Which CPU Brand Should you get in Your Gaming Laptop – Intel or AMD?
This generation in 2024, CPU performance is surprisingly kind of a tie. Intel does better in some workloads, while AMD is ahead in others. But once you average a bunch of different tasks or games, the difference is fairly negligible.
Intel Advantages
Intel typically has the edge when it comes to single core performance, and they have options with more cores and threads. Intel usually ends up being less power efficient, as their chips need higher power levels to reach those higher levels of performance.
AMD Advantages
This may be why, generally speaking, AMD based gaming laptops last longer on battery power. That isn’t always the case, and Intel’s Meteor Lake processors have started to change this. We have 240+ laptop battery tests published here, and there’s a clear trend of AMD Ryzen laptops coming out on top.
For now, AMD based gaming laptops tend to have better integrated graphics performance. This won’t be important to most gamers, as you’ll be using the more powerful discrete graphics, but some people like to run less demanding games on battery with the iGPU.
Which Laptop CPU is Best?
Ultimately you can’t really go wrong with AMD or Intel laptop processors in 2023-2024 gaming laptop models. The difference has been much bigger in the past, but not anymore.
Source: I compared AMD’s Ryzen 7 7840HS against Intel’s Core i7-13700H. Technically these aren’t the newest processors anymore, but Ryzen 8X4X processors and Intel 14th gen are essentially the same architecture, just with fresh rebranded names.
15 Comments
1610ftw
Two more advantages for Intel:
It is easier to tweak them with programs like XTU and Throttlestop
They support Thunderbolt and therefore certain external device options like 10G network adapters
Speaking of CPU: You mentioned possible upcoming upgradeable laptops at Computex but then nothing happened. Would be cool if you could make a video about upgradeable / modular laptops in the past and possible future.
I think upgradeability / modularity makes more sense for higher / enthusiast spec and that is where a company like framework is still lacking.
Jarrod
Yeah, they didn’t end up announcing it because one of the partners (think big CPU or GPU company) changed the embargo. I almost went to Computex to cover it, so it worked out that I didn’t end up going, not sure when we’ll see what I was hinting to.
Aleksandr
Lately I’ve been reading that 13th and 14th generation Intel processors are suffering from crashing issues. Previously, there was news only about desktop versions, but now there are also reports of problems with laptop versions.
Do you know anything about this? It would be nice if you made a video on this topic, taking into account the fact that almost all top laptops are now on Intel
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/dev-reports-that-intels-laptop-cpus-are-also-crashing-several-laptops-have-suffered-similar-crashes-in-testing
Jarrod
I don’t have enough information so nothing meaningful to make a video about. I suppose in theory it would affect laptop chips too given HX is the same as desktop, but maybe to less of an extend as they have lower power levels. But also Intel apparently recently came out and said laptop chips are fine: https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-states-mobile-13-14th-gen-core-series-are-not-affected-by-instability-issues
Grigory
Hi Jarrod, I had a simple PC question but I wasn’t sure where to ask it. Right now in my PC I have an i5 9600K and I’m looking into upgrading the GPU as it’s a 1650 right now. I am mainly looking at RTX 2060 and 2070 as they both seem to pair well with my CPU, but I wasn’t sure which one to go for as I don’t want a CPU bottleneck. Trying to get the best card, thank you!
Jarrod
No point going for something so old unless you’re on a tight budget and have a 1080p screen or something. Ultimately either will be an improvement over the 1650, but 30/40 series will be better depending on price. Check hardware unboxed for price to performance data.
Greg
Update Ryzen battery life:
AMD Ryzen laptop processors generally get much better battery life. There is some exceptions.
Amd Dragon Range 7xxxHX and newer Fire Range 9xxxHX processors in laptops get worse battery life then Intel HX equivalent laptop processors. Ryzen HX 3xx processors get excellent battery life.
Update 13th and 14th gen processors stability and degradation issues in relation to laptops:
Please delete my prior comment on Intel 13th and 14th gen laptop processors. I’d suggest owners or potential buyers look at this. The systems seem to stay below 1.5v so I may have been misinformed. This was the best article I found with some data to back it up. https://web.archive.org/web/20240805185052/https://www.xmg.gg/en/news-update-intel-core-cpus-laptops-stability/
Jarrod
Ok removed it at your request, and yes the dragon range stuff is pretty poor for battery life – all our results are at https://jarrods.tech/list-of-laptop-battery-life/
Ash
Hi! I recently just discovered your website through youtube. I know this question is kinda unrelated into this topic. I do apologize in advance.
I was planning to buy Lenovo LOQ, so i was wondering if the LOQ 15IRX9 83DV00BVPH i7-14700HX RTX 4060 is good? I’m sorry but I’m not techy.
Jarrod
Yes, I think the LOQ series is a good option.
Caleb
Hi Jarrod im looking at the Legion pro i5 with the i7 14700HX but also saw the Legion Pro 5 with the 9 7945HX both have 32 gigs of ddr5 and a 4070 which one should i go for?
Jarrod
Depends what the priority is, if battery life/single core performance maybe Intel, otherwise the 7945HX has a lot of multicore power.
Achyuth Madhiwada
Hi,
I’m planning to buy gigabyte arous 16x i7 13650hx/ 4060 qhd available at 1200 Euro in latvia… That’s my budget… Is it a good option to play AAA titles at ultra settings?? Every other brand with a hx version is expensive here and different versions of MSI are available but I’m worried about the the limited TGP on budget MSI versions… I’m not a techy so I’m sorry if I said something wrong…
Jarrod
What resolution? 1080p, maybe, but realistically ultra settings are dumb and not worth it, see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1n1sIQM5wc 4060 is a solid mid range option for 1080p and some 1440p, but depends on game, setting level, resolution, upscaling etc.
Achyuth Madhiwada
Understood. Its 2560×1600 resolution. Can you please tell me if this particular model gigabyte arous 16x i7 13650hx/ 4060has Gsync option?