You must be aware of the strong battle for CPU dominance between these two titans and the AMD vs Intel battle that has arisen in the previous several years, whether you are seeking for gaming performance, database hosting, or simply dedicated server hosting.

While Intel’s processors have historically outperformed AMD’s in terms of single-core raw power, AMD’s CPUs have improved significantly in terms of core count and threads, and as a result, AMD has outsold its rivals in terms of multi-core performance.

Until 3 or 4 years ago, AMD’s marketing staff appeared to be struggling to gain the same level of visibility as Intel. Around this time, they began focusing on the PC gamer, making improvements to their packaging, experimenting with other color schemes, and shifting their marketing strategy. As a result, they released their Ryzen series, which completely transformed the game.

When different CPUs become indistinguishable, knowing which one to utilize becomes critical. In AMD’s favor, they have historically provided higher value in their processors, although Intel has a stronger brand recognition and keeps the lead (the Nike of microprocessors).

AMD and Intel are currently competing for market share and developing different technologies in order to get an advantage. Intel CPUs, for example, utilize LGA1200 sockets, whereas Ryzen chips use AM4 sockets. This means that motherboards and other components must be picked correctly, otherwise they will be incompatible.

Both AMD and Intel, fortunately, offer a wide choice of CPUs to suit any application.
AMD Ryzen processor

Consumer vs. Enterprise CPUs (On-Demand) Meet ServerMania: Transform Your Server Hosting Experience

Not all CPUs are created equal. The CPUs in your server are designed for long-term workloads and can operate at full capacity all of the time, whereas the components in desktop processors are not. As a result, server CPUs are often slightly more expensive than desktop CPUs, but they provide a better level of productivity performance.

Server-only functionality, such as error-correcting codes and registered memory, are likewise inaccessible to most desktop processors. The most significant distinction between the two is that server CPUs often have more cores than those found in desktop PCs, resulting in higher power consumption. Because of the extra cores, server workloads are substantially more multi-threaded than most desktop workloads.

Intel CPUs have dominated this market for years, but AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper has significantly altered the scene since its release. AMD has generally made no distinction between its server and desktop processors. The AMD CPUs utilized in servers are consumer-grade chips that are quite powerful and perform admirably in servers (in 2017 AMD released their Epyc line, built specifically for servers). Intel, on the other hand, has almost always had a CPU series dedicated to servers.

Intel vs. AMD Processors: What’s the Difference?

Each model or series is usually given a name, as is the case with any brand. AMD’s Ryzen CPUs include the Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9, and Epyc lines, whereas Intel’s Xeon processors include the Silver, Gold, and Platinum lines.

AMD has always been a viable processor option, and their Ryzen line of CPUs has only gotten better. AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7, and 9 processors are the most recent additions to the AMD Ryzen range, and they offer good multi-core performance at a reasonable price.

Intel’s 3rd generation scalable processors, the Xeon E-2300 series, were announced in Q2 2021 and include 10 new processor variations, including variants with 4, 6, or 8 cores.

The Ryzen 3000 CPUs from AMD are a significant upgrade over the preceding Ryzen 1000 and 2000 CPUs. They have the revised Zen 2 architecture, AMD’s most recent introduction into the Ryzen range, which proved to be more than just a minor generational gain, delivering. The demand for Ryzen 3000 CPUs is so high that it’s challenging to maintain them in supply.

While AMD has already moved to more modern 10nm and 7nm designs, Intel’s decision to stick with 14-nanometer architecture startled many industry observers.

Consider AMD’s Ryzen 5800X processor: it has a reasonable price and significant performance gains over the previous generation, making it one of the best processors currently available. They continue to use AMD’s AM4 CPU socket, making them backward and forward compatible, whereas Intel has a history of delivering new processors that are incompatible with earlier socket types.

Over the previous generations, AMD’s continued use of AM4 sockets has given users with considerable value in terms of future upgradability. If you were using a 3900 chip on an Asrock motherboard, for example, updating to the new series is as simple as downloading a BIOS update. While the chances of you being able to use an older Intel processor in a newer motherboard or vice versa are minimal, Intel does not rule out the possibility.

Intel has a dual chipset option in many of their lines, although AMD has only recently begun with the Epyc line of server-specific CPUs.

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CPU Performance Comparison: Intel vs. AMD

AMD shifted their strategy a few years ago, focusing on gaming performance to compete with Intel, and produced the 3000 series to do so. This line’s CPU performance indicated a significant boost in workload capacity.

The 3900X has 12 cores, 24 threads, a 3.8GHz base clock speed, a 4.6GHz boost clock speed, and a TPD of 105W.

With 16 cores and 32 threads, a base clock speed of 3.5GHz, a maximum turbo boost of 4.7GHz, and a TPD of 105W, AMD’s Ryzen 3950X is one of their top server CPUs. These chips are both excellent, making them ideal for high-end gaming and multimedia production.

At first glance, the Intel Xeon E5-2695 v2 appears to be a distant second. To begin with, the pricing is far lower than the 3950, and it may not appear to be as powerful at first glance, given that it has 12 cores, 24 threads, and a base frequency of 2.4 GHz with a maximum boost of 3.2 GHz.

The fascinating thing about the E5-2695 v2 and how it relates to the aforementioned 3950X is that the 2695 is not only far more cost-effective than the 3950, but when you consider the 2695’s potential to use a dual chipset, it suddenly becomes a challenger at a much cheaper price.

These CPUs are ideal for high-end gaming, creative chores such as 4K video editing, or 3D rendering that require a lot of power at a low cost, thanks to their multi-core server workloads.

Due to its 64 cores and 128 threads, AMD’s top-of-the-line model, the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, is in a league of its own when it comes to high clock rates. It features a TPD of 290W and a base clock speed of 2.9GHz with a boost speed of up to 4.3 GHz. This processor is an all-purpose workhorse that can be used for VPN, huge data processing, AI, and military applications thanks to its multi-threaded capability.

The Intel Xeon Silver 4214R is similar to the Ryzen 3900X in that it has 12 cores and 24 threads, but the clock speed is lower, with a base of 2.4 GHz, a maximum of 3.5 GHz, and a TPD of 100W.

While the Intel E5 2620 V4 rivals AMD in terms of cores, with 16, the 2620 V4 falls short on clock speed, with a base speed of 2.1 GHz and a maximum boost speed of 3.0 GHz. TPD is 85 watts.

It’s impossible to compare anything to Ryzen’s Threadripper, but the Intel Xeon E5-2699 v4 scalable processor does a great job of it, with 22 cores and 44 threads. This chip has a base frequency of 2.2 GHz and a maximum boost of 3.6 GHz.

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Headroom for Overclocking

Intel processors have traditionally had the largest overclocking headroom, allowing you to go faster than the default speed and, in the past, greater frequencies than AMD Ryzen CPUs. Still, with such high clock speeds, it’s worth evaluating how stable your CPU will be.

Intel Xeon CPU Versus AMD Ryzen

 

Because of the growing market demand for AMD Ryzen Servers, manufacturers have had a difficult time maintaining enough in stock to meet demand, since they frequently sell out before they ever reach data centers (and is especially the case here at ServerMania). Many people are reselling or hoarding the 3900s for cryptocurrency because AMD can’t keep up with demand. AMD is currently experiencing hardware scarcity, whereas Intel’s long history has allowed for a more reliable supply chain.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the most popular CPU among enterprise customers, offering plenty of power and speed with its astonishing 64 cores and 128 threads, making it the most powerful processor for product performance. This low-cost processor is built on TSMC’s 7 nm technology and is based on their Zen 2 microarchitecture. It also has 64 PCIe lane support at 4.0.

The Xeon 6338 Gold Series, with its powerful 32 cores, 64 threads base clock speed of 2.0 GHz and maximum turbo frequency of 3.2 GHz, is a comparable CPU. The Xeon processor is based on the X86 architecture and is extremely sophisticated, allowing it to handle a growing number of complicated applications. This processor, like the 3990X, offers 64 PCIe lanes at 4.0.

It’s worth repeating that Intel chips include an integrated graphics card, but AMD chips do not.

Epyc Considerations: Intel and AMD Dedicated Server Options

AMD’s Epyc Series must be included in the battle for dominance. AMD’s EPYC 7402P, a 64-bit tetracosa-core x86 server CPU with 24 cores and 48 threads, was released two months before the 3950. It has a 2.8GHz base clock, a 3.35GHz maximum speed, and a 180W power rating. Only single-socket configurations are supported, with up to 4 TiB of eight-channel DDR4-3200 memory per socket. The EPYC 7402P is a part of the EPYC series and is based on the Rome 7nm family.

This monster of a server CPU is designed for heavy computational activities like artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing, such as industrial or military applications, thanks to its large memory bandwidth, capacity, and excellent I/O.

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Comparing Prices

Intel is doubling down on AMD’s growing competitiveness over the last few years by adding more cores, threads, and power to the mix. AMD is the more economical of the two. And, unlike AMD CPUs, these new processors do not have increased gen-on pricing, leading in a lower price-per-core and thread. AMD responded by lowering its prices and increasing competition.

An AMD Ryzen 9 (16 cores) will set you back $600-800, whereas a comparable Intel CPU, the 2699 E4, will set you back roughly $4000, but a Xeon E5 2690 (14 cores) will set you back around $2000.

It’s worth noting that until you get to the Epyc, which costs roughly $4000-5000 per chip, the Ryzen range doesn’t provide dual CPU layouts. If you decide to go with AMD, you’ll need to buy a separate dedicated graphics card.

Check out our unmetered 10GBPS dedicated servers Which CPU is the Best?

This article has addressed the never-ending debate between AMD and Intel about which company produces superior CPU architecture. It all boils down to your individual needs and preferences when it comes to AMD vs Intel.

The performance of CPUs varies depending on the line you choose, with the price difference between Intel and AMD being the most significant.

Let’s say you want a high core count in the top part. AMD CPUs have a clear advantage in this scenario, with more cores and threads and a superior price-to-performance ratio.

On the other hand, because Intel’s motherboard chipset supports twin CPUs, the Xeon E5-2695 v2 delivers a higher price-to-performance ratio.

We recognize that not everyone has the time to thoroughly investigate all of their options, and the amount of information available online can be overwhelming. We urge you to schedule a free server hosting consultation with one of our specialists to get answers to your questions regarding server hosting without any obligation or cost.

You can also look through our Intel and AMD Dedicated Server Options if you need more help deciding between AMD’s Ryzen processors and Intel’s Core series, which have similar features but different price tags, or if you need some help figuring out what type of processor might be best suited for your needs.