Should I still buy Intel processors? | Ask an expert

Q: Do I still have to buy Intel processors? It seems that most of the recommended DIY builds use AMD parts these days.

A: AMD may have claimed a lot of cores in the DIY community, but Intel still brings a lot to the table – so the answer to your question really depends on your needs, what’s available in your region and what that you can buy at a reasonable price.

Content creators benefit more from using AMD as its high-end chips offer more cores to work with. The same goes for enthusiasts looking for uncompromising performance, as the company’s new Ryzen 5000 series tops the charts in gaming and multithreaded tasks. And before the pandemic, people on a budget could count on AMD affordably, especially those interested in later processor upgrades without having to replace their existing motherboard.

But Intel hasn’t fallen off a cliff. It has lost the crown as the clear leader in consumer processors, but Team Blue’s chips still perform as well as AMD in PCs used for daily tasks and / or gaming. Depending on what generation of AMD processors you are considering, the Intel counterpart may even be the best choice for gaming. So if your system requirements fall into that space, you aren’t making a huge sacrifice by going with Intel.

Rob Schultz / IDG

In fact, Intel is currently a solid alternative to the exhaustive research required for certain AMD processors due to high demand and low availability. To score a new Ryzen 5000 series processor, you need to carefully monitor product listings and rely on dedicated inventory alert communities. (Learn more about buying strategies for hard-to-find PC hardware.) Cheap chips from the previous generation are also rare. Finding a Ryzen 3 3100 or 3200G at the list price takes patience, and good luck if you’re still set your sights on the elusive 3300X. In contrast, Intel processors are available more widely and at MSRP.

So really, making the choice between Intel and AMD hasn’t really changed from previous years. Your personal situation always dictates what is best for you; the only thing different is that the positions of each company have changed. Before 2020, AMD received praise for its reliability and affordability, while Intel received top marks for performance. Now AMD is seated on the throne, with higher starting prices for Ryzen 5000 and scalpers inflating the prices of most other offerings, and Intel is the cheaper choice. But the two companies always bring everything they have on the table.

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