The difference between Intel and AMD processors and how to choose the best one for your needs?
| The difference between Intel and AMD processors and how to choose the best one for your needs? |
It is clear that the assembly of modern computers depends primarily on the successful and correct choice of the appropriate central processor. From this standpoint, the question of what is the difference between Intel and AMD processors and which brand is better is one of the most common questions in the technical community. Therefore, let us delve into clarifying the difference between Intel and AMD processors through the lines of this article to help you choose the best processor.
Difference between Intel and AMD processors
If the power supply is the heart of your computer , the CPU is its brain. The CPU, or central processing unit, is the piece of hardware responsible for processing and executing all the computations in your computer. Whether you’re building a computer for gaming, video editing, or graphic design , choosing the right CPU should be your top priority.
Sure, you can rely on our guide to learn how to choose the best computer processor for all uses in 2024 , or alternatively you can check out our list of the best CPUs for video editing . If you are a video game enthusiast, you can check out our article on the best CPUs for gaming on different budgets . However, if you want personal advice, we recommend that you follow the “don’t give me a fish, but teach me how to fish” approach. Knowing all the differences or differences between Intel and AMD processors will enable you to choose the right CPU that meets your needs and fits your budget without asking or needing any external help. Talking about the difference between Intel and AMD processors could be long if we wanted to delve into explaining everything in detail. But we will try to be as brief as possible so that you do not get bored.
■ The difference between Intel and AMD processors in terms of design structure and engineering architecture
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| The difference between Intel and AMD processors |
Both Intel and AMD serve roughly the same market. That means if you’re looking to build a PC for gaming, editing, or engineering, you can simply choose any CPU from either brand. However, the architecture of both companies’ processors has become a bit different over the past few years.
Intel has adopted an architectural design known as a “hybrid design” which means that the CPU consists of two types of processing cores: “Performance Cores” and “Efficiency Cores”. This design is relatively new and replaces the old design known as multi-threading. Although the biggest benefit of this design is energy saving, this does not necessarily mean that it is the best in terms of efficiency because the architecture structure and manufacturing precision play a big role in improving efficiency.
As for AMD, it still maintains the Multithreading Design architecture, where all the CPU cores are designed in parallel and are completely identical to each other.
■ You should choose Intel processors if you are buying a Windows laptop.
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| Which is better Intel or AMD processors? |
In the past, AMD APUs were thought to offer the best value because they had more powerful integrated graphics than Intel's. But thanks to Intel's new hybrid architecture, they may be the best because they consume less power and now have excellent integrated graphics.
Why do I think Intel hybrid processors are better, you ask? The answer is clearly because of the hybrid architecture, where the efficiency cores handle simple tasks that do not require a lot of resources, making them able to perform those tasks at very low rates of consumption compared to AMD processors that require a lot of power. So, if battery life is important to you, Intel hybrid processors should be your top priority.
However, that doesn’t mean that AMD laptops are bad, quite the opposite. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop with a discrete graphics processor, AMD processors offer excellent value for the price, and they’re on par with Intel processors in gaming, if not better than them sometimes – depending on the type of processor and the category it falls into.
In short, if you want low power consumption for simple tasks, you should choose laptops with Intel hybrid processors. If you are buying a gaming laptop, you should choose a laptop with AMD or Intel processors.
However, if you want the best power consumption ever, you should consider the latest laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors because they are built on the less energy-intensive ARM architecture. But you should make sure that they can run all your special programs or your favorite games efficiently. This is a very important part in explaining the difference between Intel and AMD processors.
■ You should choose AMD processors if you are building a gaming computer.
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| Advantages and disadvantages of Intel and AMD processors |
There’s absolutely no problem if you build a gaming PC based on Intel hybrid processors. However, if you want a personal tip, I’d lean more towards AMD processors when it comes to building and assembling gaming PCs, especially AMD’s excellent X3D processors. Right now, the Ryzen 9 9800X3D is the fastest gaming CPU on the planet.
Thanks to 3D V-Cache technology and the presence of a larger L3 cache, these processors can operate at faster speeds than any other central processor in gaming. Better yet, they are cheaper than Intel processors, not to mention that they are also excellent processors for productivity tasks, creative work, and graphic design. So, with X3D processors, you get the best of both worlds.
But does this mean you have to buy AMD X3D processors for gaming? Of course not, regular AMD CPUs still offer excellent performance as do Intel hybrids for all games. But because the former are a bit cheaper compared to Intel processors, most people usually tend to build computers based on AMD processors. This is a very important point when we talk about the differences or the difference between Intel and AMD processors.
■ You should choose Intel processors if you are going to handle more multitasking.
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| Learn the difference between Intel and AMD processors |
Thanks to the hybrid architecture, and the larger number of small efficiency cores alongside the larger efficiency cores, Intel processors can perform better at multitasking. This means they are typically better at using multiple applications at the same time, including the ability to run multiple programs in the background while using heavy programs in the foreground.
To put it simply: if you prefer to play your favorite games while editing high-quality videos or recording and streaming your gaming sessions at the same time, the hybrid architecture of efficiency cores and multiple performance cores allows for better multitasking. But again, this doesn’t mean that AMD processors are bad at multitasking, it’s just that the higher number of cores in Intel’s hybrid processors ensures that multi-threaded tasks are handled a little better.
In fact, many reviews have shown that single-core performance is usually similar between Intel and AMD processors in the same price range. However, with tasks where all CPU cores are activated, Intel processors start to excel due to their higher number of cores. This is why Intel processors are a bit more expensive than their counterparts, but you will only benefit from this advantage if you are someone who works with multiple applications at the same time.
In short, if you are someone who edits a lot of videos or designs 3D models during the day, while spending most of your free time playing your favorite games at night, Intel processors are a better option than AMD processors. So, when talking about the difference between Intel and AMD processors in terms of multitasking, the blue team is the winner even if we take into account AMD Treadripper processors.
■ You should choose AMD platforms if you want the most flexible future upgrades.
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| Simple comparison explaining the difference between AMD and Intel processors |
When it comes to future upgrades, Intel has a really bad track record. In the best-case scenario, Intel motherboards can support one or two generations at most. But when you look at AMD, they continue to support the same platforms for up to three or even four years.
For example, AMD has promised to continue supporting the current AM5 platform until 2027, and possibly another year. This means that in the near future you will find more powerful and newer processors that can be used on the same motherboard. With Intel platforms, you will – most of the time – have to buy a new motherboard because the processor socket will not be able to support future generations of CPUs.
Bottom line : The difference between Intel and AMD processors doesn’t mean anything if you’re doing normal things like browsing the web, streaming videos, checking emails, working on word processing applications, and office tasks. However, you can choose between them if you feel more comfortable with either brand, and everyone wins in the end. Some of us prefer AMD, while others are more inclined towards Intel. But regardless of your preference, you should buy the best one according to your budget. Check reviews for the processor you’re looking to buy and consider other options from competitors in the same price range to see which one performs better for your type of use.