5800X vs 10700K

The age-old Intel vs AMD battle continues. Let's pit these two monster CPUs up against each other

5800x vs 10700k
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If you’re the sort of person that regularly uses their computer for gaming, you’ll understand the importance of a good quality CPU. As the CPU is essentially the number-crunching brain of a computer, it is responsible for searching, calculating, and sorting data. 

While a graphics card has the biggest influence on performance when it comes to gaming, the CPU is still an essential factor. For example, strategy games and complex simulator games will work well with a fast CPU, whereas most first-person-shooter games will run seamlessly with a smaller CPU. It’s a good idea to consider what kind of games you plan on playing before settling on a CPU.

Both Intel and AMD have millions of happy customers that swear by their CPUs and follow them religiously. This long-running rivalry can make it difficult to guarantee that you’re getting unbiased opinions and information about their products. 

Intel and AMD have both released new CPUs which will take your gaming experience to the next level, so we’re going to take an in-depth look at them.

This article will outline their individual specifications and what they can handle, as well as investigating their components. After that, we’ll be weighing up which is better in terms of performance as well as their value for money. 

Be sure to read on to discover which processor you can rely on when the chips are down.

Specifications

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor from their new Zen 3 range could be a sensible choice for most normal gamers. This is because it hits the sweet spot in terms of the core configuration from a gaming perspective.

It has eight cores and 16 threads which is an ideal amount for a good few years of gaming. In fact, you’ll find the same amount in the Playstation 5. 

It has a base clock speed of 3.8GHz capable of hitting a turbo of 4.7GHz. This is a single CCX configuration with all eight cores having access to 32MB of L3 cache, which is great for preventing infuriating lags when playing games.

This AMD Ryzen processor is multiplier-unlocked from the factory, so you’re able to personalize the performance to your taste. This CPU is the cheapest model not to come with a cooler, with the only model so far to do so being the Ryzen 5 5600X so you’ll need to get your hands on one separately. The peak single-core boost frequency is 4.7GHz. 

The Ryzen 7 5800X is considered a good upgrade from the Ryzen 7 3800X, especially if you have a powerful graphics card and enjoy gaming at high frame rates. Performance in the video game industry allows AMD to compete on equal terms with Intel, or even to surpass competing solutions.

Taking full advantage of the Zen 3 architecture, this chip is also particularly at ease in the application field with rapid processing of the heaviest tasks, making it a real Swiss Army knife processor.

Intel Core i7-10700K

The Intel Core i7-10700K is an 8-core/16-thread processor, as stated in the specifications. The L3 cache has also been increased by 33% compared to its last model, it is now 16 MB.

Intel gave the chip a slight clock-speed increase too, as it now clocks at 3.80 GHz, with a maximum boost frequency of 5.10 GHz.

This a significant step up from the 2.90 GHz nominal and 4.80 GHz boost clocks of their previous CPU, the Core i7-10700. The Core i7-10700K comes with an unlocked multiplier that makes overclocking a breeze and it also has higher power limits.

Unfortunately, there’s no Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB), which is essentially just an algorithm that can push the CPU even further by running all cores at beyond Turbo Boost speeds in short bursts. This is what can provide Intel’s platform with an edge over AMD, especially once you factor in overclocking, so it’s a shame it’s missing from the Core i7 range.

Regardless of what resolution you enjoy playing PC games at, the Core i7-10700K can manage whatever your GPU can pump out to connected monitors. However, it is unlikely that you will notice much of a difference as you are using the best graphics cards that you can afford.

Architecture

Intel Core i7-10700K

The very first Zen 3 processors launched globally on November 5th, 2020, including the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. AMD claims its architectural changes for Zen 3 Ryzen give its chips a 19% increase in overall performance over its Zen 2 chips.

Based on AMD’s maths, their Zen 3 Ryzen CPUs are also 2.4 times more efficient from a performance-per-watt perspective than their first-gen Ryzen CPUs, and approximately 24 percent more efficient than its second-gen Ryzens. 

Intel’s Comet Lake has boomed into the market, bringing more threads to the company’s Core i5 and i7 lineups along with more cores for the halo Core i9 family. In response to AMD’s unrelenting pressure, Intel’s new lineup offers more threads for the same pricing as previous-gen models. The Core i7-10700K slots in with eight cores and sixteen threads, the same amount as the Zen 3 Ryzen 5800X.

Clock Speed

A CPU’s clock speed represents how many cycles per second it can execute. A PC’s clock speed is an indicator of its performance and how rapidly a CPU can process data.

A higher frequency suggests better performance in common tasks, such as gaming. A CPU with higher clock speed is generally better if all other factors are equal, but a mixture of clock speed, how many instructions the CPU can process per cycle (IPC) and the number of cores the CPU has all contribute towards overall performance.

The clock speed is measured in Gigahertz, and the number is how many clock cycles the CPU can perform per second. For example, a processor with a clock rate of 1.9GHz can perform 1,900,000,000 clock cycles per second. 

As shown in the specifications, both the 5800X and the i7 processor have a base clock speed of 3.8GHz. However, their turbo clock rates are dissimilar. The 10700k claims victory with an impressive turbo clock rate of 5.3GHz. This is quite the step up from the 4.7GHz that the 5800X can achieve. 

Performance

For those of you that want a decent performance from your processor but don’t have a huge budget, the 10700K could work perfectly for you.

On the opposite side, AMD can boast a 100MHz higher max all-core clock boost frequency of 4.8GHz. Both processors have an 8-core chip which is more than capable of handling most games without any issues with lag, even those with high frame rates. 

The 5800X has a larger combined cache of 36MB, more than double the 10700K’s 16MB. The 5800x also has a better multi-core performance as it comes on the 7nm process node and can even be compatible with your old motherboards. These are features that the 10700k lacks, so it could be a key factor in deciding which processor is best.

Overclocking

It’s important to keep in mind that if and when you overclock your CPU, your warranty will become void. This means that if a problem arises during the overclocking process, for example, your processor will not be covered by the warranty. 

Overclocking is when the speed of the CPU is increased and made to run faster than the maximum speed that is decided by the manufacturer, which in this case. This forces the CPU to run more operations per second.

Most CPUs will be able to run faster than the company states, which is why overclocking is becoming a more popular option. However, this option doesn’t guarantee reliability. You’ll need to be certain that you have an appropriate cooling method in place to do so, as your CPU will run a little hotter. 

Although both the 5800X and 10700K are able to be overclocked, this does not necessarily mean that they should be. There’s probably not going to be much point in doing this to these processors, as they’re more than capable of running most games at a high frame rate. If you’re adamant about overclocking, however, there’s a chance you may notice an improvement in speed.

Pricing and Availability

As expected, however, the Intel is much cheaper than the AMD alternative as it currently sells for over $60 less. This means that you’d be paying just under 20% more for the 5800X than the 10700K.

It is unlikely that you’re ever going to see a 20% performance increase over the Intel alternative, so it is up to you to decide whether or not splashing out on the AMD would be worthwhile. The Intel CPU is the more cost-effective option and will appeal to those on a budget.

However, if you’re not too concerned with a budget, you should definitely consider both options. As discussed earlier, the 10700K outperforms the 5800X ever so slightly, making it a possible worthwhile investment for those who care a lot about speed and performance. This a decision you’ll have to make after weighing up the pros and cons of both options.

As at the time of writing, these CPUs are very new and in high-demand. The 5800X, in particular, seems to be regularly out of stock and unavailable on Amazon at the moment. In contrast, the 10700K are still regularly available, but the stock doesn’t seem to be bountiful, so make a move soon.

Over the next year and after the release of new and improved CPUs in the future, the demand for these particular CPUs will plummet, and they’ll be more widely available to buy.

Final Words

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU is a great option for those who want a processor that can hold its own in creative tasks like media editing and rendering.

But it also leaves almost nothing on the table when it’s time to jump into your favorite game in 1080p. It’s a great gaming chip, of course, but if a pure gaming CPU is what you are after and money is short, we’d still recommend considering cheaper options.

Both are excellent CPUs, but if pushed for an answer, the Ryzen 7  5800X just about pips the Intel at the post. It combines great price (under $500), performance, and core/thread count both for photo/video work and for competitive, frame-rate-sensitive gaming.

The Ryzen 7 5800X is victorious this time.