What Are the Differences Between AMD and Intel Processors?

The differences between AMD and Intel processors are reflected in their prices, overclocking capabilities and integrated graphics chips, where AMD has a slight advantage. Other differences are evident in their power efficiency and performance in high-end games, where Intel’s i3 and i5 processors hold the higher ground. In most cases, as of 2015, AMD processors are suitable for users with a limited budget, whereas Intel dominates the high-budget PC market.

Although both companies provide processors across all price points, TechSpot.com reviews have found that Intel provides better performance per dollar. However, AMD sells quad-core processors at a lower price range than Intel, making AMD the better choice for users who need an affordable multi-core processor for software needs other than high-end gaming.

The integrated graphics chips on AMD processors are capable of handling most games at low to medium preset graphics settings, whereas Intel HD Graphics solutions typically struggle in the same scenarios. AMD also offers multiple low- and mid-range processors with overclocking capabilities, while Intel sells only one model with similar capabilities in that range, the Pentium G3258.

However, Intel takes the lead with octo-core high-end processor chips with overclock speeds that dominate the CPU market. For gaming, AMD provides processors that function as Accelerated Processing Units, featuring Radeon graphics technology on the same chip. On the other hand, Intel’s processors generally provide better speeds, which is better suited for the performance of high-end graphics cards.