Why AMD’s Bad Benchmarks Are BAD! Investigating The Lie

Summary

The video script discusses AMD's Zen3 architecture, comparing its gaming performance to Intel's newer Raptor Lake CPUs. It criticizes AMD for misleading benchmarks using an entry-level GPU, which mask the true performance differences. The script also reviews AMD's pricing strategies and the introduction of the 5900 XT and 5800 XT processors. The host, Steve, retests these CPUs with a more powerful GPU, revealing significant performance gaps in favor of Intel. The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of accurate CPU benchmarking and AMD's marketing missteps.

Takeaways

• 😀 AMD's Zen3 architecture, introduced in 2019, is claimed to be faster for gaming than Intel's Raptor Lake architecture for 13th and 14th generation Core processors.
• 📊 AMD presented graphs showing the Ryzen 9 5950X (previously 5900 XT) outperforming Intel's Core i7 13700K by up to 4% in some scenarios.
• 💰 The Ryzen 9 5950X is positioned as a more cost-effective option compared to the Intel Core i7 13700K, which costs at least $330 USD, while the 5950X is priced at $360 USD.
• 🤔 AMD initially announced a price for the upcoming 5950X, but later retracted it, possibly due to realizing the impracticality of announcing pricing for unreleased products.
• 🐻 The video criticizes AMD's marketing tactics, accusing them of misleading consumers with performance claims that do not hold up under scrutiny.
• 🎮 The video discusses the use of GPU-limited CPU tests, which can obscure the true performance capabilities of CPUs, especially when paired with older GPUs like the Radeon RX 6600.
• 🕹️ The script mentions several games used for benchmarking, including 'Party Animals' and 'Cyberpunk 2077', but criticizes the choice of games and testing conditions as not being representative of real-world CPU performance.
• 📉 The video demonstrates that when tested with a more powerful GPU like the Radeon RX 7900 XT, Intel's processors outperform AMD's Zen3 CPUs by a significant margin.
• 💡 The script emphasizes the importance of using appropriate benchmarking methods to accurately assess CPU performance, particularly in gaming scenarios.
• 🛒 The video suggests that AMD's new 5950X might make sense for productivity tasks if priced competitively, but for gaming, other options like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D could offer better value.
• 📝 The author expresses frustration with AMD's marketing approach, which necessitates additional benchmarking to correct misconceptions about CPU performance.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is a critique of AMD's marketing claims regarding the performance of their Zen 3 processors compared to Intel's Core processors in gaming scenarios.

When was AMD's Zen 3 architecture released?

AMD's Zen 3 architecture was released back in late 2019.

What is the issue with AMD's performance claims for their Zen 3 processors?

The issue is that AMD's performance claims for their Zen 3 processors are considered misleading because they were based on tests that heavily GPU limited the CPUs, using an older Radeon RX 6600 GPU, which does not accurately represent real-world gaming performance.

What is the significance of the Ryzen 9 5900 XT in the script?

The Ryzen 9 5900 XT is mentioned as an example of AMD's Zen 3 processor that was claimed to be competitive with Intel's Core i7 13700 K, but the script argues that this claim is misleading due to the testing methodology used by AMD.

Why is the Radeon RX 6600 not suitable for CPU benchmarking in this context?

The Radeon RX 6600 is not suitable for CPU benchmarking in this context because it is an older, entry-level GPU that can create a heavy GPU bottleneck, thus not accurately reflecting the performance capabilities of modern CPUs in gaming scenarios.

What is the role of the game 'Party Animals' in the script?

The game 'Party Animals' is used as an example of a game that is not CPU demanding and therefore not suitable for CPU benchmarking, as it does not provide meaningful data about CPU performance in gaming.

What is the criticism regarding AMD's pricing strategy for the 5800 XT?

The criticism is that AMD initially announced the 5800 XT at a price of $250 US, which was later walked back, and the script suggests that this price point was not justified given the minimal performance increase over the 5800 X.

What is the purpose of the sponsor spot featuring Thermogrizzly's Cryos Sheet Graphene Thermal Pads?

The purpose of the sponsor spot is to promote Thermogrizzly's Cryos Sheet Graphene Thermal Pads as an alternative to thermal pastes, highlighting their benefits such as high thermal conductivity and durability without the risk of drying out.

What is the script's stance on benchmarking CPUs with low-end GPUs?

The script's stance is that benchmarking CPUs with low-end GPUs is a flawed approach that can mislead consumers about the true performance capabilities of CPUs in gaming scenarios.

What is the conclusion of the video script regarding AMD's Zen 3 processors and their gaming performance?

The conclusion is that AMD's Zen 3 processors, as represented by the 5900 XT and 5800 XT, do not perform as well in gaming as claimed by AMD when tested with more demanding games and a higher-end GPU like the Radeon RX 7900 XT.