amd or intel
amd or intel
This is always a tough questions. If you get a high end Intel processor, spend the extra money for a good cooling solution and push the Intel to a max overclock, given the exact same GPU and with current games, the Intel processors still come out on top. However, in most cases the FPS differences between the best consumer grade AMD and consumer grade Intel processor is pretty much unnoticeable unless you are staring at the FPS overlay or looking at benchmark results. I guess if you had a game where you were right at the edge of unacceptable performance with an AMD processor, the Intel processor might give you 5-10 more FPS but that is the only place your likely to notice the difference. Futher, we don't know how important multi-core/multi-threaded performance will be in the future though we do know that it is becoming more and more important and eventually will probably become more or at least equally as important as single core clock speeds. Therefore you have to at least consider that AMD completely buries Intel when it comes to mult-core/multi-threaded performance. There isn't even any competition. So if you go AMD, you tend to trade raw, but rather unnoticable, fps performance for a massive boost in any multi-core/Multi-thread workloads you come across.
For maximum gaming performance, go for a well-rounded setup rather than focusing solely on FPS numbers. A 2080 Ti paired with the 9700K offers better overall balance, while a 2070 Super with the 9900KF provides strong GPU power but may sacrifice stability. Keep your configuration balanced and prioritize GPU strength if you're mainly playing games.
9900kf stands out as the top choice among these four for gaming...it delivers consistent performance regardless of resolution. Worth the investment? Only if you value your own money.
A lot of what @Midnitewolf mentioned is correct. Intel processors perform better in gaming thanks to their architecture—Zen 2 offers higher IPC and sometimes stronger single-core speed, even with lower core-to-core latency from the Ringbus design. AMD excels in most multithreaded workloads outside games. For manual overclocking or maximizing core/cache usage, Intel 9000K series (or 8000K) works well, though the 8700K/8086K is the best pick unless you play mostly single-threaded games or just care about peak FPS without worrying about lows. If you prefer a bit more flexibility with core boost and RAM tuning, consider a Zen 2 (Ryzen 3000 series, excluding G-series APUs).