AMD vs Intel CPUs: Which is Better?

The battle between AMD and Intel for CPU supremacy has been ongoing for decades. Both companies have had their ups and downs, sometimes leading the industry and other times playing catch-up.

The competition is fiercer than ever, with companies making big innovations in their CPU lines. Deciding whether to go AMD or Intel for your next CPU upgrade has never been more complicated for consumers.

This in-depth comparison article will break down all the key differences and help you determine whether AMD or Intel is better for your current needs.

At a Glance: AMD vs Intel

Here is a high-level overview comparing AMD and Intel CPUs on key metrics:

As you can see, there are lots of close calls between AMD and Intel across these areas. Keep reading for a deep dive on how current-gen AMD Ryzen 7000 processors and Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake compare to help decide which is better for your next PC.

CPU Performance Comparison

Regarding processing power, both AMD and Intel have very compelling options right now.

AMD launched their Ryzen 7000 series based on the new Zen 4 architecture. Meanwhile, Intel introduced their 13th-generation Core series codenamed Raptor Lake, continuing to refine the hybrid performance and efficiency core design first launched with the 12th-generation Alder Lake.

Here is an overview of how they compare multi-threaded and single-threaded CPU workloads:

• Multi-Threaded Performance: In workloads leveraging many CPU cores and threads, like video editing, 3D modeling, code compiling, etc. AMD tends to have the edge right now. Their latest Ryzen 9 7950X is the current multi-threaded speed champion with its 16 cores and 32 threads. However, despite lower core counts, Intel’s i9-13900K and KS aren’t too far behind.
• Single-Threaded Performance: Intel still has a small per-core performance lead for workloads that rely more on a single fast CPU core, like gaming. The i9-13900KS can hit impressive speeds beyond 6 GHz. However, AMD is closing the gaming gap significantly with the Ryzen 7000 series.

So AMD tends to have more total CPU muscle from more cores, while Intel can boost single cores higher. But both can handle demanding productivity and creative workloads or deliver high FPS for smooth gaming. It depends on whether your software scales well across many cores or needs blistering frequencies.

Value Comparison

One area where AMD continues to excel over Intel is providing excellent performance per dollar. The latest Ryzen processors compete directly with or beat far more expensive Intel alternatives in gaming and application tasks.

Here are some current street prices that demonstrate the value difference:

• AMD Ryzen 9 7950X: $570
• Intel Core i9-13900K: $650
• Intel Core i9-13900KS: $760

As you can see, AMD gives you more cores and competitive speeds for significantly less money. In fact, AMD’s 12-core Ryzen 9 7900X costs about the same as Intel’s i7-13700K despite having four additional cores. And the step down Ryzen 7 7700X with 8-cores fits solidly into upper mid-range pricing but delivers performance equal to Intel’s flagship gaming CPU.

So if you’re on a budget or want the best bang for your buck, AMD deserves strong consideration over equivalent or even cheaper Intel models. You could invest more into your GPU or other components with the savings.

Platform Support

AMD and Intel require specific chipsets and sockets to support their latest CPUs. This can impact upgradability down the road.

For AMD they recently switched from the long-running AM4 socket to an all-new AM5 platform for Ryzen 7000 series. This means higher performance DDR5 memory support but no backward compatibility. AM4 had an impressive 6-year run so upgrading required a new motherboard.

Meanwhile, Intel rolled out their LGA1700 socket in 2021 for 12th gen Alder Lake, which continues into 13th gen Raptor Lake. There is mild backward and forward compatibility, though with caveats around power and PCIe lane limits. Many LGA115x options still exist for previous-gen Intel chips.

So in terms of future-proofing your system, both platforms should receive at least one more annual update. Though AMD’s record of sticking with AM4 for so long was quite consumer-friendly. The choice may come down to whether DDR5 support matters right now.

Power Efficiency Comparison

In addition to delivering excellent performance, the latest AMD and Intel CPUs are also very power efficient. They require much less wattage than previous generations while outpacing them significantly in speed.

However, AMD continues to have a clear efficiency lead right now:

• AMD Ryzen 7000 can match Intel’s performance while consuming around 25% less package power on average.
• Intel 13th Gen remains speedy but uses more total system power to achieve that.
• Under load, the Ryzen 9 7950X consumes about 115W Package Power (PPT) limit, while the i9-13900K uses up to 253W Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 (automated overclocking).

So, while both CPU lines should run fine with a quality power supply, an AMD system will produce less heat and need less cooling. That matters for small form factors cases. And the energy savings over years of use does add up.

Integrated Graphics Comparison

Having integrated graphics on your CPU can be very convenient. It allows basic video output without a GPU. All AMD Ryzen processors include their Radeon graphics built-in. Most Intel consumer CPUs also have Intel UHD graphics on the chip itself.

The main advantage of iGPUs is they can handle basic desktop usage with web browsing, video playback, and office workloads without issues. They utilize shared system memory to avoid the cost of a video card for non-gaming systems.

But there are some key notes about Intel’s integrated graphics support:

• Budget Pentium and Celeron chips do not have Intel-integrated graphics.
• Intel K-Series processors designed for overclocking also lack iGPUs in the -KF models. The standard K-chips do still include UHD graphics.

So, as long as you don’t buy the -F variants of Intel CPUs, integrated Intel UHD or AMD Radeon graphics allow a display output without a discrete GPU. This can be very convenient for home theater PCs and general office work.

Overclocking Comparison

Enthusiasts who want to push their AMD or Intel CPUs beyond stock speeds will be happy to know both manufacturers support overclocking for most models. However, the overclocking approach does differ somewhat between them.

AMD Overclocking:

• All Ryzen processor tiers from the budget Ryzen 3 up to flagship Ryzen 9 models support overclocking the CPU clock speed.
• Overclocking automatically lifts the power limits and thermal velocities to achieve higher sustained clock rates across all CPU cores via Precision Boost algorithms.
• AMD overclocking relies heavily on upgraded cooling solutions to see meaningful gains over stock settings. A beefy air cooler or all-in-one liquid solution and a quality motherboard power delivery system are recommended.

Intel Overclocking:

• Intel segments overclocking support to only K-Series CPUs like Core i5-13600K or Core i9-13900KS to denote unlocked multipliers. Non-K models do not allow traditional base clock overclocking.
• Intel CPUs focus heavily on peak Turbo Boost speeds across 1-2 favored cores. Their automated Turbo Boost 3.0 algorithms push power limits very high at stock.
• Cooling solutions help enable higher Turbo speeds, but even basic air coolers often see good gains on Intel K-chips. The focus is on raising the power limits and max temperatures for short single-core bursts.

For both platforms, overclocking is generally safe and accessible with proper hardware. Intel may enable higher peak clocks, but AMD sees excellent all-core frequency results from its automated Precision Boost. Ensure your PC build includes a Z-series or X670E/B650E motherboard and third-party cooler for reliable overclocking.

Security Comparison

Security vulnerabilities in any CPU architecture can cause widespread performance hits across many users as mitigations roll out. Both AMD and Intel have faced security issues:

• Intel CPUs have suffered from speculation execution vulnerabilities like Spectre and Meltdown over the past years. These hardware flaws have led to successful cyber attacks and required OS-level workarounds that eventually reduce performance.
• More recently, AMD has dealt with bugs like SpectreRSB that opened up similar speculative execution side-channel attacks. However, they avoided any reports of real-world exploits.

The good news is that AMD and Intel have teams dedicated to identifying and patching security holes. Early mitigations did incur non-trivial performance penalties but optimizations have reduced much of that impact over time. New architectures incorporate known protections up front rather than leaving existing systems vulnerable.

No technology will ever be 100% bulletproof forever. But you can rest assured that AMD and Intel prioritize security issues. Both firms now coordinate closely with the operating system and software partners when potential exploits surface.

Which is Better for Gaming?

For PC games, the latest-gen AMD and Intel CPUs can enable high frame rates in demanding titles. Esports and competitive games running on mid-range hardware will easily surpass refresh rates on most monitors with either brand.

But hardcore gamers focused on squeezing out every last frame will still find Intel CPUs deliver slightly better averages and 99th percentiles in many AAA games tested:

• Intel 13th Gen holds a 1080p gaming lead in average FPS by around 5-10% over Ryzen 7000 in many titles. The gap does shrink at higher 1440p or 4K resolution, though, where GPU limits kick in more.
• AMD isn’t too far behind and runs neck and neck with Intel in some titles. The noticeable difference is more on the Intel side at lower resolutions when the CPU gets pushed harder.
• The Ryzen 7000 integrated Radeon graphics are more capable for casual gaming than Intel’s basic UHD graphics. This only matters without a video card.

So Intel still has an advantage in raw gaming performance right now. But AMD is catching up significantly versus previous generations, enough to satisfy most players. And AMD offers better value and efficiency for the performance you get. So both are excellent gaming CPU platforms.

Which is Better for Workstations?

AMD tends to shine brighter for professional workstation tasks like video editing/rendering, 3D modeling, animation, CAD, software compiling, code development, and more. Their excellent multi-threaded performance from more physical cores greatly supports these demanding productivity apps.

Content creators should strongly consider AMD Ryzen for the best workflow experience:

• Apps like Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, Blender, Cinema 4D, and V-Ray all thrive on having more real CPU cores and threads.
• AMD configures cores in CCX complexes to reduce latency and improve cache utilization compared to Intel designs.
• Professional software is optimized to scale across many concurrent threads, which fits Ryzen’s strengths.

That’s not to say Intel can’t also handle professional workloads; they certainly can. But AMD’s superb multi-tasking throughput via higher core counts makes them the natural fit for most workstation use cases today. Just pair them with plenty of RAM and SSD storage space!

Which is More future-proof?

AMD and Intel continually innovate and push CPU performance forward at an incredible pace year after year. So, no matter which platform you choose today, you can expect support and speed boosts.

In terms of future-proofing, AMD’s brand new AM5 platform built to support next-gen technologies is compelling:

• The AM5 socket will likely last through at least the Ryzen 8000 series a few years from now.
• It supports key technologies like blistering fast DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 for the latest bandwidth-hungry GPUs and NVMe SSDs.
• AMD has tons of headroom to scale core counts higher, along with hardware-accelerated AI processing coming later.

However, Intel’s proven consistency in delivering modest performance gains each generation is not to be discounted. Gamers can count on Intel continuing to fine-tune architectures to extract every last bit of speed possible. Just expect a looming socket change down the road.

Either way, you can’t go wrong regarding future-proofing with leading-edge AMD Ryzen 7000 or Intel 13th Gen platforms today. Both support key next-gen standards and promise years of similar upgrades to come.

AMD vs Intel: Which is Better in?

AMD Ryzen 7000 processors go toe-to-toe with Intel 13th Gen Core and even surpass them in many usage scenarios. Ryzen’s excellent, well-rounded performance, superb value, and power efficiency make it our top choice for most users.

Intel maintains a slight gaming crown, and its overclocking chops never disappoint. But overall, AMD takes more checkmarks as the better option for shoppers today, thanks to the technology leadership of Zen 4 displays.

Of course, picking an optimal CPU still depends greatly on your budget, your PC’s purpose, and supporting hardware. You can’t go wrong either way. Both AMD Ryzen and Intel Core will provide excellent experiences. However, when evaluating the overall package deal, AMD deserves strong consideration in 2023 as they continue their resurgence, shaking up the processor landscape.