Intel vs AMD Laptops in 2024 - What a Mess...

Summary

In this video, the host compares the AMD Ryzen 8000 series and Intel Core Ultra Series processors in laptops, highlighting the difficulty in finding identical models for a fair test. Four laptops from Asus and Lenovo, two each using AMD and Intel, are put through various tests focusing on battery life, port selection, and performance. The results show Intel's processors outperforming AMD in battery life and creator applications, with AMD holding its own in gaming. The video emphasizes the importance of manufacturer optimization and advises consumers to consider current market offerings and wait for upcoming Zen 5 and Lunar Lake architectures for the best value.

Takeaways

• 💻 The video compares the AMD Ryzen 8000 series and Intel Core Ultra Series processors in laptops, focusing on performance, battery life, and port selection.
• 🔍 The test used four laptops from Asus and Lenovo, designed to be as identical as possible except for the CPU, to ensure a fair comparison.
• 💰 The Intel Ultra 7 model with a 1 TB SSD was priced $200 higher than the AMD device, but both offered good value for money.
• 🔋 The Intel Core Ultra 7 devices showed better battery life compared to the AMD ones, despite having the same battery capacities.
• 🔌 Both AMD and Intel laptops now offer similar port selections with USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4, reducing Intel's previous advantage.
• 📊 In performance tests, the Intel processors outperformed the AMD ones in full core workloads and creator applications when power delivery was equal.
• 🎮 In gaming, the Intel Arc graphics showed competitive performance with AMD, but inconsistent driver performance affected the experience.
• ❌ Asus's power management was criticized for not optimizing the Intel platform as well as the AMD one, leading to performance discrepancies.
• 📉 The Ryzen 8000 series was seen as an incremental update over the 7000 series, with Intel's Meteor Lake taking advantage of this to perform better in many areas.
• 💡 The video suggests waiting for next year's Zen 5 and Lunar Lake architectures for potential improvements over current offerings.

Q & A

What is the main challenge in comparing laptop processors?

The main challenge is getting identical laptop models with the same chassis, specifications, and price for both Intel and AMD processors.

What are the two pairs of laptops used in the video for comparison?

The two pairs are the Asus Zenbook 14 OLEDs and the Lenovo Pro 7 Series, with each pair being clones of one another with the only major difference being the processors used.

What is the difference in storage between the Intel and AMD Zenbook 14 OLEDs?

The Intel Ultra 7 model has a 1 TB SSD, which is likely the reason for its $200 premium over the AMD device.

How do the battery capacities of the compared laptops compare?

Both sets of laptops have identical 75W battery capacities.

What is the battery life advantage of the Intel Core Ultra 7 devices over the AMD ones?

The Intel Core Ultra 7 devices have an edge over the AMD ones, with the ultra 755h getting about 2 and 1/2 hours more battery life than the AMD device.

How does the port selection differ between the AMD and Intel versions of the Zenbook laptops?

The AMD version has two USB type-c connectors, one of which is a USB 4 and the other a USB 3.2 Gen 2, while the Intel version has two full-speed Thunderbolt 4 connectors.

What is the issue with the power delivery to the CPUs in the Asus Zenbook 14 during the benchmarking?

The Asus Zenbook 14 with the Intel CPU has power limits that hinder its performance, with the system feeding less and less power over time, leading to degraded clock speeds in longer tests.

What is the performance comparison between the Intel and AMD processors in the Lenovo Pro 7 Series?

In the Lenovo Pro 7 Series, when both CPUs are fed the same amount of power, they perform almost identically in full core workloads, but the Intel Ultra 7 has a slight edge in lightly threaded scenarios.

How does the Intel Core Ultra Series perform in GPU accelerated rendering compared to the Ryzen 8000 series?

The Intel Core Ultra Series outperforms the Ryzen 8000 series in GPU accelerated rendering, especially in applications like Premier Pro and Resolve.

What is the recommendation for those in need of a new laptop based on the video's findings?

The recommendation is to either wait for next year's architectures or buy a discounted 2023 AMD Ryzen 7000 series laptop, as both current architectures are seen as Band-Aid solutions.