Differences between Intel and AMD processors

Informatec Digital » Resources » Differences between Intel and AMD processors

Between new releases, name changes, and generations that come out almost every year, Choosing between an Intel or AMD processor can become a real headache.especially if you are building your first gaming PC Or do you want a good laptop for work and study without overspending?

If you're like many users who watch YouTube videos and end up even more confused, don't worry: The key is not so much the brand, but understanding the real differences between Intel and AMD.What each one offers in gaming, office applications, laptops, servers or cheap PCs, and how that fits with your budget and how you use your computer.

What's happening with AMD and Intel these days

The classic fight Intel vs AMD is closer than ever. Since AMD launched Ryzen with Zen architectureThe landscape changed completely: we no longer have an untouchable Intel and a second-rate AMD, but two giants that are neck and neck in almost every segment.

On one hand, Intel continues to invest heavily in its hybrid architectureswith performance cores (P-Cores) and efficiency cores (E-Cores). This combination gives it great ease in multitasking, laptops, and professional environments where many light tasks are mixed with some heavy ones.

On the other hand, AMD has struck gold with its Ryzen line, and especially with the X3D models featuring 3D V-Cache.which have revolutionized gaming performance thanks to a massive amount of cache memory. Furthermore, it has been gaining ground in servers, workstations, and even consoles.

In recent generations, The differences are no longer as simple as "Intel is more powerful and AMD is cheaper"There are AMD models that far surpass Intel in gaming and professional work, and Intel processors that continue to be benchmarks in business laptops, software certifications, and remote management.

General differences between Intel and AMD processors

When making a decision, the first thing to assume is that There is no single winner for everything.Intel and AMD have strengths and weaknesses depending on the type of use: gaming, office applications, cheap laptops, servers, etc.

Historically it was said that Intel offered better per-core performance and higher frequency.While AMD compensated with more cores and a better price, with Ryzen, AMD has narrowed that frequency gap, improved efficiency, and gained significant strength in multithreaded tasks and gaming.

Regarding heat and consumption, the film has also changed several times: Intel has had some very hot and power-hungry generations (especially in recent high-end ranges), while AMD went from being very efficient to having series like Ryzen 7000 that ran quite hot, although with good performance.

Another key point is the platform: Intel usually changes the socket every few generations.which forces you to change your motherboard if you upgrade your CPU, whereas AMD is committed to giving its sockets a longer lifespanallowing you to change the processor without rebuilding the entire computer (within certain compatibility limits and bios updates).

Architecture: chiplets vs monolithic and hybrid designs

The internal architecture of CPUs is one of the reasons why AMD has been able to stand up to and surpass Intel in many scenarios.It's not just a matter of GHz or how many cores the processor has.

Since 2017, AMD opted for a chiplet designInstead of making a single, enormous monolithic chip, it divides the processor into several smaller, interconnected chips (CCDs/CCXs). This allows it to to make better use of silicon wafers, reduce costs and scale the number of cores without the design becoming unmanageable.

This approach had a clear challenge: to achieve fast, low-latency communication between these chipletsso that performance wouldn't be penalized. Through iterations of Zen, AMD has refined this system to the point of leading in multi-threaded performance across many product ranges.

Meanwhile For years, Intel continued with monolithic designs focused on individually very strong cores.This allowed it to dominate in per-core performance and gaming for a long time, but it began to fall behind in core count and efficiency.

Intel's reaction was to opt for a hybrid ARM-style architecture with Alder Lake and Raptor Lake, combining Highly powerful P-Cores with efficiency-focused E-CoresThis combination works very well for multitasking and laptops, but in some games and poorly optimized applications it can cause compatibility issues or unstable performance.

Cache memory and 3D V-Cache: AMD's secret weapon in gaming

One of AMD's most striking advances in recent years has been the 3D V-Cache, a technique for stacking more L3 cache memory on the chipThis debuted in the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and has since spread to other ranges such as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 9800X3D.

In games, the CPU is constantly requesting data: physics, animations, scripts, AI, player positions… The more you can serve them from cache, the less often you have to go to RAM, which is much slower and adds significant latency.

With the 3D V-Cache, AMD multiplies the amount of information that can be cachedeasily exceeding 100 MB in some models, compared to the typical 50-60 MB of many equivalent Intel processors. This translates to More FPS and fewer frame rate drops at resolutions like 1080p and 1440pwhere the CPU still makes a big difference.

Precisely for this reason, processors like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has become the absolute benchmark for gaming, outperforming many high-end Intel CPUs even when they have more cores or slightly higher frequencies.

Intel, for its part, continues to rely on very high frequencies and great performance per core to continue competing in games, but for now it does not have a direct response to AMD's 3D cache strategy.

Integrated Graphics (iGPU) and APUs

If you're not going to install a dedicated graphics card or you want a very cheap machine, The processor's integrated graphics become keyAnd here AMD has made a huge leap.

During years, AMD stood out with its APUs, processors with integrated Radeon GPUs that were much more powerful than normal.They're even capable of running games at 720p or 1080p with decent quality without needing a separate graphics card. These are the famous Ryzen processors with the letter "G" at the end of their desktop names; if you want to compare different ranges, check out the... Differences between Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7.

With the arrival of the AM5 socket and the Ryzen 7000 series, AMD has begun integrating graphics into virtually all of its desktop processors., reserving the letter “F” for models without iGPU and a slightly lower price.

Intel, for its part, It has included integrated graphics in most of its Core CPUs for many years. And in laptops, it has offered very respectable solutions for general use, video, and some light gaming. However, in terms of pure iGPU performance, AMD is usually one step aheadespecially in recent generations.

If your idea is Build a cheap PC without a dedicated graphics card For a mini PC for living room and multimedia, options with powerful AMD iGPUs are usually very attractive, although some Intel options may also fit depending on price and availability.

Power consumption, temperatures and stability

In recent years we have seen how CPUs have seen a huge increase in performance, but also in power consumption and temperature.especially in the higher-end ranges designed for enthusiasts.

In practice, Many 13th and 14th generation Intel desktop processors can reach very high power consumption. at maximum load, which translates into more heat and a need for powerful heat sinks or liquid cooling systems to take full advantage of its performance.

AMD, which for a long time was seen as the freshest option, She has also released some very hot series like some Ryzen 7000 series processors, which normally operate at high temperatures to maximize performance, although with somewhat lower power consumption limits than their Intel equivalents.

To this is added that The latest generations of Intel processors have suffered from some stability issues in certain models.Especially on high-performance chips, with users reporting errors, crashes, or incompatibilities in specific games. In many cases, this has been mitigated by... undervolt or by adjusting energy parameters, but it remains a delicate point.

These incidents have led to More than one user has switched to AMD in search of a more stable experienceespecially in new PCs focused on gaming where they don't want to complicate things by adjusting voltages or advanced configurations.

Price and platform differences

For a long time it was almost a mantra that “AMD is cheap and Intel is expensive”But the current reality is much more nuanced. AMD is no longer positioned as a low-cost option, but as a high-performance alternative in many product ranges. It is still somewhat cheaper than Intel., but not always.

In mid-range and high-end processors, Price differences can be small if you compare truly equivalent models.Where AMD usually makes its mark is in the performance/price ratio when you make good use of all the cores and on platforms where the motherboard lasts for several years with multiple compatible CPUs.

Intel has tried to offset slightly higher CPU prices with cheaper motherboards in some generationsThus defending the idea of ​​a "cheaper platform." The problem is that switch sockets more frequentlyTherefore, every two generations you are forced to replace your motherboard if you want to upgrade to a new CPU.

AMD, on the other hand, It has gained many points by maintaining support for its sockets for a longer period of time.This allows you to buy a good AM5 motherboard today, for example, and in a few years install a more powerful Ryzen processor simply by updating the BIOS, provided the manufacturer has added support.

At a global level, we can say that Intel still tends to be somewhat more expensive for the same performance.AMD, on the other hand, offers platforms with a longer lifespan, something highly valued by those who upgrade piece by piece.

Intel and AMD in laptops

If we're talking about laptops, Intel maintains a very strong presence thanks to commercial agreements and enterprise certifications.It is very common for most models in stores to use Intel processors simply due to volume and agreements with manufacturers.

In the low-end laptop range (below around €500), The most common thing to find is IntelAnd it's usually a bit cheaper thanks to that wide availability. For simple tasks like office work, browsing, video calls, and little else, A Core i3 or similar usually performs without problems.

In the mid-range (around €500-1000), Intel also remains very presentWith processors designed for productivity, multiple programs open simultaneously, and intensive use of suites like Microsoft 365, technologies such as Intel vProdesigned for businesses, which facilitate remote management and security of equipment.

When we move on to high-end laptops (over €1000), AMD appears with very competitive models...both in CPU performance and integrated graphics. In many heavy-duty or gaming laptops, Ryzen processors offer serious power and, sometimes, better efficiency. than its Intel equivalent.

In the corporate world, Intel often has an advantage due to official certifications and compatibility with software such as SAP, VMware, or security suites.For students, content creators, and gamers, many laptops with Ryzen processors are particularly attractive due to their performance and energy efficiency.

Intel vs AMD in servers, AI, and the professional environment

In the field of servers and data centers, Both Intel and AMD have specific product lines. that go beyond consumer Core and Ryzen processors.

Intel has its Xeon processorsThey have been widely used in companies for years. consolidated support, certifications and a huge installed baseThis leads many organizations to continue relying on them out of inertia and due to guarantees of compatibility.

AMD, for its part, has the family Epyc, which in many benchmarks It clearly outperforms the Xeon in raw performance and energy efficiency.With high core counts and the advantage of their chiplet architecture, they have earned a very important place in modern data centers.

Even so, in the most cutting-edge segment, NVIDIA's emergence with its chips specializing in AI and accelerated computing The landscape has changed considerably. Large companies that handle enormous amounts of data and artificial intelligence models tend to use NVIDIA solutions, while Intel and AMD share the rest of the pie on more “traditional” servers.

In professional environments involving content creation, rendering, and editing, AMD's Ryzen 9 and Intel's Core i9 are very closely competingAMD often has the advantage when many execution threads are being utilized, while Intel can excel in some applications highly optimized for its architecture.

Gaming performance and stability

In the field of PC video games, AMD has clearly managed to get ahead in many scenarios.especially with its X3D models with 3D V-Cache such as the 7800X3D or the 9800X3D.

These processors offer Extremely high FPS and an exceptionally smooth experience in games where the CPU matters a lot, which has made them the first choice for many players looking to get the most out of high-end graphics cards at 1080p and 1440p.

Intel remains a powerful option in gaming, especially in certain i5 and i9 with very high frequenciesBut it carries the problem that some recent generations have shown Instability in specific games, errors, and strange behavior that require adjusting advanced settings.

Furthermore, on modern home consoles such as PlayStation or Xbox, the heart is almost always AMDThis demonstrates the brand's dominance in chips designed specifically for video games.

For all these reasons, as of today, if your absolute priority is playing and you want the best possible performance in that areaThe balance clearly tips towards AMD, except for very specific Intel offerings or very specific use cases. It's also worth considering. optimize Windows 11 for games to get the most out of the chosen CPU.

Which processor to choose based on usage

Beyond the brand, what really matters is Adjust the processor to the use you will give it and to the rest of the computer componentsThere's no point in spending a fortune on a CPU if the graphics card then falls short, or vice versa.

For low-performance or very basic PCFor office work, browsing, and light tasks, you can choose either a low-end Intel processor (for example, a recent i3) or a modest Ryzen. In many cases, Intel will have better pricing due to agreements with manufacturers and greater availability.especially in pre-configured desktops and mini PCs.

If you want a mid-range gaming PCTypically, you'd look at processors like the Ryzen 5 or Core i5 paired with a decent dedicated GPU. In this price range, The difference in FPS between equivalent AMD and Intel models can be around 10-15%. in many games, so it's worth comparing specific prices and seeing what's the best deal for you.

To streaming + gaming, video editing, 3D and heavy multitasking, raise the bar towards Ryzen 7 / Ryzen 9 or Core i7 / Core i9. Here AMD usually has an advantage in terms of core count and multi-threaded performance.Intel, on the other hand, might be interesting in certain highly optimized programs or if you need specific business functions.

On laptops, if you prioritize autonomy, corporate software certifications, and remote managementIntel has more options with vPro and enterprise agreements, while if you want maximum performance per euro in gaming or content creationMany laptop Ryzen processors are making a strong statement.

To very demanding professional servers or projectsIt will be necessary to evaluate Epyc versus Xeon, or even NVIDIA's AI solutions. At that level, it's normal to study benchmarks specific to the type of workload you'll be handling.

Taken together, with everything that's happening in the CPU market, AMD has become a particularly attractive option for gaming, multicore tasks, and long-term platforms.While Intel remains very strong in laptops, the corporate environment, and certain mixed-use scenarios.Choosing well involves understanding these differences, considering your budget and priorities, and then deciding which processor best suits the PC you want to build or the laptop you need.