full comparison with pros and cons

Creating the best gaming PC is no easy task. There are many things to consider when deciding which components to buy. From graphics cards to motherboards to CPU coolers, there are dozens of small choices that go into building your gaming rig. And as you may already know, two of the most popular mid-range options on the market today are the Intel Core i5 and the AMD Ryzen 5. Let’s take a look at these two excellent processors so we can arm you with the information you need to to choose the right one for you.

Intel Core i5 vs Ryzen 5: Side by Side Comparison

Intel Core i5 vs Ryzen 5: what’s the difference?

Price vs. performance is a major debate that factors into nearly every electronics purchase. Neither will your processor. How do you choose between two seemingly excellent options? Ryzen 5 or Core i5 are excellent mid-range processors. Why not compare and contrast features to see if we can determine a clear winner?

Why middle class?

First, some of you might be wondering why people are arguing about choosing between two mid-range processors. Shouldn’t they look to the higher end options if they want the best? Well, of course, if you’re John Hammond and you can’t spare money, you should definitely go for a top-of-the-line model. If you’re like most of us and on a tight budget, a mid-range processor might be just what you’re looking for when building a dedicated gaming system.

In the case of a gaming PC, it might be better to get a relatively reliable but cheaper processor and invest more of your budget in other key components: a graphics card, for example. And if you’re looking for the perfect mid-range processor for a gaming system, look no further than these two models.

Specifications

Looking at the specs: The Intel Core i5 is a processor that features 4 cores and 8 threads along with a base clock of 3 GHz and a turbo boost of up to 3.9 GHz. The Ryzen 5, on the other hand, has 6 cores and 12 threads while running at a base clock of 3.6 GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4 GHz.

If considerations didn’t go further than cores and threads, the Ryzen 5 would win hands down. However, when we factor in things like clock speed, the Core i5 is still a contender. Does raw core and thread count matter? Well, the higher the number of cores and threads, the more the CPU can multitask, executing multiple instructions simultaneously. So while they are not the only consideration, they are certainly important.

CPU power consumption

Thanks to Intel’s 14nm technology, the Core i5 has much lower power consumption, but that’s not all. Looking at the big picture, the computer requires more power than the processor needs to run. So, depending on the power consumption of other components in your machine, the benefit of the Core i5 may be negligible. Especially when it comes to components for a high performance custom gaming system.

Storage

The Intel Core i5 has twice as much storage as the Ryzen 5. The latter has 32 GB, while the former has 64. This extra storage will come in handy for more demanding tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. The more storage space, the faster your system can start, access, and load the information it has stored. Therefore, larger storage also helps with future proofing as new information needs to be written and stored, but more on that later.

General performance

In terms of performance, Ryzen 5 is the ultimate winner. How could it be otherwise? With two extra cores and four extra threads, Ryzen 5 is simply better equipped to handle demanding tasks. Although the fact that the Intel Core i5 can reach Ryzen 5 performance with fewer cores and threads, let alone a fraction of the power, is admirable.

price

The initial price is another area where the Ryzen 5 comes out on top. Not only does it have a lower selling price, but unlike the Core i5, Ryzen has an integrated GPU. The Intel processor must be paired with a discrete graphics card. Another point in the cost discussion is the fact that newer Alder Lake processors like the Intel Core i5 require an LGA 1700 CPU socket, which can only be found on the newer Z690 motherboards. The cost of a new motherboard (and a pretty expensive one at that) can add to the overall cost of building a custom PC. These facts, combined with the lower initial price, mean that Ryzen 5 offers better value for money.

Time tested

If we’re talking about long-term value, the Core i5 may be at a disadvantage there as well. Future proofing, or the ability to adapt to new components in the future to avoid obsolescence, is another factor to consider when evaluating its options. Ryzen provides PCIe 4.0 support for most models. PCIe, or Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, is a high-bandwidth expansion bus that typically provides connectivity to things like SSDs, graphics cards, and peripherals like capture cards and wireless cards. This technology is backward and forward compatible, allowing it to adapt to hardware changes in the future.

However, the storage capacity of each is a factor to consider here as well. The Core i5’s 64GB means it probably won’t need an upgrade as soon as the Ryzen 5 with its 32GB. A processor with less storage can fill up faster and should be upgraded sooner. This could make the Ryzen 5 worth it to start with, but more expensive in the long run.

Gaming performance

Gaming performance between these two processors is relatively similar. As we discussed, AMD’s Ryzen 5 does an outstanding job with demanding tasks like video rendering. This makes it ideal for gaming. However, the Intel Core i5 is considered by many to be the best processor on the market when it comes to gaming. The fact that it requires a dedicated graphics card works in its favor this time. It offers a slightly higher frame rate than Ryzen’s integrated GPU. Both handle 1080 or 4K without any issues.

Intel Core i5 vs Ryzen 5: The facts you need to know

• Specifications – The AMD Ryzen 5 has 6 cores and 12 threads compared to the Intel Core i5’s 4 cores and 8 threads.
• Energy efficiency – The Intel Core i5 is one of the most energy efficient processors on the market today.
• Storage – The Intel Core i5 has twice the storage capacity with a maximum of 64GB and the Ryzen 5 has 32GB.
• May require extras – Intel’s Core i5 requires a specific socket, which may require the purchase of a new motherboard. Also, it requires a dedicated graphics card, while the Ryzen 5 has an integrated GPU.
• Durability – Ryzen supports PCle 4.0, which is backward and forward compatible.
• Gaming Performance – Ryzen 5 handles video rendering like a champ, making it ideal for gaming. The Intel Core i5 requires a dedicated graphics card, which means it ends up delivering a higher frame rate.

Intel Core i5 vs Ryzen 5: Which is better?

When it comes to gaming PCs, in almost every category the Ryzen 5 seems to be the clear winner, it has more cores and threads, has an integrated GPU, is slightly more upgradable and is cheaper. But the Intel Core i5 isn’t without its advantages: it’s unmatched in terms of energy efficiency, has more storage space, and will provide slightly higher frame rates when paired with a quality graphics card. Perhaps Intel is better for everyday use, but when it comes to value for money, it seems Ryzen 5 can’t be beat. In the end, it can come down to personal preference.