Intel i7 vs Ryzen 7 : Which Is Better to choose?

Whether you are buying a new laptop or building a desktop computer in a budget, you need to pay attention to what CPU you are putting in the system as it affects your choices for the rest of the hardware and also impacts the system’s overall performance. The impact of the CPU is considered the highest on any system compared to other components such as GPU, RAM, storage drive, etc. Therefore, it should be your first priority to get a powerful CPU with your system before you move on to the other components.

As of right now, both Intel and AMD have a lot of different options available for a CPU, each designed for a particular price bracket and offering a pretty good performance which is worth comparing. Unlike before, the difference between the advantages of both CPU options is getting pretty vague, making it quite difficult to choose. As far as commercial options are considered, Intel’s i7 CPUs and AMD’s Ryzen 7 CPUs are the most preferred choices on the market. To make a choice clear for you, we will compare both options today in this guide in-depth and offer you an insight into both CPU architectures.

What are Intel i7 and Ryzen 7?

Both Intel i7 and Ryzen 7 are some of the most high-performing CPUs from Intel and AMD respectively. Therefore, these are the most preferred choices for a high-performance laptop as well as for a top-of-the-line PC build.

1. Intel i7

The Intel i7 series of CPUs were first introduced back in 2008, and there have been a lot of upgrades in the CPU architecture with a new option released every other year or so. Intel i7 CPUs typically feature 4 to 8 physical cores and offer hyper-threading support which makes the thread count usually twice as much as the core count for each CPU.

Another great advantage of Intel i7 CPUs is that these CPUs offer a higher base as well as boost clock speed which improves their performance and also features built-in integrated graphics support, allowing you to use the system without a dedicated graphics card. Right now, the latest CPUs with the i architecture are the 13th generation options from Intel such as Intel Core i7 13700E, i7 1370PE, i7 1365UE, etc.

2. Ryzen 7

The Ryzen 7 CPUs from AMD, on the other hand have been a community favorite for quite some time now. It has contributed to a large part of the commercial CPU market share ever since its initial release back in 2017. Though these CPUs are a little late to the game, Ryzen 7 CPUs also bring the advantage of higher thread count as well as SMT or Simultaneous Multi-Threading support for twice the thread count as the cores. In comparison, Ryzen CPUs usually have a higher core and thread count than their counterparts in every budget section.

But, you have to be a lot more careful when you’re picking up a Ryzen 7 CPU as some of these options ship without integrated graphics support. These CPUs are aimed at gaming PC builds ,and since you are going to use a graphics card anyway, AMD decided to cut down the costs of these CPUs by removing the integrated graphics without affecting the core performance of the CPU. Also, some Ryzen CPUs are shipped without a CPU fan which is what you need to finish your build. These options are usually better for those planning to use 3rd party coolers or an AIO cooling system in their build.

Specifications and Features of the Intel i7 and Ryzen 7?

Comparing i7 and Ryzen 7 CPUs just based on their reviews and performance would be a tough task since all users have a different usage type in mind, making a certain option better for them in the long run. If you wish to compare the actual performance of both CPUs, you will have to take a look at what they have to offer in terms of technical specifications and features such as CPU socket support, clock speed, overclock support, TDP, etc. Here’s a detailed comparison for both CPUs regarding all these points.

1. CPU Socket

The CPU socket support for each desktop CPU refers to the socket available on the motherboard, which needs to be the one that can house the CPU that you wish to install. It also means that the motherboard designed for both of these options is going to be different as Intel operates on Land Grid Array (LGA) sockets, and Ryzen CPUs work with  Advanced Microprocessor 4(AM4) sockets.

2. LGA Socket

The main difference in terms of structure on these sockets is the positioning of pins. On an LGA socket, you will notice that there are pins available on the socket itself whereas the CPU has the pads where the pins are connected. In hindsight, CPU upgrades are sort of problematic in this case since Intel has locked the CPU support for the LGA socket for a particular generation of CPUs to avoid compatibility issues.

So, if you have an LGA socket motherboard, you can upgrade an i7 7th generation CPU from an i5 7th generation CPU, but not an i7 7th generation to an i7 12th generation CPU. But, there is also an advantage of the LGA CPU socket which is its relatively long lifespan.

3. AM4 Socket

If you know any individual who owns an AMD CPU-powered gaming setup, you will often hear them praising the AM4 CPU socket on their motherboard. On an AM4 motherboard currently housing a Ryzen 1200 CPU, you can upgrade to a Ryzen 9 5950X CPU with a simple BIOS upgrade, making it the best choice in future-proofing your system.

Another thing that brings the AM4 into the limelight is its ease of installation. As AM4 sockets have pins on the CPU, it is much easier and safer to install the CPU and lesser chance of damaging either of the units in the process.

4. AM5 Socket

Right now, the AM5 socket is the most advanced CPU socket technology developed by AMD for its latest CPU models. This socket is also based on the Zen 4 architecture available on the Ryzen 7000 series processors and a lot more that are about to be unveiled in the future. It takes full advantage of the PCIe 5.0 on a wide selection of motherboards along with DDR5 memory support to offer you the best performance, whether you are building a highly powerful workstation or the best gaming PC to date. Right now, the best options for an AM5 CPU socket are AMD X670E, AMD X670, AMD B650E, and AMD B650. While the X series chipsets are aimed for the best performance, the B series tend to be the budget choice in comparison.

5. CPU Speed (MHz)

The clock speeds of any CPU are a direct representation of the processor’s working speed. There are 2 different clock speeds that you will usually find on CPUs that are base clock speed and boost clock speed. It also impacts the i7 and Ryzen 7 CPUs, as explained below.

• Base Clock Speed: The base clock speed of a CU is basically the minimum speed at which the CPU operates. In comparison, you will find that Intel’s i7 CPUs offer a slightly higher base clock speed than Ryzen 7 alternatives. Thus, these CPUs can handle slightly more demanding tasks with ease. The base clock speed for the latest generation of Intel i7 CPU ranges between 2.9 GHz to 3.6 GHz. However, Ryzen has picked up on its latest generation CPUs, offering 3.4 GHz to 3.8 GHz base clock speed.
• Turbo/Boost Clock Speed: The boost clock speed, on the other hand, is the maximum performance speed attained by a CPU when working under load. This is a temporary boost in the CPUs performance, which can deal with sudden loads and offer you flawless performance without any lags. Both Intel i7 and Ryzen 7 CPUs offer a pretty high boost clock speed, making them an ideal choice for gaming. But due to the advanced architecture of Ryzen CPUs, you get an edge in performance with the boost clock speed for these CPUs ranging between 4.4 GHz to 4.9 GHz. The same for Intel i7 processors is between 4.2 GHz to 5.0 GHz based on the CPU generation.

6. Chipset Compatibility

Intel’s Core i7 and AMD’s Ryzen 7 series of CPUs are compatible with different chipsets. The chipset is a component that connects the CPU to the other parts of the computer, including the motherboard and peripherals. Here’s how the chipset compatibility of the two series compare:

Intel’s Core i7 CPUs are compatible with motherboards that use Intel’s LGA (Land Grid Array) sockets. The specific chipset that a particular i7 processor is compatible with will depend on the generation of the processor. For example, 11th generation i7 processors are compatible with Intel 500 series and select 400 series chipsets. The compatibility of Intel’s Core i7 processors with different chipsets varies depending on the specific processor model and generation.

AMD’s Ryzen 7 CPUs are compatible with motherboards that use AMD’s AM4 (Advanced Microprocessor 4) sockets. The specific chipset that a particular Ryzen 7 processor is compatible with will also depend on the generation of the processor. For example, Ryzen 7 5000 series processors are compatible with AMD 500 series and select 400 series chipsets. The compatibility of AMD’s Ryzen 7 processors with different chipsets also varies depending on the specific processor model and generation.

7. Overclocking

Overclocking basically means increasing the clock rate of the CPU, making it operate faster than its design limit for performance gain. In general, both Intel’s Core i7 and AMD’s Ryzen 7 series of CPUs can be overclocked, and both offer strong performance gains when overclocked. However, the specific results of overclocking will depend on a variety of factors, including the specific model and generation of the processor, the cooling solution used, and the quality of the motherboard and power supply.

Intel’s Core i7 CPUs can be overclocked using the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) or through your motherboard’s BIOS. However, overclocking an i7 processor can also increase its power consumption and heat generation, requiring additional cooling solutions to prevent damage to the processor or other components. Also, you will need a K-series CPU from Intel if you wish to overclock the chip since this is the only lineup from Intel that supports overclocking.

Any of the AMD’s Ryzen 7 CPUs can be overclocked using the AMD Ryzen Master utility or through the BIOS of a compatible motherboard. More importantly, AMD CPUs also have a reputation for their strong overclocking capabilities, particularly with its 3rd and 4th generation processors. Overclocking a Ryzen 7 processor can provide a significant performance boost but also increase the processor’s power consumption and heat output. Fortunately, the Ryzen 7 CPU coolers shipped with the unit can handle that without any problem.

8. Memory Compatibility

Intel’s Core i7 and AMD’s Ryzen 7 series of CPUs slightly differ in memory (RAM) compatibility. So, the type and capacity of RAM you choose for the system will depend upon which CPUs you are getting. DDR5 memory offers several improvements over DDR4, including faster data transfer rates and lower power consumption, which can result in better performance for some tasks.

As of right now, both Intel’s Core i7 and AMD’s Ryzen 7 series of CPUs support DDR4 (Double Data Rate 4) memory, which is the current standard for desktop computers. However, there have been some recent developments about DDR5 (Double Data Rate 5) memory support.

Intel’s 12th generation Core i7 CPUs, also known as Alder Lake-S, do support DDR5 memory. DDR5 offers higher bandwidth and lower power consumption than DDR4, which can improve performance for some tasks.

The same goes for the Ryzen 7 CPUs. While not all Ryzen CPUs may offer support for DDR5 memory, AMD has released some CPUs in its Ryzen 5000 and 6000 series that support DDR5. So, future releases of the Ryzen 7 series may also bring DDR5 support to all Ryzen 7 CPUs.

It’s important to note that while DDR5 offers some advantages over DDR4, the benefits of DDR5 may not be fully realized until applications are optimized to take advantage of its increased bandwidth and lower power consumption. Additionally, the cost of DDR5 memory is currently higher than DDR4, so upgrading to DDR5 may not be cost-effective for all users.

9. Integrated Graphics (Yes/ No)

The integrated graphics support on a CPU allows a user to build a fully functional system without including a graphics card in the component list. While the GPU is a crucial component for gaming, it is not that useful for professional work or basic computers. In such a case, the integrated graphics support on a CPU is much more reliable and cheaper.

All Intel’s Core i7 CPUs come with Intel UHD Graphics or Intel Iris Xe Graphics, depending on the specific model you are getting. It also changes whether you buy a laptop or build a desktop computer. The Iris Xe Graphics is the more powerful and offers better performance for demanding applications like video editing and gaming.

Many AMD’s Ryzen 7 CPUs also come with integrated graphics that are part of the CPU’s architecture and referred to as Radeon Graphics. The specific model of Radeon Graphics varies depending on the Ryzen 7 CPU generation. The most powerful integrated graphics currently available on a Ryzen 7 CPU is the Radeon Vega 11, which offers good performance for casual gaming and multimedia tasks. AMD also has some options that ship without the integrated graphics support which are more suitable for gaming builds with a GPU.

10. Thermal Design Power (Watt)

Thermal design power (TDP) is the amount of power a CPU requires to operate under normal conditions. It measures the heat dissipation requirements of a CPU and is typically expressed in watts. Here is a comparison of the TDP of Intel’s Core i7 and AMD’s Ryzen 7 series CPUs:

Intel’s Core i7 CPUs have a TDP that ranges from 35 watts to 125 watts, depending on the specific model. The higher TDP models typically have more cores and higher clock speeds, which can result in better performance. But it also means that the CPU requires more power to operate, resulting in more heat generation and creating a more capable cooling system.

AMD’s Ryzen 7 CPUs have a TDP that ranges from 35 watts to 105 watts, depending on the model and generation of the CPU. Similarly, the higher TDP models of Ryzen 7 CPUs typically offer more cores and higher clock speeds. And thanks to the better design of the CPUs, these chips can offer better performance and speed even with a noticeably lower TDP.

11. Cores and Threads

The core count and thread count are important factors to consider when comparing CPUs as the performance and power consumption of the CPU heavily depend on them. The core count refers to the number of physical processing cores on the CPU, while the thread count refers to the number of threads or operations the CPU can handle at a time. Here is a comparison of the core and thread counts of Intel’s Core i7 and AMD’s Ryzen 7 series CPUs.

Intel’s Core i7 CPUs currently have core counts that range from 4 to 16, which vary based on which model you are choosing. As you may have guessed, the higher core and thread count is usually available with the premium lineup of CPUs with Intel.  Most Core i7 CPUs have hyper-threading technology, meaning they can execute two threads per core, effectively doubling the thread count. This results in thread counts that range from 8 to 32.

AMD’s Ryzen 7 CPUs currently have the benefit of comparatively higher core and thread counts, which range from 8 to 16. All Ryzen 7 CPUs have simultaneous multithreading (SMT) technology, which means that they offer twice the thread count as the core. This results in thread counts ranging between 16 to 32 for a Ryzen 7 processor.

Prepare a table by including the above, mentioned specifications of i7 and Ryzen 7

Now that you have a good knowledge of how the technical specifications of Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 differ, it should be easier for you to make a choice for your upcoming PC build. To quickly recall the discussion so far, here’s a feature and specification list for the Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 CPU.

Comparison: Intel i7 13700K vs AMD Ryzen 7 7700

Still, it would be unfair to put all Intel i7 CPUs and AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs in comparison against one another without referring to the particular architecture, model, generation, or release year of the CPU. With every new year, both companies make significant changes in their CPU models, making each option look better than its predecessor. Therefore, we will compare the 2 most popular options from this series, the Intel i7 13700K and AMD Ryzen 7 7700. Since these are the most powerful options available from both sides, it will give you a clear idea about the suitable job for the CPU.

1. Gaming

In terms of gaming performance, the Intel Core i7-13700K outperforms the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X due to its increased core and thread count. The i7-13700K has a base clock speed of 3.4 GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.3 GHz, while the Ryzen 7 7700X has a base clock speed of 4.5 GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.4 GHz.

Additionally, the i7-13700K has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. This means that the i7-13700K can handle more simultaneous tasks and provide better multitasking performance, which can be important for gaming as well as other demanding applications.

2. Single-Threaded

Apart from the benefits of multiple cores and threads, the single-thread performance of the CPU should also be considered as it is as important as its multi-threaded performance. Sometimes, the game or program you are using may not be highly optimized and would cause a lot of stress on a single thread of your CPU instead of proper distribution of workload. In such a case, you will need a CPU offering heavy single-threaded output.

In comparison, the Intel Core i7 13700K is clearly the better option for single-threaded performance. There are a lot of benefits to be found in the single-threaded performance of the chip, especially after overclocking. Even at stock settings, the Intel Core i7-13700K is nearly 6% faster than the Ryzen 7700X and up to 9% faster when it is overclocked.

3. Rendering

Again, Intel Core i7-13700K takes the lead when it comes to heavy tasks such as rendering, which heavily depends upon the multi-threading performance of the CPU. Compared to its rival, the Intel Intel Core i7-13700K is nearly 54% faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X. The same goes for the chip’s single-threaded rendering benchmarks, proving that this is a true all-rounder Core i7 CPU.

4. Web Browsing

This is the part where AMD finally takes up the lead and offers a relatively better result than Intel Core i7-13700K. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X performs much better in latency-sensitive tests and is 5% faster than the competitor. These tests include res-6, Jetstream 2, and Edge browser benchmarks, where the results are pretty much identical for both the CPUs. But, in WebXPRT 3 test, Ryzen 7 7700X proves its worth and takes the 5% lead.

5. Video Editing

There are a lot of tests available to check a capacity of CPUs performance during video editing session which includes the real-time rendering of the video as well as final project export, which is quite a demanding task. Here, the Ryzen 7 7700X takes up the lead again by being about 8% faster than the Intel Core i7-13700K. Being a Zen-4 architecture chip, such results are expected from the Ryzen 7 7700X.

6. Price

Last but not least, the most important factor for a lot of buyers when it comes to buying a new CPU is its price. If you are planning to build an ultimate gaming PC, then you already know that a lot of expenses are heading your way, and even the smallest cost-cutting can change the state of your system. Regarding price, the Ryzen 7 7700X is a far cheaper option than the Intel I7 13700K. And, there aren’t as many noticeable downgrades on the chip either, especially when it comes to gaming where the performance of both chips is more than excellent.

Conclusion

It should be quite clear to you now that both Intel Core i7 13700K and AMD Ryzen 7 770X feature a lot of advantages as well as a few disadvantages of their own. But, some of these benefits might be what the buyer is looking for, whereas some limitations might be ignorable for some buyers. Therefore, both CPUs are perfect options for a certain set of applications. But if you are still unsure, we suggest you go with the Ryzen 7 7700X CPU for gaming and casual work. But for better single-threaded results, extremely heavy tasks, or an all-in-one PC build, the Intel Core i7-13700K is the right option.