Intel and AMD Processor Comparison

The competition is quite stern between Intel and AMD processors today. To learn more about what each has to offer, it is important to do an Intel and AMD processor comparison. Let's find it out here.

Today there are only two large manufacturers of processors — Intel and AMD — and there is fierce competition between them to improve their products and reign over the market. The CPU is the powerhouse, or brain, of a computer: it analyzes and is responsible for the system's overall performance, so a higher-capacity chip yields greater output. As desktops give way to laptops, that brain takes the form of a mobile "processor" rather than a bulky CPU, which makes an Intel vs AMD comparison all the more relevant for the modern buyer. Intel clearly dominates the market thanks to highly efficient products and strong sales, but AMD is no slouch — it offers high performance at economical prices.

How to Compare Processors

For a first-time buyer unfamiliar with the jargon, the three most important parameters are clocking frequency, number of cores, and cache size. Clocking frequency — measured in MHz or GHz — is the most important: the higher the clock rate, the faster the chip. The processor cache is on-board memory that temporarily stores data, so more cache speeds up processing. All modern Intel and AMD chips are multi-core, and more cores mean better multitasking through parallel processing. Beyond these three, a chip's power output and fabrication process matter for efficiency — 32 nm fabrication is superior to 45 nm because it produces more energy-efficient processors. Note that superior specifications do not guarantee superior performance; only actual benchmark tests (using software such as Cinebench) reveal the truth.

High-End Processors: Intel Core i7 vs AMD Phenom II X6

At the top end, Intel fields the Core i7 and AMD the Phenom II X6. The Core i series is Intel's newest technology: the i7 is a 64-bit chip with 2, 4 or 6 cores, Hyper-Threading (which boosts performance) and Turbo Boost (which raises performance based on active cores, power, and temperature). It uses 8 MB of Intel Smart Cache and up to 12 MB of L3 cache (the top i7 970 has 12 MB, other versions 8 MB) and can process 8 threads. AMD's Phenom II X6 is its first six-core processor — a 45 nm chip clocked from 3.2 to 3.6 GHz — designed as an alternative to the i7. It uses the same 6 MB L3 cache as the four-core Phenom II X4, but its two extra cores make it faster and more efficient for multi-threaded applications. Head to head, the i7 is a little faster; the one place AMD wins decisively is price — the i7 costs roughly $1,000 versus about $300 for the Phenom II X6. Unless your use is extreme, saving $700 for a small, non-substantial compromise makes the Phenom II X6 a wise buy.

The Rest of the Range

• Intel Core i5 vs AMD Phenom II X4 — the i5 is built on the i7 line, one level down: a 64-bit, 2- or 4-core chip with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost but less cache. The Phenom II X4 is a quad-core chip built for quality multimedia and advanced applications.
• Intel Core i3 vs AMD Phenom II X3 and X2 — the i3 is the economical member of the Core family, with Hyper-Threading but no Turbo Boost. The Phenom II X3 and X2 (3 or 2 cores) offer great value and economical, solid performance.
• Intel Core 2 Duo vs AMD Phenom II X3 and X4 — the Core 2 Duo is among the best-selling chips for its efficiency and value, its two cores enhancing video, gaming and image output, while AMD's triple- and quad-core Phenom II entries brought 64-bit computing to the consumer class.
• Intel Pentium Dual Core vs AMD Turion II / Ultra — the Pentium Dual Core, a predecessor of the Core 2 Duo, offers decent multimedia output; AMD's Turion II and Turion II Ultra did well thanks to strong multimedia performance (often with AMD or ATI graphics) at economical prices.
• Intel Centrino / Centrino Duo vs AMD Sempron — basic chips for internet browsing, office work and email; the Centrino was best for small laptops, with the Sempron as its low-budget equivalent.
• Intel Atom vs AMD Athlon Neo / Neo X2 — low-power chips for netbooks and nettops; the Atom trades processing power for efficiency and price, while the Athlon Neo pairs with ATI graphics for decent multimedia output.

The Verdict, Especially for Mobile

After reviewing benchmark tests, Intel's mobile (and desktop) processors currently come out ahead of their AMD counterparts. Intel's 32 nm fabrication, together with technologies like Turbo Boost, Hyper-Threading, QuickPath Interconnect and Smart Cache, sets its Core i3/i5/i7 lines apart from AMD's largely 45 nm chips and translates into superior real-world performance. AMD's one clear advantage remains its lower price, and acceptance of AMD is gradually growing thanks to its quality-for-the-money. But if you want the best performance for a new laptop right now, Intel — though slightly costlier — is worth every penny; if budget is your priority, AMD is a great choice.