The microprocessor is an essential part of ever-changing technology, experiencing advancements over time. One may consider a microprocessor as an integral component that executes a set of logical and computational tasks and commands involved in computer processing. Research by Tiwari (2021) reveals that the microprocessor is also commonly referred to as the CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the processor unit of a computer system. Over the years, microprocessors have evolved and undergone immense architectural re-design to improve computer performance. With the battle of which microprocessor is the best in the industry, the Intel Core i9-12900k and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900x stand out to take each other head-to-head. The research will extensively examine the microprocessors to establish their unique advantages disadvantages and conclusively establish a contrast of their similarities and differences.
Intel Core i9-12900k
Intel CPUs have been embraced in the CPU market for their quality products and unmatched technological advancements. Tiwari’s (2021) research argues that before 2018, the company dominated the market, claiming the title as the ‘Giants’ in the CPU market. Their Intel Core i9-12900k boasts a 30 MB of L3 cache that operates at 3.2 GHz with a boost of up to 5.2 GHz. This turbo clock makes the processor vastly more powerful than its predecessors (Sima, 2018). Elsewhere, the PCLe Component in Intel processors experiences difficulties relating to the sufficiency of power supply for the high-end graphics cards. The new Intel processor remedies the challenge and supports the PCIe Gen 5 (PCLe 5.0), which solves this problem by giving 16-pin connectors to deliver a maximum power load of 662.4W. In addition, Doweck et al. (2017) highlight that the microprocessor has a unique feature that integrates microarchitectures into a single die. The technological advantage is impressive due to the capacity to boost efficiency and deliver intelligent workload optimization. Despite the Intel core i9-12900k processor being powerful and delivering remarkable results, it has setbacks exposing its competitors. The processor is expensive to acquire and is 25% more than its competitor, which is a significant disadvantage. Further, despite its efficiency, the processor has high demands of power, and since they operate faster, they generate a lot of heat and need more aggressive cooling techniques (Jonas & Kording, 2017). Consequently, the system trades quality output and runtime efficiency with economic and operational efficiency.
AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
On the other hand, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900x has been in the market as new innovative technology. The processor, released in the last quarter of 2020, is more wallet-friendly, builds a high-end system, and brings a significant generation-over-generation improvement (Tiwari, 2021). The processor gives excellent gaming and general computing performance since it boasts a maximum clock speed of up to 4.8GHz and a base close of 3.7 GHz with an L3 cache of 64MB. Moreover, the processor is unlocked for overclocking, making it suitable to handle heavy loads of tasks comfortably. The unlocked overclocking of the processor gives it a superior multi-tasking performance against the competition. The processor supports PCIe 4.0, which facilitates high-speed data transfer from graphic cards, SSDs, and other expansion cards due to the PCIe 4 cards’ compatibility with several expansion cards and will relatively consume low power and resources. Jonas and Kording (2017) illustrate how the microprocessors are still compatible with the PCIe 3. The processor has a relatively lower memory latency which makes it great at executing tasks faster and efficiently and sets it up against its competitors. It also has a higher market share value and is cheaper than the Core i9-12900k.
The IPC has been addressed, which gave poor results and low single-core performance; however, this model has improved and now provides better handling and performance of the single-core. The Ryzen has drawbacks that give its competitors an upper hand in the CPU market. For instance, a CPU cooler is not included causing the emission of a lot of heat which could damage it and other components (Naffziger et al., 2021). This might require purchasing an after-market air or liquid cooler. The processor is more expensive than its predecessors and unsuitable, considering it does not have a cooling system. Ryzen family processors don’t output high clocking speeds compared to Intel and cannot hold high overclocks for long, making them unstable.
Similarities and differences
The two microprocessors exhibit a set of similarities and differences. They are designed for better performance that supports gaming and heavy graphics loads like video editing. In addition, the two processors have a significant clocking speed that significantly improves performance. Intel is giving up AVX 512, which means its performance is similar to AMDs. Both processors have great L3 cache memory, but the AMD has a larger capacity in contrast (Kumar, 2019). There’s a vast price difference in the two processors’ market price, Intel being more expensive than the AMD processor. Furthermore, Intel consumes more power than the AMD processor, making it less energy efficient. Conclusively, both processors have high functioning qualities that set them aside from other technological advancements. However, the contrast between the two reveals that the AMD is ultimately a preferable choice due to its innovative architecture that is both economical and effective for the vast users of technology.
References
Doweck, J., Kao, W. F., Lu, A. K. Y., Mandelblat, J., Rahatekar, A., Rappoport, L., Rotem, E., Yasin, A., & Yoaz, A. (2017). Inside 6th-Generation Intel Core: New Microarchitecture Code-Named Skylake. IEEE Micro, 37(2), 52–62.
Jonas, E., & Kording, K. P. (2017). Could a Neuroscientist Understand a Microprocessor?PLOS Computational Biology, 13(1), e1005268.
Kumar, S. S. (2019). A comparative study of best processors: Intel and AMD. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, 2(7).
Naffziger, S., Beck, N., Burd, T., Lepak, K., Loh, G. H., Subramony, M., & White, S. (2021). Pioneering Chiplet Technology and Design for the AMD EPYCTM and RyzenTM Processor Families: Industrial Product.2021 ACM/IEEE 48th Annual International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA).
Sima, R. (2018). Intel Core X Series (HED Lines). Nik-Uni.
Tiwari, V. (2021). AMD’s comeback in the CPU market share with the launch of Ryzen. Academia.Edu.