The traditional decision between AMD and Intel is still crucial when constructing a new PC. Similar to the age-old argument between macOS and Windows, one of the most interesting subjects for PC aficionados is the competition between AMD and Intel.
With AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs and Intel’s 13th-generation Raptor Lake processors on the scene, the battle is now more fierce. Let’s move past the previous head-to-head matchup and concentrate on the present as we examine the AMD vs. Intel conflict as it is right now.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE AMD-INTEL HISTORY
Two titans of the PC industry, AMD and Intel, have been engaged in a decades-long struggle for supremacy. In order to provide professionals, gamers, and casual users with the quickest, most potent, and feature-rich processors, they have continuously pushed the envelope.
They have been in a back-and-forth dialogue throughout the years, with AMD launching innovative designs and Intel responding with ground-breaking chips. However, the introduction of AMD’s Ryzen processors in 2017 signaled a paradigm shift.
These chips heralded a new age of competition and upended the industry by challenging Intel’s hegemony. Now, with more cores, faster clocks, and cutting-edge features in their newest designs, both businesses are competing head-to-head to give unmatched CPU performance.
Pexels/Jeremy Waterhouse AMD and Intel CPU prices are essentially comparable.
PRICE AND PERFORMANCE
When it comes to processors, AMD and Intel provide sizable portfolios that you should take into account when upgrading your PC. The 13th generation Raptor Lake CPUs from Intel and the AMD Ryzen 7000 series are the main attractions.
These products have clock rates that are creeping up to 6GHz, up to 24 cores, and cache sizes that blow beyond those of CPUs from earlier generations. Let’s examine the most recent mainstream CPUs produced by both companies:
AMD AND INTEL PROCESSOR COMPARISON
Both AMD and Intel provide Ryzen 5000 and Alder Lake 12th-generation alternatives, which are from their respective earlier generations. Although these are respectable options, they fall short of the functionality and capabilities of their most recent equivalents. With options starting at $50, both companies also cater to customers on a tight budget. These work best, nevertheless, for tasks requiring minimal computing.
THE QUEST FOR THE FASTEST PROCESSOR
When it comes to gaming and productivity tasks like transcoding and video editing, both AMD and Intel provide good choices. Although the midrange segment offers the best value, both manufacturers’ flagship CPUs excel at demanding multi-threaded tasks and gaming.
While AMD’s top-tier CPU has a more conventional 16-core, 32-thread arrangement, Intel’s Core i9-13900K has 24 cores (8 + 16) and can support up to 32 threads. These chips perform exceptionally well in office applications and compete fiercely in demanding games. AMD wins in apps that depend on strong individual cores, while the 13900K wins in cases that make use of more cores.
Hardsoft/Stock Photo | In 2022, Intel’s revenue from data center CPUs decreased by 16% year over year.
Around $300 is where Intel’s Core i5-13600K strikes the sweet spot for gamers looking for outstanding value. However, the 7700X, although being more expensive, performs less competitively than its Intel cousin, and AMD’s 7600X lags. AMD’s 3D V-Cache processors, on the other hand, are designed with gamers in mind and offer an alternate gaming-oriented solution.
HIGH-END DESKTOP PROCESSORS
If you’re a heavy user who edits high-resolution videos, does extensive video transcoding, or works with computer animation, you need a significant amount of processing power spread across multiple cores. While many people are content with standard CPUs, those looking for even more power might want to look at high-end desktop (HEDT) CPUs.
Even though Intel still sells HEDT CPUs, such as the 18-core Core i9-10980XE, their current high-end mainstream models have surpassed them. On the other hand, AMD’s Threadripper Pro line, which is a component of the Ryzen 5000 series, rules this market. These Threadripper CPUs are powerful processors with 24, 32, and even 64 cores.
These CPUs provide twice as many threads concurrently while keeping clock rates close to 4.5GHz. Their superior performance overrides that of Intel’s competitors, and they support 128 PCI-Express lanes as opposed to Intel’s 44, which makes them more appropriate for large storage arrays.
Although spending thousands on a 64-core 5995WX may seem excessive, the productivity advantages could make the cost justifiable. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 Threadripper CPUs, which might potentially offer an astounding 96-core Threadripper CPU, promise even better capabilities in 2023.
James Montantes/Stock Photos | A variety of technologies are provided by AMD and Intel to improve user experience.
LAPTOP PROCESSORS
A distinct picture is painted by the laptop market. While AMD CPUs are becoming more common, many laptops are still equipped with Intel processors of various versions. Both the new Ryzen 6000 and the soon-to-be Ryzen 7000 mobile CPUs provide remarkable increases in performance and economy.
The Raptor Lake generation of Intel’s most recent laptop CPUs is accessible in the majority of laptop market categories. The Alder Lake lineup consists of high-power H and HX models, efficient-performance P, and low-power U variants. These models differ in terms of performance; certain H and HX CPUs have fewer cores than P CPUs. This emphasizes how crucial task-specific performance is.
Ryzen mobile CPUs come in different tiers:
C: Low power
U: Efficient performance
HS: Efficient high, performance
H/HX: Highest performance
Battery life and integrated graphics are given priority in laptops with U- and P-type CPUs. On the other hand, H and HX CPUs are designed for workstation and gaming laptops and are frequently combined with strong GPUs.
AMD’s new Ryzen 7000 series is establishing its supremacy in laptop high-end performance. It is unknown what form the mainstream chips will take.
