Comparison of Intel and AMD platforms: What is the difference between processors? ARM processor is a mobile processor for smartphones and tablets.

Intel is one of the two most popular companies developing processors for laptops and computers. Many gamers and other users consider this company to be the best and prefer its products. But Intel has a fairly wide the lineup. So, figuring out which processor is best for which computer is sometimes not so easy. To make it easier for customers to navigate the wide range of offers from the manufacturer, we have created a rating of Intel processors. With it you can easily choose the processor to suit your taste.

No. 10 – Intel Pentium G4400

Price: 5745 rubles

And our top chipset begins, called the Intel Pentium G4400 - an excellent option for budget personal computers.

This processor is based on the Skylake architecture and consists of two cores clocked at 3.3 GHz. Additional performance of the device is provided by cache memory, the volume of which here is 3072 KB.

The Pentium G4400 is also capable of image processing. There is a built-in SkylakeIntel HD Graphics 510 graphics processor. Of course, it cannot completely replace a full-fledged video card, but it is enough to perform simple tasks.

This model has a special controller that supports two-way data transfer between the processor and RAM.

This controller is capable of working with memory modules up to 64 GB. So there shouldn’t be any problems installing the required amount of RAM.

Intel Pentium G4400

No. 9 – Intel Pentium G4620

Price: 7085 rubles

The Intel Pentium G4620 is a dual-core processor with a clock frequency of 3700 MHz. It is developed using 14nm process technology. The basis of this device is the Kaby Lake architecture.

This model has the same cache memory - 3 MB, but the graphics processor here is slightly more powerful than the HD Graphics 630. Of course, if we compare the Pentium G4400 and G4620, then the latter option is better, but not much. It is unlikely that you will notice a significant difference in performance.

However, the G4620 is an excellent processor that, of course, is not suitable for professional gamers, but may well satisfy the needs of the average user or lover of playing old games.

In general, it will cope with new games, but there will be slowdowns, and it won’t be possible to set the settings to maximum. If this is not a problem for you, then the G4620 is worth taking. Otherwise, it’s better to take a closer look at more expensive models.

Intel Pentium G4620

No. 8 – Intel Core i3-8300

Price: 12955 rubles

Having finished with the budget segment, let's move on to entry-level processors. Intel Core i3-8300 is already a quad-core processor with a clock frequency of 3.7 GHz. The cache memory here is also twice as large – as much as 8 MB.

The Core i3-8300 comes with an excellent cooler, which is actually rare for powerful processors. Usually, when you really buy good processor, you definitely need to purchase a cooling system for it, because the basic one, as a rule, is terribly insufficient to maintain normal operating condition. But in this case, the box cooler copes with its task quite well.

The Core i3-8300 is a good processor that, in conjunction with an equally good video card, can handle most modern games.

In addition, it is sold for a meager price, considering all its advantages. So, if you do not need the most powerful, but high-quality chipset, we recommend choosing the i3-8300.

Intel Core i3-8300

No. 7 – Intel Core i3-8350K

Price: 13100 rubles

Intel Core i3-8350K is an improved version of the previous model. Like the basic version, it has four cores and 8 MB of cache, but its clock speed is 4 GHz.

This is a fairly high figure that is guaranteed to provide you with high performance. The main advantage of the Core i3-8350K over the Core i3-8300 is the unlocked multiplier.

That is, the processor can also be overclocked. Thus, the already high clock frequency of 4 GHz can be increased to 4.6 GHz. This is a pretty good overclocking for Intel processors.

The Intel Core i3-8350K maintains adequate temperatures well. When actively working with a computer, you are unlikely to heat it above 50 degrees, which is simply an excellent indicator.

Without a doubt, in the Intel model table, this is one of the best processors in terms of price and quality.

Intel Core i3-8350K

No. 6 – Intel Core i5-8400

Price: 16575 rubles

The golden mean in the company's lineup is occupied by Core i5 chipsets. It includes fairly current, but still affordable processors. We'll start our review with the Intel Core i5-8400.

It's a six-core processor clocked at just 2.8 GHz, but that's only in standard mode. In turbo boost, when maximum performance is required, it accelerates to 4 GHz. The cache memory here is 9 MB.

The i5-8400 processor is quite popular, because it has six ultra-fast cores and is sold at a very decent price compared to older models.

Overall, this is a more than decent processor. The only downside is that it has sudden temperature fluctuations, but usually it does not heat up above 61 degrees. This model is more than enough for any modern games.

Intel Core i5-8400

No. 5 – Intel Core i5-8600

Price: 18990 rubles

Improved hexa-core fifth processor Intel generation The Core i5-8600 has a significantly higher clock speed. The base frequency is 3.1 GHz, but in turbo mode this figure increases to 4.3 GHz. Otherwise, the technical specifications are the same.

The undoubted advantage of the Core i5-8600 is that in some cases its performance can be equal to even the newest processor models from Intel.

There is also very little heat generation, which is quite good for such a powerful chip. In short, the i5-8600 is an excellent representative of the mid-price segment that will provide you with maximum performance even in new games.

Intel Core i5-8600

No. 4 – Intel Core i5-9600K

Price: 21,750 rubles

Intel Core i5-9600K, being the most perfect model in the line, again moved out due to an increase in clock frequency. Here this figure is 3.7 GHz. And when turbo mode is activated, the processor accelerates to an incredible 4.6 GHz.

Core i5-9600K is the best current processor from Intel today. Then there are models for those who are greedily trying to accumulate as much power as possible for the years to come.

When using an i5-9600K and a good video card with sufficient capacity random access memory and other adequate technical characteristics, you shouldn't have any performance issues with modern games.

Intel Core i5-9600K

No. 3 – Intel Core i7-8700K

Price: 23615 rubles

So we moved on to the most powerful Intel line - Core i7. We will begin our consideration with such a model as the Core i7-8700K. There are the same number of cores as in previous models - 6, and the maximum clock frequency is the same.

But the i7-8700K has a significantly increased amount of cache memory - 12288 KB. Also, a more powerful graphics core HD Graphics 630 at 1200 MHz was installed here.

12 threads provide a significant power reserve, thanks to which the Intel Core i7-8700K will be relevant for many years to come. The fact that if you have the appropriate video card, all modern games will run even on ultra settings is probably not worth mentioning, this is already clear.

Intel Core i7-8700K

No. 2 – Intel Core i7-9700K

Price: 34299 rubles

The Intel Core i7-9700K processor is based on an architecture codenamed Coffee Lake-R. It has 8 cores and is created according to the 14 nm technical process standard. The clock frequency of the processor cores is 3.6 GHz, and the cache memory is 12 MB.

Essentially, the Core i7-9700K repeats the previous model, but already contains 8 cores and 16 threads, which further increases the processor's power reserves.

With such a processor, you can not only play, but stream modern games in good quality. There is also an unlocked multiplier and, as a result, the ability to overclock the cores.

The only problem is the very high price, but you have to pay a lot for the power.

Intel Core i7-9700K

No. 1 – Intel Core i9-7960X

Price: 113,030 rubles

Here we come to the first place where the Core i9-7960X is located - this is the best latest generation processor from Intel to date.

It costs three times more than the previous model, but this is more than justified, because there are as many as 16 cores operating at a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz. In turbo mode, it is possible to overclock the frequency to 4.2 GHz. It is supported by a 22 MB cache memory.

If you have a lot of money, you can buy this processor and not worry about your computer not being able to handle anything for many years to come. But if you only need modern games, you can choose something cheaper.

Intel Core i9-7960X

Above are the best processor models from Intel. Among them, you can easily choose an option that will suit your needs and financial capabilities, because all the chips presented here are best solutions for its price.

The result is banal: it is impossible to judge the performance of any central processor by only one parameter. Only a set of characteristics gives an understanding of what kind of chip it is. Narrowing down the processors to consider is very easy. AMD's modern ones include FX chips for the AM3+ platform and A10/8/6 hybrid solutions of the 6000 and 7000 series (plus Athlon X4) for FM2+. Intel has Haswell processors for the LGA1150 platform, Haswell-E (essentially one model) for LGA2011-v3 and the latest Skylake for LGA1151.

AMD processors

I repeat, the difficulty in choosing a processor lies in the fact that there are a lot of models on sale. You simply get confused in this variety of markings. AMD has hybrid processors A8 and A10. Both lines include only quad-core chips. But what's the difference? Let's talk about this.

Let's start with positioning. AMD FX processors are top chips for the AM3+ platform. Gaming system units and workstations are assembled on their basis. Hybrid processors (with built-in video) of the A-series, as well as Athlon X4 (without built-in graphics) are mid-class chips for the FM2+ platform.

The AMD FX series is divided into quad-core, six-core and eight-core models. All processors do not have a built-in graphics core. Therefore, for a complete assembly you will need either motherboard with built-in video, or a discrete 3D accelerator.

This article will compare laptop processors from two leading semiconductor manufacturers - Intel and AMD. The products of the first of them are equipped with an improved processor part and have more high level speed. In turn, AMD solutions boast a more powerful graphics subsystem.

Division into niches

Comparison and Intel for laptops would be best done in three niches:

• Budget-class processors (they are also the most affordable).
• Mid-level CPUs that combine both high speed and acceptable energy efficiency.
• Chips with maximum performance levels. In this case, performance, autonomy and energy efficiency fade into the background.

If in the first two cases AMD can provide a worthy alternative to Intel, then the latter company has reigned supreme in the premium segment for quite some time. The only hope in this regard is new processor solutions based on the Zen architecture, which AMD should present next year.

Entry-level Intel products

Until recently, this niche from Intel was occupied by products from the Atom line. But now the situation has changed and entry-level laptops are now based on processors. The most modest products in this class include only 2 cores, and the most advanced - 4. The following models are relevant for the 3rd quarter of 2016, which are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 - Current CPU models from Intel for entry-level mobile PCs.

There are essentially no fundamental differences between these CPU models. They are aimed at solving the simplest problems and have a minimum level of performance. Also from this manufacturer of semiconductor solutions strong point is the processor part, but the integrated graphics subsystem is very weak. Another strength of these products is the high degree of energy efficiency and the resulting improved autonomy.

Mid-range solutions from Intel

Core i3 and Core i5 are mid-range Intel processors for laptops. A comparison of their characteristics indicates that the first family is closer to entry-level solutions, and the second, under certain circumstances, can compete with the most productive chips of this company. Detailed specifications of this product family are given in Table 2.

Table 2 - Parameters of Intel processors for mid-range laptops.

The characteristics of CPUs of this class are almost identical. The key difference is the improved energy saving of the 7U54. As a result, autonomy in this case will also be better. Otherwise, there are no significant differences between these processors. The price for all chips of this family is the same - $281.

Premium processors for laptops from Intel

For the latest generation laptops, this indicates that the most powerful solutions include i7 family CPUs. Moreover, in architectural plan they are practically no different from middle-class products. Even the video card models in this case are the same. But a higher level of performance compared to mid-range processors is ensured by higher clock speeds and an increased size of Level 3 volatile memory. The main parameters of chips of this family are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 - Main characteristics of i7 family CPUs.

The difference between these products is that in the second case, energy efficiency is improved, but the performance will ultimately be lower.

AMD entry-level mobile processors

For laptops from the two leading manufacturers of these products, it indicates that Intel, as noted earlier, has a better processor part, and AMD has an integrated graphics subsystem. If the priority in a new laptop is an improved video system, then it is better to pay attention to laptops from a second manufacturer. Specific chip models with technical specifications are given in Table 4.

Table 4 - The latest AMD processors for entry-level laptops.

For the most part, these chips have almost identical technical parameters. The key difference here is only in the frequency range and the model of the integrated built-in accelerator. It is based on these parameters that you need to make a choice. If you need maximum autonomy, then we choose products with lower performance. If autonomy comes to the fore, then you will have to sacrifice dynamism for this.

AMD chips for organizing mid-range laptops

FX-9XXXP and A1X-9XXXP are for laptops. Comparison of their characteristics with entry-level products indicates that they already have 4 computing units versus 2, which are available in entry-level products. Also in this case it can be a worthy competitor to entry-level discrete accelerators. But the weak processor part is the factor today that significantly reduces the performance of laptops based on these chips. Therefore, you can only look in their direction if you need the fastest possible graphics subsystem at the minimum cost of a mobile computer. The main specifications of this CPU family are listed in Table 5.

Table 5 - AMD CPU parameters for mid-range laptops.

The hardest comparison to make between laptop processors is in the entry-level product segment. On the one hand, Intel solutions in this case have a lower cost and an improved processor part. In turn, AMD offers mobile PCs with an improved graphics subsystem. It is based on the last parameter that it is recommended to buy when choosing an entry-level laptop Pavilion 15-AW006UR from HP. All other things being equal to competing solutions, the video card in this case will have a certain performance margin, and the processor is not that much inferior to the Intel CPU. For a mid-level mobile PC, it is recommended to choose the Aspire E5 - 774 - 50SY from Acer. It has an i5 chip installed - 7200U, which is only slightly inferior to flagship products. And its other technical specifications are at an acceptable level, as for a middle-class laptop. A comparison of laptop processors in the niche of the most productive solutions indicated that it is best to purchase mobile computers based on 7th generation i7 chips. The most affordable, but also very equipped laptop option is the IdeaPad 510-15 IKB from Lenovo. This is what is recommended to buy when choosing the most productive mobile PC. At the same time, the price is quite affordable for this class of devices, and the equipment is excellent.

Results

A comparison of laptop processors from two leading chip manufacturers today clearly and clearly indicates that in most cases the leading positions are occupied by products from Intel. AMD, in turn, lags significantly behind its direct competitor. The only market segment where parity is still maintained is entry-level mobile products, where AMD has a worthy alternative. In all other cases, it would be more correct to purchase laptops based on Intel CPUs. The current situation can be radically changed by the release of processors based on the Zen architecture in 2017. But whether AMD will be able to do this - time will tell. Now, in the niche of mid-level and premium mobile PCs, it is most correct to rely on solutions from Intel. Although their price is somewhat high, the level of performance more than compensates for this shortcoming.

Let's figure out what the main differences are between the processors of the world leaders - Intel and AMD.

We will also consider their positive and negative sides.

Major CPU Manufacturers

Everyone understands perfectly well that there are two leading companies in the computing market that are engaged in the development and production of the Central Processing Unit (central processing unit), or, more simply put, processors.

These devices combine millions of transistors and other logic elements, and are electronic devices highest difficulty.

The whole world uses computers whose heart is an electronic chip from either Intel or AMD, so it’s no secret that both of these companies are constantly fighting for leadership in this area.

But let's leave these companies alone and move on to the average user, who is faced with a choice dilemma - what is preferable - Intel or AMD?

Whatever you say, there is not and cannot be a definite answer to this question, since both manufacturers have enormous potential, and their CPUs are capable of meeting the current requirements.

When choosing a processor for your device, the user primarily focuses on its performance and cost - relying on these two criteria as the main ones.

The majority of users have long been divided into two opposing camps, becoming ardent supporters of Intel or AMD products.

Let's look at all the weak and strengths devices of these leading companies, so that when choosing a particular one, rely not on speculation, but on specific facts and characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages of Intel processors

So, what are the advantages of Intel processors?

• First of all, this is very high performance and speed in applications and games, which are most optimized for Intel processors.
• Under the control of these processors, the system operates with maximum stability.
• It is worth noting that the second and third level memory of Intel CPUs operates at higher speeds than in similar processors from AMD.
• Multithreading, which is implemented by Intel in CPUs such as Core i7, plays a big role in performance when working with optimized applications.

Advantages and disadvantages of AMD processors

• The advantages of AMD processors include, first of all, their affordability in terms of cost, which is perfectly combined with performance.
• A huge advantage is the multi-platform, which allows you to replace one processor model with another without the need to change the motherboard.
• That is, a processor designed for socket AM3 can be installed on socket AM2+ without any negative consequences.
• One cannot fail to note multitasking, which many AMD processors cope well with, simultaneously running three applications.
• In addition, FX series processors have quite good overclocking potential, which is sometimes extremely necessary.

• The disadvantages of AMD CPUs include higher power consumption than Intel, as well as operation at more low speeds memory cache of the second and third levels.
• It should also be noted that most processors belonging to the FX line require additional cooling, which will have to be purchased separately.
• And another disadvantage is that fewer games and applications are adapted and written for the AMD processor than for Intel.

Current connectors from Intel

Today, many leading manufacturers of central processors are equipped with two current connectors. From Intel they are as follows:

• LGA 2011 v3 is a combined connector that is aimed at quickly assembling a high-performance personal computer for both servers and the end user. The key feature of such a platform is the presence of a RAM controller that successfully operates in multi-channel mode. Thanks to this important feature, PCs with such processors are characterized by unprecedented performance. It must be said that within the framework of such a platform an integrated subsystem is not used. Unlocking the potential of such chips is only possible with the help of discrete graphics. To do this, you should use only the best video cards;
• Thanks to LGA, you can easily organize not only a high-performance computing system, but also a budget PC. For example, a socket LGA 1151 perfect for creating a medium-sized computing station pricing policy, at the same time, will have a powerful integrated graphics core of the Intel Graphics series and support DDR4 memory.

Current AMD connectors

Today AMD is promoting the following processor sockets:

• The main computing platform for such a developer is considered AM3+. The most productive CPUs are considered to be the FX model range, which includes up to eight computing modules. In addition, such a platform supports an integrated graphics subsystem. However, here the graphics core is included in the motherboard, and is not integrated into the semiconductor crystals;
• the latest modern AMD processor socket – FM3+. AMD's new CPUs are intended to be used in desktop computers and media centers not only at entry-level, but also at mid-level. Thanks to this, the most modern integrated solution will be available to the average user for a fairly small amount.

Working capabilities

Many people first pay attention to the price of the processor. It is also important for them that he can easily solve the tasks assigned to him.

So, what can both organizations offer on this point? AMD is not known for outstanding achievements.

But this processor represents an excellent price-performance ratio. If you configure it correctly, you can expect stable operation without any complaints.

It is worth noting that AMD managed to implement multitasking. Thanks to such a processor, various applications can be easily launched.

With its help, you can simultaneously install the game and surf the vast expanses of the Internet.

But Intel is known for more modest results in this area, which is confirmed by the comparison of processors.

It would not be superfluous to pay attention to the availability of overclocking, during which the performance of an AMD processor can easily be increased by twenty percent compared to standard settings.

To do this, you just need to use additional software.

Intel beats AMD in almost everything except multitasking. In addition, Intel is working with

So you should select the motherboard and power supply much more carefully to prevent freezes due to insufficient power.

Power consumption chart for Intel and AMD It's the same story with heat dissipation. It is quite high in older models. As a result, a standard cooler has difficulty coping with increased cooling.

Therefore, when purchasing a CPU from AMD, you must additionally purchase high-quality cooling from any decent company. Don't forget that high-quality fans make much less noise.

Socket type and performance

We should also say something about performance. After AMD acquired ATI, its creators were able to successfully integrate most of the graphics processing capabilities into the processor cores. Such efforts have paid off successfully.

Those who use an AMD chip for gaming should have no doubt that they are getting good performance, which is much better than the performance of equivalent chips from Intel (this is especially true for those who use a card with ATI graphics).

If it comes to heavy multitasking, then it is better to choose Intel, since it has HyperTreasing technology.

However, this advantage can only be exploited when the software application is capable of multitasking, that is, the ability to divide tasks into several small parts.

If the user needs gaming processor, it is better to combine an AMD processor with a video card.

So, there is a big difference between intel and amd processor sockets. When choosing suitable option, consider the differences between them listed in this article. This will make choosing the right option much easier.

At the end of each year, we summarize our testing results for most modern processors, taking into account BIOS updates and performance changes, and then divide the findings into three separate categories.

The first part of our rating is dedicated to performance in gaming benchmarks, in the second we will touch on performance in workstation CAD applications (real-time rendering), and finally in the third we will collect general data on performance, rendering and power consumption.

No one can be a leader forever: a system that lacks performance today may outperform all others tomorrow. So if you have good strategy, then you can be confident in your future.

This truth works, but not always. First of all, you need to understand today's PC capabilities, tomorrow's computing needs, and also have a foundation for the future. This is what you need to focus on - and plan a small reserve.

Unfortunately, greater productivity always costs more, perhaps not always proportionally, so it is very important to optimally determine the volume of such reserves.

Our needs, desires and financial capabilities do not always coincide. However, in this case there is the concept of “common sense”, which allows you to discard insurmountable obstacles. Always worth combining environmental aspects, such as energy consumption and durability, with economic - costs and profitability of the purchase. Simply put, you should buy exactly what you really need (or will need in the near future).

Our testing methodology is outlined in the article ", so for convenience we will refer to this article. If you are interested in details, we recommend that you refer to it.

Differences from this methodology in relation to this testing come down to the hardware configuration: processor, RAM, motherboard and cooling system, the features of which can be found in the table below.

Let's start with two synthetic benchmarks, dividing them into two categories based on support for DirectX11 and DirectX12. In the 3DMark Fire Strike test highest value has a number of cores, which improves the performance of older multi-core processors that do not operate at high enough clock speeds, for example, the Core i7-6950X. AMD Threadripper and Ryzen 7 also demonstrate good results. Simple quad-core processors have little chance here, as do six-core Intel processors without Hyper-Threading support.

The picture is repeated in 3DMark Time Spy based on DirectX12. Regardless of the software interface, there is nothing to replace the number of cores. The performance becomes even more convincing as clock speeds increase.

Like 3DMark, Ashes of Singularity: Escalation main role The number of cores plays a role, and then the clock speed follows. This is a good example of proper load balancing across multiple threads.

In Civilization VI, the number of threads also matters, but in processors with eight or more possible threads (for example, an Intel Core i7-7700K using Hyper-Threading, clock speeds also begin to play an important role. So in this game, the right balance between number of cores and clock speed.

In the game Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War III, the processor clock speed comes into play, and four well-scalable threads will be enough. This slightly reduces the performance of Ryzen and improves the results of chips from Intel.

Grand Theft Auto V is also a construction site that is generally dominated by Intel. At the same time, all Ryzens do not look too bad in terms of price and performance.

In Hitman 2016, the world of AMD processors looks pretty good. At the same time, the basic performance of the chips (for example, in the case of the Intel Core i5-8400) is limited by the power of the video card used. This is a clear example that if any of the components are limiting factors, any productivity gains can come at a cost. The key to everything is the right balance: the video card must match the level of the processor, and vice versa.

Project Cars is completely dominated by Intel processors. Even the younger quad-core models without Hyper-Threading are significantly ahead of Ryzen 7 and Threadripper. The Ryzen 3 and Pentium are complete failures, and the Ryzen 7 1700 has problems due to its clock speeds being too low. So you can’t do without overclocking here.

Far Cry Primal is the second game in our tests where the graphics card is the limiting factor, but a little clarification is needed here. This game works well with eight threads, and it doesn’t necessarily require physical cores; a quad-core chip with Hyper-Threading will also work if the clock speeds are high enough. However, with “purely” quad-core models, this trick will no longer work if their clock frequency does not go beyond certain limits. In other words, frequency is important here, but it alone is no longer enough.

In the VRMark test we see a similar picture, and here Threadripper is already ahead of all modifications of Ryzen 7. However, this test is still the domain of Intel chips.

First, the bad news: there is no single best processor among those we tested, so in order to do right choice, you need to consider all the factors such as the purpose of use, the required performance, the overall concept of your PC and your budget. So the good news is that everyone can find the best processor for themselves.

Games or office applications, workstation packages or HTPCs? The applications and uses are multifaceted, and most of us already know how a new processor will be used before we even buy it. The wrong choice not only causes disappointment in the purchase, but also often leads to significant financial losses, especially if you have to resell, exchange or completely replace components that do not fit together.

There are many options for combining components. Does your CPU fit the socket on your motherboard, and if so, does the motherboard itself support it? Is the cooling system suitable for this processor in terms of power, and if so, does this cooler cover the RAM modules and does it interfere with installing a video card in the first PCI Express slot? There are “experts” who screw a huge cooler onto a mini-ITX board, and only then think about the case...

Processor prices fluctuate like palm trees during a tropical cyclone, and every novice assembler first of all pays attention to them. Therefore, we are not going to comment on the price level for now, since both the usual adjustments in market prices and the relative shortage of individual models (for example, Coffee Lake-S from Intel) renders such comments meaningless within a few days of their utterance. Therefore, we simply present “clean” results and leave readers the opportunity to inquire about prices on their own.