AMD or Intel for gaming?

AMD or Intel is one of the first questions people ask. The honest answer is that both are good. For gaming, the processor matters less than you might think. Here is what to look for, in plain words.

Both makers are good

AMD and Intel have both made strong gaming processors for years. Each one is ahead in some games and behind in others, and that changes as new chips come out. A sensible processor from either maker will play games well.

The processor is the part that does the general thinking in a PC. It is often called the CPU.

The graphics card matters more

For games, the graphics card does most of the hard work. It draws every picture you see on the screen. If you have a fixed budget, it is usually better to pick a good middle processor and a stronger graphics card. A top processor with a weak graphics card will still struggle in big games.

Your screen matters too. A higher resolution puts even more work on the graphics card. Our guide to 1080p, 1440p or 4K explains this.

What to look for in a processor

• Cores: a core is one part of the processor that can work on a job. Six cores is a good start for gaming. Eight helps if you stream or record as well.
• Age: a newer processor is usually quicker than an older one with the same number of cores.
• Platform: this means the type of motherboard and memory the processor needs. It decides what you can add later.
• Upgrade path: some platforms take newer processors for longer than others. If you like to upgrade bit by bit, ask whether a faster processor will fit the same motherboard later.

The letters at the end, explained

Processor names often end in a letter. It tells you something useful.

• G (AMD): has graphics built in. It can run a screen with no graphics card. Good for lighter games and cheaper PCs.
• F (Intel): has no built-in graphics. You must have a separate graphics card. That is normal in a gaming PC.
• K (Intel): can be overclocked, which means run faster than its normal speed. Most buyers never need to do this.
• X3D (AMD): has extra memory on the chip that helps many games. See our guide to X3D processors.

Not every name has a letter, and makers change their naming from time to time. If a name puzzles you, just ask us.

So which should I choose?

Do not worry too much about the make. Choose a PC with a balanced processor and a graphics card that suits your games and your screen. That is what decides how games feel to play. Every PC we sell is built and tested on our own bench in Worcester, whichever maker is inside.

Memory matters too. Read how much memory a gaming PC needs next.

Questions people ask