AMD vs Intel - Which CPU Should I Buy?

[Alessio749600]

I'm currently operating with an i5 2400 3.1GHz and I've had no problem with it for gaming. Still, I believe it's time to upgrade, so I've decided to select parts for my new build.

I'm not sure which CPU I should go for. I've heard that AMD cores are weaker than Intel ones, and that Intel often out performs AMD. I've also heard that AMD is built for gaming and that AMD's 4.0GHz is equivalent to an Intel 3.3GHz.

Which CPU?

1. 8 Core AMD FX 8350 @ 4.0GHz
2. Intel Core i5 4690K 3.5GHz.

My budget is $2500. With all my other hardware I've chosen except the CPU, the total comes to around $2000. I'm willing to spend up to $350 on a CPU.

 

[X79]

So what's the build for?

It's true that Intel tends to outperform AMD on single core performance. Sadly AMD has fallen out of the high end market

and so if you really want the best performance possible, Intel tends to be the way to go. At least for FPS in games.

Sometimes even Intels i3 has given AMDs CPU lineup a run for its money. But both are good, essentially. The FX-8350 is sort of the mirror

to the Intel i5. Will you only be doing gaming?

 

[LucoTF]

I'm currently operating with an i5 2400 3.1GHz and I've had no problem with it for gaming. Still, I believe it's time to upgrade...

Sadface

Your current cpu is still a very good one, it's top tier in fact: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,review-32901-5.html

There haven't been major improvements in performance since the 2xxx series anyway, I'd advise keeping your current cpu for a good 12 months or more (at least until skylake is released)

 

[Alessio749600]

I'll be doing pretty much just gaming, yes. It can run pretty much any game. I can run COD Advanced Warfare in quite high fps even though the requirement is an i5 2500K, I would kinda want a faster CPU as well though

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

There haven't been major improvements in performance since the 2xxx series anyway, I'd advise keeping your current cpu for a good 12 months or more (at least until skylake is released)

My thoughts exactly; besides the integrated graphics, very little improvement has been made.

OP, you should definitely wait for Skylake (and AMD's new processors arriving later this year), it'll be interesting to see what the die shrink does for performance and efficiency, not to mention overclocking.

 

[Alessio749600]

I can't even imagine overclocking AMD's new CPU's. Hopefully given the fact that they have a reputation for great OCing ability, they will be able to bring something new to the table.

 

[yeskay]

I'm currently operating with an i5 2400 3.1GHz and I've had no problem with it for gaming. Still, I believe it's time to upgrade, so I've decided to select parts for my new build.

I'm not sure which CPU I should go for. I've heard that AMD cores are weaker than Intel ones, and that Intel often out performs AMD. I've also heard that AMD is built for gaming and that AMD's 4.0GHz is equivalent to an Intel 3.3GHz.

Which CPU?

1. 8 Core AMD FX 8350 @ 4.0GHz
2. Intel Core i5 4690K 3.5GHz.

My budget is $2500. With all my other hardware I've chosen except the CPU, the total comes to around $2000. I'm willing to spend up to $350 on a CPU.

The processor you have right now still a pretty good one for gaming. I would suggest that the right time for you to upgrade will be 2nd half of this year. Why?

Intel Confirms Skylake in 2H 2015

Let me give you one more reason why you shouldn't upgrade now.

AMD reiterates plans to introduce New Radeon R9 300 Series GPUs in June 2015.

Source: KitGuru.Net - Read this full article with approximate R9 300 GPU Prices.

The AMD's new R9 300 Series, are expected to use High Band Width Memory (HBM) that will consume less power yet offer superior performance than GDDR5 technology.

So two new technological breakthroughs coming 2nd half of 2015. It's wise to upgrade later than now. Also AMD would have releasesd all their R9 300 series starting from low to high end cards by then. You will have loads of options to upgrade - R9 300 HBN Graphics Cards, Skylake Processors with support for both DDR3 / DDR4 memory, and new Skylake supporting Motherboards with LGA 1151 Sockets.

Cheers!