
AMD and Intel are both powerful processors and offer almost similar performances. As far as gaming is concerned, this Techspirited article will dig deep to make a fine match of AMD vs. Intel.
If you are an AMD fan, you’d be particularly interested in knowing about its Kaveri chip. It combines a CPU and GPU in a single die using a heterogeneous system architecture (HSA). It was launched in January 2014.
There has been an age-old debate about which processor among AMD and Intel is better, and this debate continues when you consider the efficiency of both regarding gaming. Both these companies are behemoths of the computer processor industry. It is difficult to declare which one has a precedence over the other. Certain features need to be considered before making any kind of comparison. We look at what the AMD and Intel processors have to offer in the gaming arena.
When an individual spends large amounts of money to buy video game consoles and expensive video game DVDs for their PCs, they do not mind shelling out a few hundred dollars extra to get a better processor. After all, this implies that their games will run smoothly, and this is what any gamer wants. This debate gains more importance because of these two reasons:
- The similarities in the processors, but a massive difference in the price; and
- The willingness of gamers to pay a higher price for better performance.
Most of the latest i7 processors of Intel have a clock speed of 2.70 to 3.20 GHz. Most of the AMD processors, on the other hand, have a clock speed of around 4 GHz.
Certainly, AMD scores here because it is cheaper and more affordable than its counterpart. Perhaps, this is the reason it is more in demand at times. Pricing for AMD FX processors begin from about USD $100, and they are favorable for gaming once you touch around USD $150. Currently, you can opt for AMD FX-6300 which is priced at approximately USD $120 if you don’t want to break your budget. Once your budget crosses $150, Intel processors offer a quicker and more powerful performance overall. The latest Core i7-4790 costs around USD $303.
There are many components that come into the picture as far as gaming is concerned, and this causes many variations in the gameplay. A bad graphics card affects the high quality graphics while you are playing a game; in fact, 75% of the overall performance depends on this card. Different processors of Intel use the Nvidia graphics card, while AMD uses ATI. Both these processors use excellent, high-quality cards. Intel’s i7-4790 uses the Intel HD Graphics 4600, while the new AMD FX 8-core processor comes with an Advanced Core Technology, Smart Cache, and an integrated DRAM controller with memory optimizer technology.
CPUs usually have a fixed clock speed; however, users look towards fine-tuning their processor to get more performance out of their CPU. This is called overclocking, which raises the clock speed above the base rate.
If you are inclined towards tweaking the settings, then AMD chips are a good option, given the fact that they provide more cores at a comparatively lesser rate. On the other hand, Intel chips are generally locked at their default clock speed. Hence, they aren’t an option unless you go in for an unlocked version of the processor.
It all boils down to a personal perspective. Both processors are very good; hence, people make the choice based on certain assumptions as well as facts. From a neutral point of view, if you do not care about the cost and are ready to shell out any amount of money, go in for Intel. If, however, you want a cheaper product with almost equal efficiency and performance, AMD is a better choice. With the money you save, you might be able to buy some better product that can help upgrade your processor and help it function better for gaming.