AMD Vs. Intel: History of The Competition And How It’s Changing
Introduction:
Perhaps there is not a more well-known rivalry in technology than between AMD and Intel. AMD and Intel have been industry leaders in CPU manufacturing for about five decades. Ever since AMD rolled out their first batch of consumer CPUs, the Intel vs. AMD debate has raged on and is continued even today. To understand the shifts in computing superiority, we must consider the factors that resulted in the changes in the first place.
Brief History
In the early 2000s, almost all processes favored single-threaded workloads as opposed to multi-threaded workloads. The result was a worse multi-threaded performance as compared to single-threaded performance. Even though both AMD and Intel’s CPUs were single-threaded at the time, it did not stop Intel from inventing Simultaneous Multithreading. However, SMT could not change the stagnant performance gains new generations had over their predecessors.
After 2001, programmers optimized computing operations for multi-threaded CPUs. In 2006, AMD and Intel released dual-core CPUs with 4 Threads, eventually ending the supremacy of the single-threaded workloads. Even though core counts and threads were a match between Intel and AMD, AMD’s Phenom X4 CPUs struggled compared to Intel’s Core 2 Extreme QX9650. The new Quad-core CPUs had enough power to handle a low power background process simultaneously with a high power foreground process without a degradation in performance. This emphasis on keeping background applications on low power and foreground applications on high power shifted the focus towards single-threaded performance once again. It was at this juncture that AMD and Intel adopted differing approaches to CPU manufacturing. For much beyond 2006, Intel would be the unbeaten king in the CPU industry.
Intel’s Approach
Over at Intel, the approach was to get the most frequency on a single core and prowl through single-threaded performances. Even though AMD would be the first to cross the 5GHz barrier with its notorious FX-9590, it almost ended up in failure. Intel’s attempt at achieving the same feat was more successful with its 8th gen Core i7 processor with a base frequency of 5Ghz. For the most part, the CPU successfully maintained its 5Ghz performance. Intel’s vision heavily influenced its products, increasing the base frequencies while keeping lower core counts than AMD. This strategy enabled Intel to have a high power to core ratio while maintaining the power requirements of their CPUs and keeping their CPUs cost-effective. The ultimate result was that Intel was the processor of choice for most gamers and high-performance users for a long time.
AMD’s Approach
AMD favored multi-threaded workloads much more than single-threaded workloads. Even though AMD continuously boosted its clock speeds allowing AMD to catch up to Intel in single-threaded performance, Intel continued to remain superior in multi-threaded tasks. Because of its vision, AMD focused its resources on Core Count multiplicity- the more cores, the better. In 2011, AMD released an eight-core CPU based on the bulldozer architecture, the obnoxious FX-8150. The Bulldozer architecture allowed AMD to regain ground in multi-threaded programs; however, AMD’s performance finally stumbled in single-threaded workloads. AMD continued to push core counts and core frequencies. Still, its architecture failed to impress the market because of its inefficient delivery and high costs. AMD needed an innovation that would cater to its vision and restore long-lost confidence. Fortunately, the long-desired revolution in processor manufacturing would come in 2019.
In 2017, AMD took the market in shock when they unveiled their Zen-based Ryzen processor. An extremely high-power processor that pushed raw multi-threaded performance past the most powerful Intel processor while being energy efficient. Even though AMD was behind in single-threaded workloads, Zen-based processors had twice the multi-threaded performance than Intel’s 9th gen Core i9 processors. In 2019, AMD unveiled Zen 2 architecture and achieved a feat that Intel considered impossible for a long time. AMD finally delivered a CPU based on a 7nm package as opposed to Intel’s 14nm. The die shrinkage enabled AMD to showcase the true power of the Zen architecture by pushing core counts to 16 with its Ryzen 9 3950x. Zen 2 not only accomplished AMD’s true vision of multi-threaded processing but also enabled AMD to gain ground in single-threaded workloads. Finally, in 2020, AMD unveiled its Zen 3 architecture focusing on high-performance gains over its predecessors. With its Zen 3 design, AMD finally dethroned Intel from its lead in the marketplace. AMD also became the CPU of choice for most users for its superior multi-threaded performance and high energy efficiency, powering millions of consoles, laptops, and OEMs.
How Will AMD’s Re-Entry Shape the Future Of The CPU Industry?
AMD’s superior CPU designs and its high outputs have certainly stirred chaos in Intel’s offices. But, for the most part, the customers are the winners. There was very high competition between AMD and Intel, which prompted both the manufacturers to innovate and create the best CPU. When AMD fell short of Intel’s superior CPU, there was no driving force for Intel to keep innovating. Hence, for a significant portion of the mid-2010s, Intel continued to refresh existing CPUs instead of launching new CPUs that would heavily benefit the industry. AMD’s re-entry into the CPU marketplace will once again push Intel to innovate and combat AMD’s superior position. Right now, Intel needs to reduce its die size to allow its architecture to flourish. They have already pushed their 14nm design to its maximum with their 11th gen refresh at the cost of lower core counts. AMD and Intel’s squabbles would continue to benefit the industry and the consumers because competitions ultimately push companies to innovate.
