Choosing between an AMD Ryzen 7 and an Intel Core i7 processor can be challenging, as both offer robust performance. This in-depth comparison review examines the vital statistics, battery performance, gaming capabilities, and multimedia editing efficiency of these two powerful CPUs, providing practical insights for real-world usage.
AMD Ryzen 7 vs. Intel Core i7: Key Specifications
Let’s begin with the core specifications:
- Cores/Threads: Both the AMD Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7 feature 8 cores and 16 threads, indicating similar multi-threading capabilities.
- Base/Boost Clock Speeds: The AMD Ryzen 7 boasts a base clock speed of 3.8 GHz, slightly higher than the Intel Core i7’s 3.6 GHz. Intel, however, achieves higher peak boost speeds, reaching up to 5.0/4.6 GHz (Dual/All Core) compared to Ryzen’s 4.7 GHz.
- Architecture: AMD Ryzen 7 utilizes the Zen 3 architecture, while Intel Core i7 employs Cypress Cove.
- Integrated Graphics (iGPU): Intel Core i7 includes UHD Graphics 750 Xe 32EU, whereas the AMD Ryzen 7 typically requires a dedicated GPU.
- L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen 7 offers 32MB of L3 cache, double that of the Intel Core i7’s 16MB.
While these specifications provide a foundation, real-world performance reveals subtle differences.
Battery Performance: Intel’s Efficiency Advantage
Laptop’s power consumption rate will often depend upon the following factors:
- What are you using the computer for?
- Your operating system and the software you run.
- Other hardware components.
Looking at it on a processor-only metrics, here is how things stack up:
The Intel Core i7 is better by some margin if you undertake simple tasks like watching a movie on your device. Intel seems to know how to knock it down a gear for more straightforward, less-processor-heavy tasks. The Intel Core i7 beats AMD Ryzen 7, and in fact, even the Ryzen 5 beats it in saving battery power.
However, if you were doing something processor-heavy, the amount of battery power used would sort of even out. The Intel Core i7 would still have a slight edge, but not by much.
AMD Ryzen 7 vs Intel Core i7: Gaming Performance
When it comes solely to AMD Ryzen 7 vs Intel Core i7, both demonstrate rather poor performance in high-end, modern gaming without a dedicated graphics card. At the same time, some newer Ryzen-based laptops fare quite well for gaming, as long as you play older titles and less demanding games. However, the processor alone is not ideal for gaming without further hardware additions (i.e., GPU).
Both AMD Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7-based computers perform adequately with older games found on websites like GOG. They are also especially good at running mobile/freemium games where high graphics are not required but where lots of processing is required.
A good example of this is Fallout Shelter. In this game, the graphics are fine using both of these processors. But as you progress through the game and gain nearly 200 dwellers, many CPUs start to struggle. In the case of the AMD Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7, both did just fine, however. Added dwellers were only demanding more processing work and did not require higher graphics.
Considering modern-gen games, these processors are not up to scratch. It takes a lot of effort to get a game like Far Cry 5, for example, to run. And even though the AMD Ryzen 7 wins out slightly with all the settings turned down, it is not worth trying to play modern games, banking on the processor alone. Instead, your GPU is far more important, especially if you are a laptop gamer. And while all AMD Ryzen processors for laptops come with integrated graphics cards, it would make sense to pick a model with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics, for example. RTX 3080 will give a great boost to both processors and optimize their gaming performance. PC gamers should also look into buying an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 video card for their gaming rig.
Multimedia Editing: A Close Contest
Somehow, Ryzen falls behind just slightly in this case. Core/thread count and clock speeds are big factors here. Both processors should theoretically be equal, but they seem to differ in practice.
For example, if you were using programs like Inkscape, Handbrake, and even GIMP, then Intel seems to perform ever so slightly better every time. However, if you render with a processor-heavy program like Blender.org, then Ryzen will do the job quicker.
There are undoubtedly some good reasons for this, but the reasons don’t matter. What matters is how these processors perform with real-world use. In the cold light of day, these two processors seem equal for all but a few minor differences. So choosing between the Intel Core i7 vs AMD Ryzen 7 would ultimately depend on the line of work you do and how you use your computer day-to-day.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Processor for Your Needs
Ultimately, the decision between AMD Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7 depends on your specific needs. Both processors offer excellent performance for general computing. Intel holds a slight advantage for tasks requiring battery efficiency. Ryzen performs slightly better for intensive rendering. For gaming, a dedicated GPU is critical.
If your current laptop isn’t meeting your performance needs, consider upgrading or selling it. You can explore options like trade-ins or simply sell your used laptop at Gadget Salvation.
