solution rather than a flaw with the CPU itself. While the i9-11900K is not inherently a bad processor, it has become much more expensive relative to its performance because of its age. Additionally, LGA 1200 motherboards are now considered outdated.
There are newer CPUs available that offer better performance and value for less money. Because of its age and current pricing, I would not personally recommend this CPU to most buyers today.
Note: This review is part of a classroom project.
References:
https://www.newegg.com/asus-prime-z490-p-atx-intel-motherboard-intel-z490-lga-1200/p/N82E16813119272