AMD vs. Intel - The best gaming processors in 2021 compared

Let's start with the fact that we are comparing the so-called OEM kits. The fact is that options with a cooler in the kit are more expensive. And not every gamer will be satisfied with the cooling system that comes with such chips. Someone will generally overclock the processor, which may require "dropsy". In a word, we will not compare coolers that could be in the same box with these chips. Instead, we will go straight to their construction.

The solution from AMD is designed to be installed in socket AM4. They are equipped with a huge number of motherboards sold now. The chip is built on the AMD Zen 3 architecture. The manufacturer claims that, compared with the previous generation, the number of instructions executed per clock has increased by 19%. In total, the Ryzen 9 5900X includes 12 cores and twice as many threads. Incredible numbers for a desktop processor! I must say that until now, not every game is able to use all the cores available to the buyer of such a chip. However, this problem was familiar to owners of AMD processors of previous generations. Now the situation has changed, but we will talk about this a little later.

As for the fresh representative of the Intel Core i9 line, it is still inferior to its competitor in some respects. In particular, the buyer is waiting for "only" 10 cores and 20 threads. The base clock speed of the two processors is the same. However, both chips support short-term auto overclocking. But if at AMD the frequency increases to 4.8 GHz, then for Intel this parameter starts to reach 5.3 GHz. However, you can feel the difference only if at this moment you do not play, but perform some unusually difficult task on the computer - for example, do 3D modeling. Therefore, we will not increase the rating for this.

It should also be noted that the products are created according to a different technical process. AMD has been moving to 7nm for some time now, while Intel is going to use it only when releasing future chips.

As it should be for all modern processors, solutions from both manufacturers have a multi-level cache. At the same time, the first level of the chips is almost the same - it was slightly affected only by the number of cores. But if you dig deeper...

As you can see from the plate, AMD's second-level cache is much larger. And at the third level, there is an even more noticeable difference. The company must have managed to achieve this by reducing the technical process - the cores became more compact, freed up space for memory.

An ideal gaming processor must be able to interact with top-end computer components. Alas, the solution from Intel in this regard noticeably loses. The fact is that with its purchase it makes no sense to think about purchasing the most advanced motherboard. As much as possible, this chip is able to recognize a PCI Express 3.0 x16 video card slot. And now more and more boards with a PCI-E slot of the fourth version appear on sale. Of course, its benefits are not as high as we are told. But still ... It is the presence of support for the fourth version that distinguishes the processor from AMD.

Also, the product from AMD has some advantage in terms of the memory controller. As you can clearly see from the plate, it is also two-channel, but the calculation goes to a higher frequency. However, these are trifles.

As you already know, the processors we are considering are created according to a different technical process. Not surprisingly, they consume different amounts of electricity. For the Ryzen 9 5900X, this parameter is 105 watts. Of course, power consumption may increase, but this happens only during overclocking, when the clock frequency begins to exceed the declared 3.7 GHz.

As for the chip from Intel, its TDP is 125 watts. But this company understands this parameter in its own way. In practice, it turns out that even in the nominal mode of operation, the processor is able to consume up to 250 watts.And even more if overclocking is involved! That is why Intel is expected to switch to a more miniature process technology. And buying this processor will make you invest in a more powerful power supply. You should also think about the cooling system, because the Intel Core i9-10900K is much hotter than its counterpart.

As the name implies, the chip from Intel has an integrated graphics core. This is Intel UHD Graphics 630. Its operation is carried out at a clock frequency of 1200 MHz. The kernel allows you to run games without any problems, especially if the picture is displayed on a monitor with Full HD resolution.

The AMD processor we are considering does not have any integrated graphics. However, this is not a reason to give him a very low rating. It's also hard for you to imagine a person who will buy such an expensive chip for a computer without a video card, right? Like it or not, but without it, a PC definitely cannot be considered a gaming one, and this is the status that the processors we have chosen have.

People in the know will tell you that in the past, most gamers were in favor of Intel products. Its best processors performed almost perfectly in games. The same could not be said about AMD. But the architecture of Zen 3 fixed everything. Its CCX systems now consist of eight cores with a doubling of the shared cache size to 32 MB. To put it simply, delays are now low and predictable.

You can write a mountain of text about the technologies involved in these processors. But instead, we will briefly describe the results of tests shown in certain games. They are roughly equal. With the same video card, somewhere Intel shows itself a little better, and somewhere AMD breaks ahead. But in any case, the gap is 2-3 frames / s, especially when it comes to 4K resolution and if the game is intelligently optimized. For example, according to tests from 3DNews, Hitman 2 at ultra settings at 2160p on an Intel-powered computer averages 49 fps, while the installation of the Ryzen 9 5900X increases this parameter to 50 fps. Almost the same difference is in Metro Exodus, but here AMD products are lagging behind. Detailed results are in our table. The difference only increases when 1080p is selected. But it is still invisible to the eye, since the average frequency begins to reach several hundred frames per second.

The conclusion is simple: in games, a different number of cores and threads is almost imperceptible. However, the difference is felt in many applications! And often the processor from AMD performs its task faster. This is observed in Photoshop, and in After Effects, and in VEGAS Pro.

Once upon a time, AMD products cost significantly less than Intel chips.This was due to the fact that, other things being equal, it showed itself much worse in games and when solving difficult problems. But now dumping doesn't make any sense. And you have already noticed that the Ryzen 9 5900X is in many ways better than its competitor. That is why this processor costs a little more.

The difference in cost is approximately 7000 rubles. For the money you can buy a relatively good motherboard. But not one that would have a PCI Express 4.0 slot at its disposal. In a word, I want to save money, but this is still not the money that is very noticeable in the final assembly of a gaming PC.

Surprisingly, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X blows its competitor to smithereens. Even despite the fact that both chips belong to the same price segment. However, not everything is so clear.

If you're going to be using your PC for more than just gaming, then an AMD chip is your best bet. In games, the difference will no longer be so noticeable, so it makes sense to save money. Another conversation is if you provide a backlog for the distant future. If you have a motherboard with a PCI Express 4.0 slot at your disposal, then you simply have no options - the processor from Intel will not be able to realize its full potential.