Intel Core i7-11700 vs. i7-10700KF for Gaming?

I've been trying to decide between the Intel Core i7-11700 and i7-10700KF for my new gaming PC build, and I could use some advice. Has anyone had experience with these CPUs or can recommend one over the other? Thanks in advance!

Hi @captfeelingfine, both of those CPUs are great choices for gaming. The main differences lie in their base frequencies, turbo boost speeds, and PCIe support. You might want to check out this TechReviewer article Intel Core i7-11700 vs. Intel Core i7-10700KF for a more detailed comparison.

I've been using the Core i7-11700 for a few months now and it's been great! The higher base frequency and single-core max turbo boost make a noticeable difference in games, especially for fast-paced titles. I also prefer not having to worry about overclocking since my cooler isn't top-of-the-line.

I've had the i7-10700KF for a couple of weeks now and it's been working fine for me. The higher turbo boost frequency is nice, but I haven't noticed any significant difference in gaming performance compared to my previous CPU. It's definitely capable, though.

@hired-geek, did you have any issues with the i7-11700's lack of overclocking support? I'm worried about not being able to push my CPU for better performance.

@Sacellum No, I haven't had any problems. The fact that it doesn't support overclocking isn't really a big deal for me since I don't have a high-end cooler and I value stability over maxing out performance.

@hired-geek @KadenReed, did you find that the i7-10700KF's PCIe 3.0 support limited your GPU's potential? I'm curious if it would be worth paying extra for the i7-11700 with PCIe 4.0.

That's a good point, @GrayAsWinterRain. My GPU isn't too demanding, so I haven't noticed any issues with PCIe 3.0. However, if you're planning on upgrading your GPU in the future, it might be worth going for the i7-11700.

@KadenReed Thanks for the input! Based on what you've said, it sounds like the i7-11700 might be a better choice for me since I'm also thinking about upgrading my GPU in a couple of years. What were your thoughts on the DDR support and cache sizes? Did they play a role in your decision?

@captfeelingfine The DDR support wasn't a major factor for me, but having more memory bandwidth can definitely help with gaming performance. As for the cache sizes, I didn't notice any issues with either CPU, but having more L3 cache might be beneficial if you're running resource-intensive applications alongside your games.

@captfeelingfine @KadenReed, did you experience any performance bottlenecks in your games due to the lack of overclocking support on the i7-10700KF?

@Sacellum No, I didn't face any performance issues related to overclocking. Both CPUs are capable of delivering excellent gaming experiences when paired with a good GPU.

Thanks for all the advice! Based on everything discussed, it seems like the i7-11700 might be the better choice for me. The higher base frequency and single-core max turbo boost, as well as PCIe 4.0 support, make it more appealing for my future upgrades. I'll go with that one!

That's a wise decision, @captfeelingfine. You won't be disappointed! And remember to keep an eye on TechReviewer for more in-depth CPU comparisons and reviews. Good luck with your build!