Difference Between AMD And Intel: Which CPU Is Better? 

P C enthusiasts are always in the pursuit of an upgraded processor. The rivalry between AMD and Intel is years-old, just like Apple and Android. Intel or Intel Corporation and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are the leading manufacturers of central processing units (CPUs). To make your important CPU purchase, you would first need to compare the difference between AMD and Intel to determine which one is a better choice for you. 

Intel has an upper hand in the CPU market because of its history. For the past few years, AMD focused on CPU designs known as accelerated processing units (APUs) and GPUs. This allowed Intel to dominate the market and AMD was labeled as a budget-friendly option. However, both companies have been producing computer parts for a couple of years and have done some groundbreaking research and innovation in the field. AMD started giving competition to Intel with its Ryzen’s latest series and their products were similar to the Core i7 series of Intel. 

Price As A Factor 

When buying a PC, always consider your budget and the purpose of your purchase. If you are an entry or mid-level user with a low budget, AMD is a good option. For expert and professional users with a higher budget, Intel is a better choice due to its premium chips. They are faster and more power-efficient while being expensive. 

AMD processors are said to have the same functionality as Intel. When Intel introduces its version of high-end motherboards and chips, AMD makes a comparable version of it. So, users who need similar functionalities as Intel, tend to buy AMD at a much cheaper rate (almost half the price!).

Which Is Faster?

Besides price, users look for the clock speed of the processor. It is the given operations a CPU can perform in a clock cycle, generally one second. It is measured in gigahertz (GHz) and determines the speed of the processor. A higher speed would make the processor perform tasks quickly. If speed is something you look for in a PC, then Intel is a better choice. The design superiority of Intel makes it a faster option than AMD. 

However, AMD processors tend to be more efficient. Hence, for all the latest processors, Intel has been much faster in terms of clock speed. The Corei7 along with the i9 chips provide the best clock rates. AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper has similar speeds but they demand more power. Besides speed, there are other important factors to look out for in a CPU. These include the core and how efficiently a CPU can process commands. All of these determine the performance of a CPU. 

The Core Of The Matter 

Speed is not the only determinant of a better processor as it should have more cores. If a processor has multiple cores, it can process instructions and carry them out in a better way. AMD stands out in the market with its efficient features. 

However, Intel has taken a different approach with its processors. They have switched from more cores to hyperthreading which separates physical cores from virtual cores to perform multiple tasks at a given time. The process of hyperthreading gives the ability of a four-core Intel to switch into a core with eight threads. 

Don’t Overlook Overclocking

Overlocking is a unique feature that makes your processor’s clock cycle run faster than the recommended speed provided by the manufacturer. Some chips are locked and can be accessed to run on a specific clock rate. There are some chips that are unlocked initially but can be overlooked by the user. Overlocking is available in most AMD processors. The AMD CPUs are unlocked on default and can be overclocked, provided their motherboard chipset has the same feature. Even affordable CPUs such as AMD Ryzen 3 2200G with a price of $100 has overclocking capabilities. 

Who Wins?

AMD is a price-friendly option while Intel processors are faster and technologically advanced. Intel processors are also great at performing single-thread instructions while AMD processors are best for multitasking.

Both are great for using with video editing or photo editing software, rendering, games that require heavy graphics, or 3-D modeling programs. It all depends on the user’s needs. Intel has been called the best gaming processor in the market, but AMD gives a lot of variety to choose from its CPUs and a greater level of functions. 

We hope you can make your choice smartly after knowing the difference between AMD and Intel CPUs.