Processor Question – AMD versus Intel

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[LHiggins]

I thought I’d just start a new thread with this specific question – about which processor would be better to get?

I am looking at several models of Thinkpad L13, and trying to price out configurations.

My basic question is – which would be a better choice, and AMD or an Intel processor?

One of the choices is a Thinkpad L13 Gen 3, that I can get with either of these two processors:

AMD Ryzen™ 5 Pro 5675U Processor
(2.30 GHz, up to 4.30 GHz Max Boost, 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 16 MB Cache)

AMD Ryzen™ 7 Pro 5875U Processor
(2.00 GHz, up to 4.50 GHz Max Boost, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 16 MB Cache)

Basically the same laptop (one is Gen 2 and one is Gen 3, but configured the same) is also available with several different Intel processors:

12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1235U Processor
(E-Core Max 3.30 GHz, P-Core Max 4.40 GHz with Turbo Boost, 10 Cores, 12 Threads, 12 MB Cache)

11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 Processor
(2.40 GHz, up to 4.20 GHz with Turbo Boost, 4 Cores, 8 Threads, 8 MB Cache)

Can anyone tell me which might be the better choice – the AMD or the Intel. It seems that the 12th gen Intel is “better” than the 11th Gen, and the AMD 7 Pro 5875U is “better” than the 5 Pro 5675U – but are the differences that great between them? I’ve looked as some of the spec sites, but can’t really tell exactly how they would compare.

Other configuration components will be 16 GB RAM, 512 SSD, Win 10 Pro installed with Win 11 rights, touchscreen.

I really don’t know much about AMD and wondered if I should consider a laptop with an AMD or stick with Intel.

Thanks!

• This topic was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by LHiggins.

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Why does it matter ? What are you intend to run on the laptop ?
Usually AMD CPUs with the same/better performance than Intel CPUs, cost less.

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/LEN-73440#Lenovo%20Notebook

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LHiggins

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Why the link above to the BIOS vulnerabilities? An oversight, perhaps?

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LHiggins

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Alex5723 wrote:

Usually AMD CPUs with the same/better performance than Intel CPUs, cost less.

I guess that would be one reason why – the cost involved. If the AMD works as well as the Intel, then I won’t be tempted to spend the extras several hundred dollars for a similar laptop with an Intel processor.

I guess my other concern is the longevity of the laptop itself. If the AMD processor is fine long-term, then again, there’d be fewer reasons to spend the additional money.

I’m not planning on running anything too different than most – Thunderbird, Firefox, Chrome, some word processing, minor photo editing, YouTube – probably just the run of the mill stuff. I’d just hate to invest in a new laptop and find that it is laggy or underpowered, but if both processors seem to be about the same, then AMD should be fine.

Thanks for the input!

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I’ll take a crack at answering your question. (I replaced 2 older laptops in our household during the 2nd half of 2020).

At that time the latest AMD Ryzen 4000 series processors were considered better than the currently available equivalent Intel processors. The purchase price was a consideration for me, since our $CDN doesn’t go as far as the $US.

The AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7 and 9 processor hierarchy is equivalent to Intel’s i3, i5, i7 and i9. In 2022 the latest generation of Intel processors may be faster in certain conditions, but unless your usage is intensive gaming or video editing, or you require Thunderbolt peripheral support, AMD is probably a better buy.

I replaced my wife’s glitchy 5-year-old HP Envy i5-5200U with HDD by an HP ENVY x360 Convertible 15 with AMD Ryzen 5 4500U and Radeon Graphics, 2375 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 6 Logical Processor(s) plus 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.

My own 10-year-old Acer 13″ Intel i3-380M with RAM and SSD upgrade is now a test and backup device (it has an SD card reader and CD/DVD drive).  Its replacement and my current daily driver is an ASUS TUF A15 FA506IH with AMD Ryzen 7 4800H and Radeon Graphics, 2900 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s) plus 32GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.

Both new machines are Windows-11 capable, but are currently running Windows 10 21H2 until we choose to upgrade. We are happy with our new machines after nearly 2 years of daily use.

HTH. Regards, Phil

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LHiggins

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…Can anyone tell me which might be the better choice – the AMD or the Intel. …

Well, given your processor specs, I went to Lenovo’s site and just priced out two systems, one with the ThinkPad L13 Gen 3 AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 5675U and the other with ThinkPad L13 Gen 3 Intel 12th generation i5-1235U.

Both systems were spec’d with 16GB RAM and a 512 gig SSD. Also, both had touchscreens AND both had Windows Pro 64 bit, NOT Home 64 bit for the OS. Here’s one key difference: The AMD machine only had a option for getting it with Windows 11, there was no option for Windows 10, either Home or Pro. The Intel machine had an option (which I selected), as you initially described/requested, Windows 10 Pro via downgrade rights from Windows 11.

All other options for the unit were left at their default selections, or declined in the case of ANY software packages since I was after the bare cost of the unit without any software added on. Both units also had the same color, “Storm Grey”.

Bottom line, the unit with the Intel 12th generation i5-1235U came out to $869.05 and the unit with the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 5675U came out to $829.40. That’s a difference of just under $40, $39.95 to be exact.

To me, that makes the tie breaker the selection of OS: Do you want to have Windows 11 right out of the gate with no “downgrade” rights to Windows 10, or do you want Windows 10 with future “return” rights to Windows 11 when you might be ready to explore the change in environment from Windows 10?

Here are links that I hope will work for the pages I found these units on. You’ll probably need to make selections on the screen (for processor, RAM amount, OS, etc.) as you scroll down through the descriptions and options.

The unit with the AMD Ryzen 5 5675U: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/configurator/cto/index.html?bundleId=21B9CTO1WWUS1

The unit with the Intel 12th generation i5-1235U: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/configurator/cto/index.html?mainCode=21B3CTO1WWUS1

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LHiggins

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Bob99 wrote:

Why the link above to the BIOS vulnerabilities? An oversight, perhaps?

To warn the OP not to buy a refurbished Lenovo PC on the list.

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LHiggins

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Very good reason, but maybe make the statement more obvious next time.  😉

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Alex5723

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Thanks so much to everyone for the replies! I am glad to hear that there are few differences between the AMD and Intel processors – so I can make my decision more on other components.

Bob99 wrote:

To me, that makes the tie breaker the selection of OS: Do you want to have Windows 11 right out of the gate with no “downgrade” rights to Windows 10, or do you want Windows 10 with future “return” rights to Windows 11 when you might be ready to explore the change in environment from Windows 10?

I think that is where I am right now – deciding between Win 10 and Win 11. I was considering the AMD Thinkpad you listed, but I have some reservations about going right to Win 11, so that is making the choice a little easier actually.

Phil F wrote:

…unless your usage is intensive gaming or video editing, or you require Thunderbolt peripheral support, AMD is probably a better buy

If I could get that Win10/Win 11 option with the AMD, I would probably go with that based on some of the recommendations here.

Bob99 wrote:

Here are links that I hope will work for the pages I found these units on. You’ll probably need to make selections on the screen (for processor, RAM amount, OS, etc.) as you scroll down through the descriptions and options.

Yes, those are the two I was looking at. I guess I have a little bit of thinking to do and hopefully can make a decision while the Labor Day sales are still on.

Thanks for the links, too – and all of the input! Much appreciated!

ETA –

Alex5723 wrote:

To warn the OP not to buy a refurbished Lenovo PC on the list.

And yes, I have ruled a refurbished one out – better return and warranty options with a new one for sure! Thanks!

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One more thing to think about: Are you comfortable having to log into the computer using a Microsoft account? If you’re currently doing so with Windows 10, then this is a non-issue.

BUT, if you’re not, then it might be an issue. Say you decide to go with the AMD machine that comes with Windows 11 right out of the box with no Windows 10 downgrade. OK, fine. BUT in that circumstance, you might be forced to set up a Microsoft account during the initial setup of the machine the first time you turn it on. Since I have no such experience (I’m currently very happy on Windows 10 21H2), I can’t say if you will indeed be forced to create a MS account or not.

To answer that question, those here (MVPs and Managers both) who have a good amount of experience with the OOBE of Windows 11 (the initial out-of-box experience the first time you turn on a machine) should be able to tell you rather definitively whether or not you’ll be forced to use a MS account to sign on to the machine.

SO, I’m posing the questions to the cognoscenti here, both MVPs and Managers and others: 1. If one purchases a brand new machine from a large brand name manufacturer that comes with Windows 11, will they be forced to establish (or use an existing) MS account, or will there be a workaround available to them if they DON’T want to use/establish a MS account for that purpose? Please see second question below before answering this one.

2. Does it depend on if the machine comes with Windows 11 Pro or Home? If so, then are there any alternatives to be able to establish the use of a local only account instead of having to use (or create) a MS account?

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LHiggins

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If Win10/11 is version 21H2 there are workarounds to create a Local ID at OOBE. I have done so with both Home and Pro very recently.

However, version 22H2 is not out yet. But the scuttlebutt is that it may not be possible to make a Local ID at OOBE for Home version once it’s released and an MS ID will be required.

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LHiggins

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My understanding is that you MUST have the Pro version of Windows 11 to be able to use a local account instead of a Microsoft one. (I’ve been reading some on this issue as my current Windows 10 Pro Desktop will be 5 years old in December and machines don’t last well in non airconditioned high humidity climates where I am). I’ve always chosen the Pro version of Windows so it’s not a big deal for me.

“By default, Windows 11 enforces the use of a Microsoft account

When you install or personalize a new PC with Windows 11 (both Home or Pro), Microsoft asks you to use a Microsoft account, and you don’t see any mentions about creating a local account instead. If you’re installing or using Windows 11 Pro, you do see a link named “Sign-in options”. If you click or tap on it, you then have the option to choose an Offline account – a standard local account, like the ones used in Windows 7. However, on Windows 11 Home, the Sign-in options are missing, and you can’t go ahead unless you create a Microsoft account.”

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/install-use-windows-11-with-local-account/

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LHiggins

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Even on Windows 11, even with version 22H2, and whether Home or Pro, it only takes six or seven clicks to change from an “enforced” Microsoft account to a local account:

You can sign in to Windows 11 with a local account or a Microsoft account. However, you can easily switch between using a local account or a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 11.
…
This tutorial will show you how to switch to a local account from a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 11 with instead.

Switch to Local Account from Microsoft Account in Windows 11 [ElevenForum.com]

Anyone who really doesn’t appreciate the many convenience and security advantages of signing in with a Microsoft Account can downgrade to local only within a minute or two.

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LHiggins

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Thanks again for all of the help. I think I have about narrowed it down. I am going to opt for the Thinkpad L13 Gen 3 the Win 10 Pro downgrade from Win 11, since I am more familiar with Win 10 Pro and also don’t use or want to have a Microsoft account. I don’t use any of the features that an MS account offers and really have no need for having such an account. I’m glad there are work-arounds should MS start to “require” that. A local account is fine, and I’m guessing that a new computer that I’d order today wouldn’t yet have 22H2 to deal with.

I also really have a preference on the color of the laptop – and am willing to forego a touchscreen (we have one on our HP laptop and never use it) to be able to get a black one instead of the grey. I know – quirky thing to worry about, but…

Otherwise – on the Thinkpad L13 Gen 3 Bob99 mentioned above, except for the touchscreen and the camera being an IR 1080P instead of a 720P, and the color – all of the other choices are the same and the cost is fairly comparable.

Again, I appreciate the input and advice on the possible need to work around future MS Account issues. Now all I need to do is get that one ordered and start my list of what I need to do to make it “usable” – LOL!

Thanks again!

 

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I want to be sure you are aware of the constraints associated with your preferred laptop choices (13-inch Thinkpad or similar). Note the Lenovo ordering panel RAM choices, which all end with (soldered), meaning not expandable or swappable. Similarly, the SSD may also be soldered to the motherboard. In this context, you will need to order the maximum you may need as the only upgrade possible is another new(er) laptop.

There is a recent Tom’s Hardware article you may find informative Best Ultrabooks and Premium Laptops 2022 .

Regards, Phil

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LHiggins

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Thanks for the info!

I think that the configuration I’ve settled on is going to be fine. The most RAM that L13 can have with any of the processor choices for the model I was looking at is 16GB. That is what I upgraded my old Thinkpad to and it seems fine. With the new faster processor, I think that amount of RAM will be OK. As to the SSD – I ordered it with a 512 GB drive, and plan on using an external hard drive for additional storage if need be. So – I am hopeful that it all will work well, and that I will end up loving it as much as I love the Win 7 Thinkpad I am still using!

Thanks for the reply and link to Tom’s Hardware, too.

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Phil F

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AMD, LHiggins.

cuz my brother told me a few weeks ago AMD’s stock went up and he likes new systems with AMD CPUs than those with Intel

get any new laptop with an AMD processor on it

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LHiggins

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b wrote:

Anyone who really doesn’t appreciate the many convenience and security advantages of signing in with a Microsoft Account

What many convenience and security advantages ? I see none (I am using local account).

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