System Plus News

It’s a debate as old as Windows itself — AMD or Intel?
And in 2025, the conversation is hotter than ever.

Whether you’re building a gaming rig, upgrading your office desktops, or just wondering what’s under the hood of your laptop, the processor you choose can make a real difference. Both AMD and Intel have stepped up their game with powerful new chips, smarter technology, and more options than ever before.

So, which one deserves your money?

At System Plus, we’ve done the research, compared the numbers, and pulled together the latest UK pricing, performance stats, and real-world pros and cons — all in plain English.

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📊 Market Share: Who’s Winning in 2025?

In terms of raw numbers, Intel still holds the lead — with about 62% of the global desktop CPU market as of late 2024. But AMD is catching up, especially in areas where performance per pound matters.

🔹 In gaming, AMD’s share on platforms like Steam is now over 38%
🔹 In the server/data centre space, AMD actually outsold Intel in Q4 2024
🔹 And in the UK home and enthusiast markets? AMD has become the go-to brand for budget and mid-range gaming PCs

That said, Intel remains dominant in many business and laptop sectors — particularly where stability and built-in graphics matter.

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💻 What CPUs Are People Buying?

Here’s a quick look at popular models in 2025, with UK pricing (as of Q1 2025):

CPU Model	Brand	Cores	Approx. Price
Ryzen 9 9950X3D	AMD	16-core	£699
Ryzen 7 9800X3D	AMD	8-core	£480
Ryzen 5 7600X3D	AMD	6-core	£299
Core i9-14900K	Intel	24-core (8P + 16E)	£432
Core i7-14700K	Intel	20-core (8P + 12E)	£333
Core i5-14600K	Intel	14-core (6P + 8E)	£231

P = Performance Core / E = Efficiency Core
Prices vary by retailer and region. These are typical averages.

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🧠 Performance Breakdown: Gaming, Multitasking, and Everyday Use

When it comes to choosing a processor in 2025, performance is the headline act — and for most people, that means gaming performance. Whether you’re aiming for ultra-smooth FPS, fluid multitasking, or just a responsive desktop for daily use, your CPU choice makes a real difference.

Let’s break it down by what people actually use their machines for.

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🎮 Gaming Performance in 2025: The Fight for Frames

If you’re into gaming — especially AAA titles — you want a processor that doesn’t bottleneck your graphics card and can deliver high frame rates consistently.

🟥 AMD: The Gaming King (for now)

Thanks to its 3D V-Cache technology, AMD’s latest Ryzen “X3D” chips are top of the leaderboard in many modern games. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D in particular is built specifically for gaming, offering incredibly low latency and high frame rates in CPU-bound titles.

Games like Elden Ring, Starfield, and Hogwarts Legacy all show strong performance gains on AMD’s 3D V-Cache CPUs, often outperforming Intel’s flagships — even the i9-14900K — by 5-15 FPS in real-world benchmarks at 1080p and 1440p.

Add to that better thermal efficiency, and AMD’s gaming chips often run cooler and quieter too — a bonus for smaller builds or those without high-end cooling.

🟦 Intel: Still a Strong Contender

Intel hasn’t been left behind. The Core i9-14900K delivers excellent gaming results, especially in games that love high clock speeds — like Counter-Strike 2 or Flight Simulator 2024. Its high boost clocks and strong single-thread performance still make it a brilliant choice, particularly for competitive or esports-focused setups.

Intel also wins in compatibility and stability — some titles and older games still favour Intel’s platform due to long-standing optimisation.

⚔️ Gaming Verdict:

Gaming Focus	Best Choice
High FPS in modern titles	AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
eSports/competitive play	Intel Core i7-14700K or i9-14900K
Streaming while gaming	AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – great multitasking
Budget builds	Intel Core i5-14600K – excellent value

🔎 Note: Your GPU still matters most — but your CPU determines how well your system handles CPU-heavy games, background tasks, and futureproofing.

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🧰 Multitasking and Productivity

If your system doubles as a workstation — whether you’re editing 4K video, rendering 3D scenes, or juggling virtual machines — core count and cache size start to matter more.

AMD Advantages:

• More cores and threads at each price point
• Excel at workloads that scale well (Blender, DaVinci Resolve, etc.)
• Better performance-per-pound in parallel tasks

Intel Advantages:

• Hybrid core design (performance + efficiency) optimises background and foreground workloads
• Slight edge in apps that favour high single-core speeds like Photoshop and AutoCAD
• Wider compatibility with software that prefers Intel platforms

🏆 For creators, AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a beast — effortlessly handling multitasking, rendering, encoding, and gaming without breaking a sweat.

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🖥️ Everyday Use and Office Work

For basic daily tasks — email, web browsing, spreadsheets, video calls — the reality is this: both Intel and AMD chips from the last two years are more than powerful enough.

Intel does offer a small advantage here by including integrated graphics on most chips, meaning you don’t need a dedicated GPU. That’s ideal for office PCs or budget setups.

AMD’s newer chips require a dedicated GPU unless you buy a specific “G” series (like the Ryzen 5 8600G). That adds cost — but also gives you more freedom to pair your CPU with a better graphics card later.

💡 If you’re just browsing and emailing, you won’t notice a difference. But if you’re planning to grow into gaming or editing, AMD’s upgrade path may offer more long-term value.

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🔚 Bottom Line: Choose Based on How You Use It

• Gamers: AMD takes the crown in most benchmarks and real-world gameplay — especially with 3D V-Cache CPUs.
• Creators and streamers: AMD wins again on core count and multitasking, unless you’re using very specific Intel-optimised tools.
• General users: Intel might be the better drop-in solution thanks to integrated graphics and widespread support.

Still unsure? At System Plus, we’ve tested both platforms hands-on — and we’re happy to help you choose what’s right for how you use your machine.

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🛠 Multitasking and Creative Workloads

If you’re editing video, rendering 3D content, or running VMs, both brands offer heavy-hitters.

• AMD offers more cores at the top end, often giving it an edge in pure multithreaded performance.
• Intel’s latest hybrid architecture (Performance + Efficiency cores) allows smart task handling and better power balancing, which is great for laptops and mixed workloads.

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💷 Pricing & Value in the UK

One of AMD’s strongest advantages remains price-to-performance ratio. You typically get more cores for less money, and their chips often run cooler — saving you a bit on power and cooling.

Intel offers stronger single-threaded speeds, slightly better integrated graphics (on most models), and wide software support — but usually at a higher price.

💡 General rule:

• For gamers and content creators: AMD offers more bang for your buck
• For everyday office work or business desktops: Intel is stable, predictable, and well-supported

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🧩 Pros & Cons Breakdown

	AMD	Intel
🔄 Multithreaded Performance	✅ Excellent	✅ Strong
🎮 Gaming (with 3D Cache)	✅ Leading	⛔ Slightly behind
🌡 Power Efficiency	✅ Good	⛔ Higher power draw
💰 Value for Money	✅ Strong	⛔ Pricier at each tier
🧩 Integrated Graphics	⛔ Limited (except APUs)	✅ Included in most CPUs
🔄 Socket Compatibility	✅ AM5 still supported	⛔ Frequent motherboard changes

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🔮 What Should You Buy in 2025?

Here’s the no-nonsense advice:

✅ Buy AMD if you:

• Want the best gaming CPU for your money
• Do video editing, 3D work, or heavy multitasking
• Like to build your own PC with upgrade flexibility

✅ Buy Intel if you:

• Need integrated graphics (no GPU)
• Run apps that rely on single-core performance
• Prefer rock-solid compatibility in business setups

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Gamers Nexus

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🧰 Final Thoughts from System Plus

In 2025, the choice between AMD and Intel isn’t as simple as it used to be, and that’s a good thing. Both brands are pushing innovation, offering more power and choice than ever before. Whether you’re a gamer chasing frames, a business owner upgrading office PCs, or just planning your next personal build, there’s a CPU out there that fits your needs perfectly.

And with Windows 12 just around the corner (or already here for some), now’s the time to think about compatibility, performance, and futureproofing your system. If you missed our deep dive on the next version of Windows, you can read that here, it’s packed with everything we know so far.

At System Plus, we’ve helped hundreds of local businesses and individuals choose the right kit, not just based on specs, but on how people actually use their systems day to day. No jargon, no hard sell, just honest advice and real-world experience.

📩 Thinking of upgrading? Or just want to chat about your options? Drop us a message — we’re happy to help.

Data Source: Tom’s Hardware The Verge PC Specialist Ebuyer.com

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