Are you building your new PC game rig or workstation? The CPU choice between AMD ryzen and Intel is one of the primary considerations and is heated a macOS versus Windows. AMD and Intel have a wide range of audiences, making it tricky to get unbiased advice about the best choice for your next processor.
However, to some extent, the answer is obvious. If you are looking for the best balance of performance in both gaming and productivity at an affordable price point, then Intel chips offer excellent value. On the other hand, if you want to play the most advanced gaming titles on your PC, then AMD processors win.
If you are still unsure which CPU is best for you, check out our Intel vs AMD guide to make an informed decision.
Intel vs. AMD: Brief History Overview
AMD laptops and Intel are two big names in the CPU market and for a good reason. Both brands have been duking it to make the fastest, best, and feature-rich processors for gamers and professionals alike. They’ve gone back and forth a few times with Intel manufacturing revolutionary chips and AMD focusing on groundbreaking designs. AMD turned things around with the introduction of Ryzen processors. The main difference between both brands is that Intel has much stronger revenue streams and higher R&D budgets. AMD also innovated, and its selling point aligns with making budget chips. Nowadays, Intel and AMD are competing neck to neck, thanks to their latest designs and cutting-edge performance.
Intel vs. AMD: Core Count
A core is a small processor fixed within a larger chipset. It is responsible for independent computations within the CPU. The number of cores varies in Intel and AMD Ryzen processors – the higher, the better. Intel processors have more cores than AMD, which means they can easily tackle multitasking. They also perform well in many demanding applications compared to Ryzen chips.
Intel vs. AMD: Clock Speed
Clock speed determines how fast a processor can execute instructions within a single cycle. Higher clock speeds generally lead to faster performance. Intel CPUs are known to have more clock speed, which is necessary to perform intense tasks and games. However, the AMD Ryzen 9 processors offer the fastest clock speed and outperform the many Intel contenders in first-person shooter games.
Intel vs. AMD: Overclocking
Overclocking is the process that boosts a processor’s performance more than it is capable of. You can easily overclock your CPU to squeeze more power out of it instead of investing in a high-end flagship CPU.
Ryzen processors are the clear winner here. AMD offers a plethora ofmany advantages, such as bundled coolers and full overclock ability on most models, and the most exclusive feature is innovative Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) auto-overclocking. You can overclock all the Ryzen chips to 5GHz; its A-Series motherboards are a boon for enthusiasts. On the other hand, not every Intel processor can be overclocked except those marked with “K”. Otherwise, overclocking Intel’s processor can cause significant damage to computer hardware.
Intel vs. AMD: Chipset
A chipset is a bundle of integrated circuits within the processor that controls the data flow. Ryzen chipset follows a Zen microarchitecture to work on a high multi-thread performance module. It is ideal for multitasking and resource-intensive programs like 3D rendering, virtualisation, and video editing. In the meantime, the Intel chipset only supports single-core applications. Undoubtedly, their chipset offers impressive performance; however, they may need to be more productive than AMD processors.
Intel vs. AMD: Cooling
AMD generally has better cooling solutions than Intel — most AMD processor coolers support moderate overclocking, but the company no longer integrates them with any of the ‘X’ models. Meanwhile, Intel hasn’t invested in an efficient cooler in its pricey K-series modes. So, you may have to budget for overclocking an Intel CPU.
If you look at the downstream models, both brands include bundled coolers, but Intel coolers are flimsy and efficient within an affordable package. In contrast, AMD has solid coolers that often provide headroom for overclocking. Intell has undoubtedly significantly improved its coolers, but the aesthetic and slight thermal improvements still do not match AMD’s coolers; plus, they aren’t available on all models.
Intel vs. AMD: Integrated Graphics
Many PC users buy a discrete graphics card, but there are many applications where integrated graphics performance is sufficient. Many mini desktop PCs and laptops rely on integrated graphics and can beautifully handle mainstream games.
AMD processors rely on Radeon discrete video cards with newer AMD processors. Intel, on the other hand, supports Intel Iris Xe graphics. The advanced AMD integrated graphics option, the Radeon RX 780M, is roughly twice as fast as the Intel Iris Xe. However, not all AMD CPUs have the fastest version of integrated graphics. Both brands greatly emphasise integrated graphics for mobile CPUs, but AMD takes the crown overall.
Intel vs. AMD: Gaming
This is where things get murky because it’s just about the processor’s speed. Intel and AMD are closely matched, but AMD gaming laptops take the lead for a good reason.
Purchasing an AMD processor will generally leave you with better game performance, primarily at the high end, where AMD’s 3D V-Cache processors outshine. However, if you calculate complex AI in a video game, you need higher instructions-per-clock (IPC) and single-thread clock speed is appreciated, so Intel processors take the edge.
AMD’s lead is improved by its new AM5 socket, a more future-proof alternative to Intel’s outgoing Socket 1700. AMD also wins in integrated graphics and overclocking performance, which is necessary for the Mini PC and handheld PC gaming.
Intel vs. AMD: Content Creation and Productivity
AMD processors outperform gaming, but that doesn’t mean Intel gaming laptop is a wrong decision. On the desktop side, Intel’s huge core counts and better clock speed deliver outstanding results in content creation and productivity tasks.
Laptop users will also lean towards Intel, as Intel processors are widely available and bring good performance right out of the box. Intel’s mid-range flagships offer more bang for your bang in demanding multi-threaded applications like transcoding, video editing, or 3D rendering.
Intel vs. AMD: Price
Price is the most crucial consideration for every PC buyer outside. Generally, AMD chips are hard to beat in the budget department. AMD’s portfolio was known to be more affordable than Intel’s offerings while still maintaining outstanding multi-threaded performance and the best thermal solutions.
However, with time, things have turned out significantly. Intel is fully committed to winning the industry, as seen in its Raptor Lake chips, which have the performance lead and a brutally competitive price tag. Raptor Lake boasts incredible reduction in price-per-core and price-per-thread metrics, allowing Intel to take value badge from AMD Ryzen i5, i7, or i9.
Bottom Line
In this comprehensive Intel vs. AMD guide, we compared two giant processor brands based on different factors. Intel and AMD are big names in the CPU industry, bringing unique benefits and drawbacks to your table. AMD places a considerable emphasis on performance enhancement and coolers. Meanwhile, Intel’s flagships excel in core count, clock speeds, and multi-threaded activities. On the gaming side, AMD’s Ryzen is the king of the hill, the best processor for gaming– offering flagship gaming performance at incredible efficiency and budget. Finally, when shopping for a processor, you may have to determine your needs and the budget in your pocket.
