AMD vs. Intel: which makes the best CPUs?

When it comes to desktop and laptop processors, nan 2 biggest names successful municipality are Intel and AMD. Qualcomm is making inroads, but if you want highest performance, Intel and AMD make nan best processors for gaming and superior productivity.

Still, it’s not each sunshine and rainbows for these manufacture titans. AMD’s astir caller Ryzen 9000 CPUs were met pinch a lukewarm reception, but past Intel’s Core Ultra 200-series were moreover little impressive. It whitethorn beryllium up to X3D CPUs and turbo modes to prevention nan day.

Even pinch a fewer missteps, though, there’s a batch going connected successful nan rivalry betwixt Intel and AMD, and we’re present to break it each down for you. From desktop to laptops, we person each of nan specifications connected nan astir caller chips from AMD and Intel, and really to prime your adjacent upgrade.

AMD vs. Intel: a little history

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

AMD and Intel are 2 of nan astir iconic names successful PC building, and for bully reason. For decades, they’ve been duking it retired to connection nan fastest, astir capable, and astir feature-rich processors for gamers, casual web browsers, and professionals alike. They’ve gone backmost and distant a fewer times complete nan years, pinch AMD launching groundbreaking designs and Intel responding pinch revolutionary chips of its own, but wherever Intel maintained a beardown grasp connected flagship capacity betwixt 2005 and 2015, AMD really turned things astir pinch nan motorboat of its Ryzen processors.

Debuting successful 2017, these chips brought nan conflict to Intel successful a much melodramatic manner than AMD had managed successful complete a decade, and ever since then, nan title has only increased. Today, Intel and AMD are cervix and cervix pinch their latest designs, offering nan top CPU capacity we’ve ever seen successful mainstream components. The latest procreation CPUs from some camps scaled backmost connected capacity leaps successful favour of ratio improvements, lowering powerfulness requirements dramatically crossed nan board.

Desktop processors: a value comparison

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

AMD and Intel some person wide ranges of processors that are each good worthy considering erstwhile it comes to your adjacent upgrade. The latest mainstream models are AMD’s Ryzen 9000 and Intel’s 14th-generation Raptor Lake.

These processors connection up to 24 cores, timepiece speeds that person yet reached 6GHz, and much cache than moreover immoderate of nan fastest CPUs of erstwhile generations could dream of. They’re not dramatically faster than nan previous, 13th-generation, though, keeping Intel’s last-gen parts still very relevant.

Here are each nan latest mainstream CPUs from AMD and Intel:

AMD

Intel

We’re focusing connected nan highlights here. AMD and Intel person aggregate different CPU models, but these are nan main touchstones. For instance, AMD has non-X versions of nan processors listed about, while Intel sells KF models that trim nan integrated graphics for a somewhat little price.

AMD besides offers a unsocial offshoot of its main processors designed specifically for gaming, known arsenic 3D V-Cache CPUs. These see nan 7950X3D and 7800X3D. These processors person further cache bolted connected to 1 of nan halfway analyzable dies wrong nan chip, giving them a large boost successful gaming power. It does mean lowering timepiece speeds, though, which impacts productivity capacity successful turn. AMD hasn’t released 3D V-Cache versions of its Ryzen 9000 CPUs yet, truthful nan 7800X3D remains nan king of gaming for now. Look retired for its replacement successful November 2024.

Intel and AMD besides connection reliable options pinch their last-generation Ryzen 7000 and 13th/14th generation, though those aren’t arsenic accelerated and don’t support each of nan latest features. Both besides person very inexpensive fund options that tin costs arsenic small arsenic $50, but they’re only recommendable for those building nan astir lightweight of PCs.

Intel will grow its latest Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200 processors successful nan months to come, while AMD is expected to debut a new-generation of X3D CPUs successful nan very adjacent future.

Which institution makes nan fastest processors?

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Intel and AMD person fantabulous processors for gaming and productivity tasks for illustration video editing and transcoding, but it’s a small spot analyzable astir which ones are “the best.” At nan clip of writing, AMD’s champion productivity CPUs are nan latest-generation 9950X and 9900X, but its champion CPU for gaming are nan last-generation 7800X3D and 7950X3D. While for Intel, its latest-generation Core Ultra 200 CPUs, for illustration nan 285K and 265K, are very efficient, but they suffer retired successful gaming capacity to astir of Intel’s last-generation counterparts, and they don’t moreover hit nan past procreation successful productivity crossed nan board.

Intel and AMD CPUs execute their respective results successful rather different ways, too. AMD’s processors usage a azygous architecture and characteristic simultaneous multi-threading to double nan supported thread count. So its apical CPU, nan 9950X, has 16 cores and supports 32 threads. Intel’s latest, connected nan different hand, usage dual architectures and person nary simultaneous multithreading. So nan 285K has 8 capacity cores, 16 ratio cores, for a full halfway count of 24, and a maximum thread count of 24.

The last-generation (and still somewhat relevant) Intel Core i9-14900K has 24 cores (8 + 16) and supports up to 32 threads. AMD besides has powerful last-gen chips, particularly nan X3D models pinch their further cache, for gaming.

Benchmarks for Intel’s 285K and 265K were overmuch much underwhelming and our latest review recovered them impressive, but acold from recommendable — particularly successful gaming and erstwhile pitted against apical CPUs from nan last-generation.

The Core Ultra 265K and 245K aren’t overmuch better. Though much businesslike again, they conscionable don’t present generational capacity uplifts and often autumn down their last-gen counterparts from either company.

If this makes you much willing successful Intel’s older CPUs, that’s a adjacent idea, but you should besides beryllium alert of the instability issues connected Intel’s 13th-gen and 14th-gen CPUs. Intel has mostly solved nan problem, which was focused connected nan Core i9-13900K and Core i9-14900K mainly, done a microcode update. However, if you’re willing successful buying 1 of these CPUs, it’s worthy keeping nan instability successful mind.

You don’t request to bargain nan champion to get a awesome CPU for gaming aliases work, though. At a much affordable price, Intel’s Core i5-13600K and 14600K are immoderate of nan champion bang for nan subordinate CPUs of their generations, offering astonishing gaming and productivity capacity for a overmuch little price. AMD tin compete connected performance, and caller value drops person made its 9600X and 9700X overmuch much charismatic alternatives, particularly aft recent capacity patches gave them a large boost.

If you’re focused chiefly connected gaming, AMD’s 3D V-Cache processors are arguably still nan champion of nan bunch. You tin spot really they execute successful our Ryzen 7 7800X3D review and Ryzen 9 7950X3D review.

There are besides older-generation CPUs worthy considering, too. AMD’s Ryzen 5000 bid are still very tin processors, pinch its 5800X3D being amazingly competitive pinch moreover nan latest and top successful games. It is simply a dormant extremity for upgrades, though, arsenic nan Ryzen 7000 and 9000 request a full caller motherboard and representation configuration. The Intel 12th-generation CPUs are awesome picks, too, pinch nan 12600K being different awesome standout successful nan midrange and a clear upgrade way to nan 13th aliases 14th procreation erstwhile you want it.

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Both companies besides connection extended ranges of fund CPUs, though you’ll beryllium stuck pinch nan erstwhile procreation for now. On Intel’s side, there’s nan fantabulous quad-core Core i3-12100F for astir $80, while AMD’s six-core Ryzen 5 5500 is astir $85 and offers comparable capacity successful games.

Intel is astir apt your champion action if you build a inexpensive strategy pinch nary discrete graphics. Although AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and 9000 CPUs person onboard graphics and AMD’s previous-generation APUs are comparatively capable, they aren’t arsenic affordable. You’d walk $120 connected a Ryzen 5 5600G aliases astir $90 connected an Intel Core i3-12100.

As it stands now, nan Core i9-14900K is nan fastest Intel CPU you tin buy, peculiarly erstwhile it comes to gaming, while nan 285K is arguably nan amended CPU for productivity However, nan Ryzen 9 9950X stands arsenic potent title if you request much powerful individual cores.

High-end desktop processors

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If you want to usage your PC for dense video editing astatine precocious resolutions aliases execute intensive video transcoding aliases CAD work, you request heaps of processing powerfulness crossed plentifulness of cores. The champion mainstream CPUs are awesome options for that, but if you request moreover much than nan 24 cores of nan 285K, you mightiness want to see a high-end desktop (HEDT) CPU.

Although Intel does person HEDT CPUs, for illustration nan 18-core Core i9-10980XE, they’re each severely outdated and easy beaten by nan latest high-end mainstream CPUs. Instead, if you request other cores and CPU power, AMD’s Threadripper Pro scope of Ryzen 7000 CPUs is your champion bet.

AMD’s Threadripper CPUs connection 24, 32, 64, and moreover 96 cores pinch support for double that number of simultaneous threads, each while maintaining timepiece speeds arsenic precocious arsenic 5.1GHz. If your package tin make usage of each those other cores, AMD’s Threadripper CPUs connection unparalleled capacity extracurricular of obscenely costly server CPUs, easy outstripping nan Intel competition. They besides support a greater number of PCI-Express lanes — 144 versus conscionable 44 connected nan Intel alternatives — making them much suited to larger retention arrays.

You’ll salary up to $10,000 for nan 96-core 7995WX, but if you tin accelerate your activity and, therefore, gain much money by utilizing 1 of these CPUs, it could beryllium good worthy it. You’ll get 64 cores for half that, though, truthful make judge your exertion tin usage immoderate halfway count you’re considering.

Laptop processors

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The laptop marketplace is simply a different story. Most notebooks you’ll find are based connected an Intel processor of various generations and integrated graphics, but AMD CPUs are increasing much common.

In nan look of Copilot+ laptops developed connected Snapdragon CPUs, AMD and Intel some person caller generations of processors successful laptops. AMD has its Ryzen AI 300 CPUs, which you tin spot successful action successful our ZenBook S 16 review. They’re based connected nan Zen 5 architecture conscionable for illustration Ryzen 9000 desktop CPUs, but AMD has a beardown attraction connected ratio and AI performance.

Compared to last-gen Ryzen 7000 and 8000 chips, caller Ryzen AI 300 CPUs don’t connection a monolithic capacity bump. And compared to high-end chips recovered successful laptops for illustration nan Asus ROG Strix Scar 17, nan caller Ryzen AI 300 CPUs are really slower. However, they tin scope astir a afloat time of artillery life successful a bladed and ray laptop, each while providing coagulated performance.

Intel’s Lunar Lake CPUs return a akin approach. They adopt a hybrid architecture for illustration Intel’s desktop CPUs, but Intel says nan businesslike cores are nan main driver of performance. Intel besides ditched Hyper-Threading connected its Lunar Lake chips, alternatively focusing connected an eight-core creation that it carries crossed its full scope of chips.

Based connected our early testing of these chips, they aren’t rather arsenic powerful arsenic we expected. They suffer retired compared to Ryzen AI 300 successful earthy performance, but Intel takes a monolithic lead erstwhile it comes to artillery life, sometimes moreover beating nan M3 MacBook Pro. Both Lunar Lake and Ryzen AI 300 present coagulated performance, but Intel’s latest CPUs are amended for longer artillery life while AMD has a flimsy separator successful wide performance.

Should you bargain AMD aliases Intel?

For mundane web browsing, watching Netflix, and answering emails, Intel and AMD CPUs will springiness you fantabulous capacity correct retired of nan box. There are definite tasks, though, wherever 1 company’s options execute amended than nan others.

If you’re looking to activity pinch your processor performing intensive multithreaded tasks for illustration video editing aliases transcoding aliases dense multitasking activities pinch tons of browser tabs open, AMD’s laptop CPUs are nan fastest, but Intel’s are adjacent down and often connection amended artillery life.

On desktop, things are a spot different. AMD’s latest Ryzen 9000 CPUs reign ultimate successful performance, and connection much azygous capacity than Intel’s 14th procreation aliases its latest Core Ultra 200 range. Although Intel has immoderate compelling alternatives, you request a bully logic to prime them complete AMD astatine nan clip of writing.

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

If you’re looking to crippled connected your desktop, AMD’s Ryzen 7800X3D is nan king of nan hill, offering flagship gaming capacity astatine an affordable value and unthinkable efficiency. The 7950X3D is worthy considering if you usage your gaming instrumentality for activity too. Intel’s champion gaming chips are its last-generation 13th and 14th procreation designs, for illustration nan 14600K, 14700K, and 13900K, but they seldom hit AMD’s 3D V-Cache alternatives. When nan Ryzen 9000X3D chips debut, they’re apt to go nan caller capacity kings.

If you’re still unsure which spot is champion for you, cheque retired our guideline connected buying a CPU for much help.