AMD vs. Intel Gaming: Which CPU is Stronger for Video Games?

The most confusing part of building a gaming rig is getting the best CPU. A gaming CPU is a normal processor that is used for any task, not just gaming but also performing other tasks like video editing, creating documents, browsing the internet, and running software applications. Intel and AMD are known for their fantastic desktop CPU lineups that deliver heavy-duty gaming performance.

The CPU battles between the two top processor manufacturers continue as each struggle to remain dominant in the CPU market. With Intel releasing the 13th Gen Intel Core, which advances the performance hybrid architecture, and the AMD Ryzen 7000 series becoming the most powerful consumer-grade CPU, choosing one over the other can be difficult. In this AMD vs. Intel gaming guide, we will compare both CPUs to establish their differences and help you choose the one that fits your needs and preferences.

AMD vs. Intel Gaming: Side-by-Side Comparison

Powerful

Intel Core i9-13900K

$579.99

• 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 32 threads
• Prioritizes distributing workloads to optimize performance
• 5.8 GHz
• Compatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series chipset-based motherboards
• Intel Optane Memory support

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04/14/2023 07:48 am GMT

AMD vs. Intel Gaming: What’s the difference?

Unless you benchmark things religiously, it would be difficult for an average user to notice the difference between the two CPUs in everyday use. On the inside, modern chips from Team Blue and Team Red are built quite differently. Without further ado, let’s examine their differences.

Gaming Performance

Intel is known for producing processors with incredible speeds. If you look at the core i9, its actual strength is in the high boost clocks. Its best strength against the AMD Ryzen is its high multi-threaded performance. This gives it an advantage over the Ryzen and the Intel 12^th Gen. Intel’s hybrid design, which includes performance and efficiency cores, packs a lot more cores into its small circuit. The single-core performance for Intel is much higher than that of AMD. The latest Intel Core i9-13900K has a top speed of up to 5.80 GHz. This is quite incredible for Raptor Lake, considering it is an 11% improvement from Alder Lake.

AMD’s latest Zen 4 processors are already measuring up to Intel’s performance. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors are hitting a maximum single-core speed of over 5.0 GHz. The most powerful AMD Ryzen 9 7950X clocks a top speed of 5.70 GHz, similar to Intel’s most powerful processor. The slight difference in speed may go unnoticed by most gamers unless you do multiple tasks, such as streaming. Although most consider the Core i9-13900K to be Intel’s fastest chip, the Core i7-13700K delivers an almost similar performance at a budget friendly cost. This makes it the preferred processor for gamers who want solid gaming performance without breaking the bank.

The Ryzen 9 7950X is a performance beast alongside the Ryzen 9 7900X. Fairly priced AMD chips like Ryzen 5 7600X are available, but they have a slower performance compared to Intel’s chips at similar price points. Intel is an undeniable king in gaming performance, offering ultra-powerful single-thread and multi-thread throughput.

Features

Both companies offer five lineups of their processors, with AMD offering the Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9, and Threadripper lines. Similarly, Intel has the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Core i9, and Cascade Lake-X families. Each lineup has features that, in most cases, are an improvement over the previous generation. In most of its offerings, the Zen 3 AMD Ryzen processors have built-in support for PCI Express 4.0. Zen 4 CPUs are PCI Express 5.0, the next PCIe generation, which is also available in Intel’s 12^th and 13^th generation. 

PCIe

The PCIe 5.0 offers advanced features, such as increased bandwidth and giga transfer rate. This explains why Intel’s 12th and 13th Gen Core CPUs have better performance and speed. However, the PCIe 5.0 support is limited to GPUs, while all other PCIe lanes are limited to PCIe 4.0. This is where Raptor Lake processors differ from AMD Ryzen 7000 processors. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors fully support PCIe 5.0 for the GPU and all the other connected lanes, including those that go to the SSD slots. This helps future-proof your computer because you can benefit from both the current GPUs and SSDs, as well as future graphics cards and storage devices.

DDR

Intel’s 12th Gen Core processors support DDR4 RAM running at 3200MHz and DDR5 at 4800MHz. However, you can go with DDR4 if you want to save some money. You must also choose the right motherboard, as some are designed for DDR4, and others for DDR5. The latest AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs work with DDR5 (5200 MHz), which is incredible. But before that excites you, there are caveats. You’ll need to purchase a motherboard and DDR5 memory to pair with the processor.

Overclocking

Regarding overclocking, Intel has more room and higher frequencies. This means you can unlock extra performance over the standard speed with Intel chips than with AMD’s Ryzen processors. However, this comes at a cost. The latest chips from AMD do not have much headroom for manual overclocking. AMD is an excellent choice for your next CPU, but it has its faults. AMD’s processors have traditionally had trouble overclocking, but the Ryzen line has changed that. Now, you can get a free performance boost from AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive feature, and it’s super easy to use.

However, if you’re looking for more performance than what your motherboard can give you out of the box, you’ll want to look at Intel processors. They’re better suited for higher-frequency gaming and video editing applications because they have more cores and faster memory access speeds than their AMD counterparts.

Price

Price is crucial for most gamers seeking to build a new gaming rig. AMD has always been the best for value, but that is changing. Intel has priced their latest Raptor Lake chips competitively, giving them an edge in the price war. Intel’s latest chips have better performance because of the increased number of cores and threads, but at a considerable price. 

The mid-price intel CPUs offer excellent performance compared to their AMD counterparts. The good thing about Intel processors is that they use DDR4, which is more affordable. You can also use your old DDR4 unless you are building a new computer. Also, the motherboards that pair with DDR4 are more affordable than those meant for DDR5.

If you are on a budget, there are plenty of AMD processors that provide standard performance. However, if you want a chip for high-demand applications and gaming, you are better off with the latest chips from both companies. The Intel i9-13900K is available at a lower price compared to AMD’s top of the line Ryzen 9 7950X. Either way, your choice will depend on your preference. AMD’s cross-generation compatibility gives it an upper hand because it seamlessly integrates with the latest hardware.

Power Consumption

AMD has out-competed Intel in several areas. With their 7nm manufacturing process for the Zen 3 and 5nm and 6nm processes for the Zen 4 processors, AMD has switched to a new era of competitive computing. Meanwhile, despite Intel still using 10-nanometer for their 12th and 13th Gen Core processors, they tweaked the architecture so that it can “out” match AMD’s models.

AMD’s Zen 3 and 4 architectures, used for the Ryzen 5000 and 7000 series, comprise one or two core complex dies (CCDs – often called chiplets). In contrast, Intel processors use a hybrid architecture that lets them make CPUs that can concurrently include high-performance and powerful cores similar to those found on smartphones.

AMD’s new Ryzen processors are designed to bridge the gap between Intel’s high-performance Core i7 and i5 processors and their more mainstream Core i3 and Pentium lines. The new Ryzen processors can use both of their high-performance cores for demanding tasks such as games while using their efficient cores for less demanding tasks. This means that they can stay cool and power-efficient during office work but can significantly increase their performance at the cost of consuming much more power and creating more heat when you run intensive applications like video editing applications.

Best AMD

AMD Ryzen™ 9 7950X

$575.88

• 16 Cores, 32 processing threads
• 5.7GHz unlocked overclocking
• DDR5-5200 support
• PCIe 5.0 support (select motherboards)
• Uses AMD's Zen 4 architecture

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05/09/2023 01:08 am GMT

AMD vs. Intel Gaming: 5 Must-Know Facts

• Both processors support overclocking, with Intel i9-13900K supporting a maximum overclock of 5.8GHz and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 5.7GHz.
• The 12^th and the 13^th Gen Intel Core processors are compatible with DDR4 and DDR5 RAM.
• The latest AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs are only compatible with DDR5 RAM.
• Intel’s Core i9-13900K is cheaper than AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.
• Intel processors have better gaming performance compared to AMD’s chips.

AMD vs. Intel Gaming: Which One Is Better?

Intel and AMD are two of the biggest names in processor technology, and they each have their own strengths. Intel has been around longer than AMD, but AMD has been making processors since 1970. Both companies make processors for laptops, desktops, and even servers.

If you’re looking for a processor that can handle heavy gaming, watching Netflix, everyday web browsing, and answering emails without breaking a sweat, both CPUs will give you outstanding performance right out of the box. However, if you want to work with your processor performing demanding multithreaded tasks such as transcoding, video editing, or heavy multitasking activities with multiple tabs open, then Intel’s laptop CPUs are the go-to options.

On the desktop side, both camps offer incredible multithreaded performance no matter which camp you choose. Intel’s midrange options will give you more bang for your buck, but at the top end, either brand is great. When shopping for a CPU, it’s important to remember that the stiff competition between the two companies is forcing them both to produce outstanding and innovative hardware. You want to ensure your machine has the specs you need, but at a price that won’t break your bank.