What is the most potent Intel, AMD or Qualcomm processor you can buy right now

Intel and AMD have traditionally been rivals in the field of computers. However, in recent years Qualcomm has been positioning itself as a rival in new devices. The race to build the most potent processor has created two great historical enemies supported by a legion of staunch fans. As if it were two irreconcilable sides.

As always happens in these cases, the primary beneficiary of this race to get the most powerful processor has been the end-user. The past decade has been somewhat decaf in these terms, with AMD unable to keep up with an undisputed Intel that, year after year, claimed the title of the most powerful processor. Luckily for users, the tables have changed a lot lately, and there is real peer-to-peer competition.

Table of Contents

More powerful processors for desktop computers

Intel Core i9 9900KS
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Intel Core i7-9700K
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

The most potent And fastest processor in the laptop

Intel Core i9 9980HK
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
Microsoft SQ1 and Qualcomm 8cx

For desktop computers

We leave out the extreme range processors with prices that exceed 2,900 euros, such as the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X from AMD or the Intel Xeon W-3175X, to focus on relatively more affordable options for ordinary users.
Thus, we find a series of high-performance processors oriented to gaming, workstations, and high-performance video and photo editing equipment.

Intel Core i9 9900KS

Until Intel’s 10th generation models like the Core i9 and 10940X are fully deployed to the market and prove their worth, the undisputed kings of desktop computers are the 9th Gen Intel Core processors.

In the highest range, the most potent version of the Core i9 9900 stands out by far. We are discussing the Intel Core i9 9900KS. As you probably know, in addition to the model number -9900. In this case, Intel applies slight operation improvements reflected in the two letters located just below.

In this case, the Core i9 9900KS maintains the eight cores in the range but shoots the base frequency up to 4 GHz. Scaling up to 5 GHz without the need for additional Overclocking when the processing load requires it, delivering impressive performance in applications that do not take advantage of multithreading, as is the case with games. The immediate consequence of that frequency increase is a temperature rise, as the Core i9 9900 KS has a TDP of 127W and requires a very efficient cooling system.

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

AMD has taken almost a decade to find the key that would make it rise from its ashes like a Phoenix Bird, thanks to the excellent behavior shown by the Ryzen processors. In terms of power and brute force, few processors can come close to the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, one of the high-end models that, with the permission of the Threadrippers, get better performance.

It is a 12-core processor capable of developing 24 processing threads from a base frequency of 3.8 GHz that does not hesitate to rise to 4.6 GHz when the workload requires it.

This processor is exceptionally comfortable when it comes to developing parallel processing tasks, such as editing videos, compressing or decompressing files, or rendering 3D content. Having a functional multithreading capacity is an added value for all these tasks. Even though this processor includes a heatsink, it can be insufficient for an absolute beast capable of consuming up to 105W in total performance, generating a large amount of heat.

Intel Core i7-9700K

From a general use point of view, AMD and Intel remain at very similar performance levels. In the case of Intel, it maintains a very slight advantage thanks to the excellent behavior of its processors in gaming computers. Intel, the absolute king of this category, is undoubtedly the Core i7 9700K. Thanks to its eight cores with a base frequency of 3.6 GHz that automatically accelerates to 4.9 GHz, it offers excellent performance in games that do not take advantage of all hearts. And all with a TDP of just 65W. That makes the Core i7 one of the processors experts prefer to power high-performance gaming computers.

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

The third generation of Ryzen processors has given a significant hit on the table. Placing themselves at the same level of performance as Intel, but with a slightly lower price. That makes them the most exciting option, positioning their models among the most powerful and best value-for-money processors of the moment.
One of the best examples is the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X processor, which offers eight cores and twice as many threads as the Core i7 9700K at a more affordable price. Each of its hearts operates at a frequency of 3.6 GHz and shoots up to 4.4 GHz when the nuts are tightened.

Ryzen 7 3700Xs have PCIe 4.0 support when paired with a motherboard with the X570 chipset. Something to consider when installing a next-gen GPU or faster storage system. The AMD processor includes the popular AMD Wraith Spire RGB heatsink that combines excellent performance. At the same time, maintains a beautiful appearance thanks to its customizable RGB lighting.

For laptop

In the field of laptop processors, the tables have not changed as much as in the case of desktop processors. That does not mean there have been no exciting movements in recent months. For the fastest processor in laptops, we find two differentiated processor segments. On the one hand, the one intended for gaming or high-performance laptops. The priority is to offer extreme performance and excellent connectivity to play online.

The second trend is processors oriented to ultraportable equipment in which mobility and autonomy take precedence. But always maintaining a certain level of power. In this section, we will see more exciting news in 2020 with the emergence of Qualcomm in the market for the “always connected” fastest processor in laptops with support for 5G networks.

Intel Core i9 9980HK

In the high-performance processor category for notebooks, Intel maintains undisputed leadership with its families of Intel Core i7 and Core i9 processors. In the highest position, we find the Intel Core i9 9980HK, which is positioned as the preferred choice of manufacturers and users when configuring a gaming laptop or a high-performance workstation.

Intel Core i9 9980HK comes equipped with the fastest processor in the laptop, including eight cores and 16 processing threads running at a base frequency of 2.4 GHz. But capable of reaching 5 GHz at peak performance. By being able to double its working frequency. The Core i9 9980HK maintains a very tight power consumption when it supports little activity. Drawing muscle when it comes time to do everything in demanding games or applications.

The new 10th generation Intel Core i7 models from Intel, with the Core i7 1065G7 at the helm. Are ready to jump onto the field of play. However, for the moment, few manufacturers are betting on this new generation, so its Market presence is still modest. However, it was expected that Intel would soon launch its Comet Lake H processors. That would come to replace the Intel Core i9 9980HK.

AMD Ryzen 7 3750H

Even though the third generation of Ryzen processors for laptops shows promising performance in the face of competition in this segment, their power still cannot be compared to that offered by Intel’s fastest processor in notebooks. The only one capable of coughing up the Intel is the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H. But its performance is on par with an Intel Core i5 9300H, which places it in a market aimed at entry-level or mid-range gaming notebooks.

This processor has four cores and eight processing threads that operate at a base frequency of 2.4 GHz. But with the ability to go up to 4 GHz under load. Inside, it mounts an iGPU AMD Radeon Vega 10 and has an adjusted consumption of only 35W. That makes it the perfect option for a laptop in which versatility is prioritized. At the same time, it maintains a very tight price, but not for a high-performance one.

As we said, this situation will change in 2020 since AMD has already announced it’s Ryzen 4000 for laptops and promises its flagship. The Ryzen 7 4800H will have much higher performance.

At the moment, the preliminary performance tests are very encouraging for these devices offering a power equivalent to that of the Intel models.

Microsoft SQ1 and Qualcomm 8cx

The presentation of the Microsoft Surface Pro X brought a double surprise. The first fruit of the discovery of the new Microsoft convertible, while the second came to discover. It did not mount an Intel processor like the rest of the Surface. But instead, they opted for an ARM processor designed jointly between Microsoft and Qualcomm.

On the other hand, Lenovo presented its latest batch of Yoga “Always Connected” laptops. Equipped with Qualcomm 8cx processors, close relatives of the SQ1 processor made for Microsoft. These processors offer very solvent performance with reduced consumption and connectivity. And mobility functions make things very difficult for traditional players such as Intel or AMD. In the case of Microsoft SQ1, for example, we are talking about the fastest processor in a laptop with an 8-core processor capable of working in a frequency range between 1.5 GHz and 3 GHz.

The significant disadvantage of using this type of processor based on ARM architectures is that the software developed for Windows 10 is not fully compatible and must be virtualized. Something that the system itself does transparently for the user. The emergence of Qualcomm in the field of convertible. And “always connected” laptop processors only fuels the battle for the leadership of the processors. Action that in 2020 is promised is more than impressive.