AMD or Intel processor for Graphic Design?

Are you setting up your computer and the time has come when you have to choose between an AMD or Intel processor for Graphic Design? The microprocessor is one of the key pieces in the performance of your computer and Graphic Design programs, so it is important to choose wisely.

Both AMD and Intel offer good processors for Graphic Design. For a desktop PC, the AMD Ryzen^TM  have a better price-performance ratio. In contrast, for a laptop, Intel is more secure because of the years it has been making laptop processors.

The choice of processor affects the efficiency with which the computer processes different tasks that involve the graphic designer’s work: previews, actions, filters, renderings … But it is not the only hardware element involved in these tasks. When you configure your computer do not forget to take into account how much RAM you need, the graphics card or the hard drive.

What is the difference between AMD and Intel for Graphic Design in 2024

Intel Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of integrated circuits and the leading brand of personal computer processors. Most laptop manufacturers work exclusively with Intel because of the quality and guarantees that their processors offer.

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) is Intel’s main rival. To compete with Intel, AMD typically offers processors with slightly lower performance per core than Intel, but with more cores per processor and at a more affordable price.

As proof we can refer to the tables that you will find below, which summarize the results of multiple performance tests carried out by PassMark on similarly priced Intel and AMD processors.

In these tests it is seen that Intel shows best scoreperformance for single wire or “CPU Single Thread Rating”. For its part, AMD scores better in global performance or “CPU Mark Rating”. Consequently, AMD also scores higher on the value for money (CPU Mark / $ Price).

Here you can see the test results (Higher results are better):

Intel Core i7-8700K @ 3.70GHz vs AMD Ryzen 7 1800X

We found the same pattern of results in range processors High

Intel Core i9-10900K @ 3.70GHz VS. @ AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

What is “overclocking” and how to take advantage of it

Although Intel and AMD manufacture very good microprocessors, an element that differentiates the two brands is the possibility of “overclocking”. This is the ability of the processor to run above its clock speed for a specified amount of time and therefore temporarily perform at a higher level.

For a graphic designer’s day-to-day life, it means improvements in preview speeds, 3D rendering, applying filters, exporting projects, etc. although as we said before, it is not the only hardware involved in these processes.

AMD allows overclocking, allowing easy access to the configuration of all its processors. In contrast, Intel limits the speed of most of its processors to what it comes from the factory.

Dangers of overclocking

Although overclocking is increasingly popular – especially among gamers – it is not without its risks. By forcing the processor, it can overheat and end up causing serious collateral damage to your hardware. Consult with a computer specialist before considering overclocking.

AMD or Intel for Graphic Design, which one to choose in in 2024?

If you plan to use your computer for more things besides designing, you will have to see the minimum requirements of the other programs or games and compare. If you are going to use it only for professional Graphic Design, Adobe notes in their system requirements of their programs 3 key elements in a processor, regardless of whether you choose AMD or Intel:

• The number of cores
• The processor base frequency
• The instruction set

Programs like Photoshop require a processor with a minimum of 4 cores, a processor base frequency of 2 Ghz and 64-bit compatibility. If we take it as a starting point when choosing AMD or Intel for Graphic Design, then you can start with an AMD Ryzen ™ 3 3100, an Intel Core ™ i5 (7th Generation) or any higher model.

Whether you choose AMD or Intel for your new computer, it is always recommended that you exceed the minimum requirements of your design programs comfortably. In this way, you will ensure that your design programs work correctly even in the next two or three years. In this guide, you will find up-to-date comparison tables with PC requirements for major graphic design programs.

For a desktop PC

If you want to get the most for your money by building a desktop PC, AMD is the best performance-price option. Based on the tests shown above, you can take advantage of AMD’s cheaper prices to get a good processor and use the price difference with Intel to improve other key hardware elements such as the graphics card, RAM or a good hard drive.

For a PC laptop

Intel leads the market of laptop CPU, so you will have little opportunity to choose from AMD or Intel Graphic Design. Intel has earned its privileged position thanks to years of improving the quality and reliability of its processors. Let’s think that in laptops, replacing a processor is not that simple.

AMD is already collaborating with Lenovo and Asus, but we are still a long way from having a wide variety of laptops to choose from. Possibly in the next year or the next we will start to see more manufacturers incorporating the new AMD Ryzenprocessors^TM  5000, but at the moment there is nothing confirmed.

Either way, choose a good processor to make your laptop as efficient as possible. This way, your laptop will have to do less effort, it will heat up less and the battery will last longer. But as we have already said, the performance does not depend only on the processor, so I recommend that you take a look at my article on how to choose a laptop for Graphic Design.

Is it possible to choose AMD or Intel for Mac?

Until recently, Apple hadmounted exclusivelyIntel processors in its computers, but with the arrival of Apple’s M1 chips, the exclusivity ended. Right now you can find some Macs with Intel processors and others with M1 processors.

For some time there was speculation that Apple could mount AMD processors in Macs, but the rumors ended with the introduction of the M1 processors.