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Intel vs AMD CPUs in 2026: price and platform, side by side

Updated Sep 13, 2026. Prices come from our catalogue and may have changed.

Intel's median is $247 and AMD's is $225, a median gap of $22, while our $1,000 builds land at $930 Intel versus $920 AMD, a price difference of $10. The AMD build spends more on the ASRock Arc B580 and gives up 3200MHz RAM for 2666 MHz; the Intel build buys the Intel Core i5 14600KF and the ASRock Radeon RX 7600.

Intel vs AMD in our catalogue today

MetricIntelAMD
Cheapest part$165 (Intel Core i5 12400F)$82 (AMD Ryzen 5 5500)
Median price$247$225
Parts in catalogue1029
TDP (W)11725388270

Same $1,000 budget, one build each side

Intel build — $930

  • CPU: Intel Core i5 14600KF
  • Graphics: ASRock Radeon RX 7600
  • Motherboard: MSI PRO B760M-P
  • Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z - 16GB - DDR4 - 3200MHz

AMD build — $920

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT
  • Graphics: ASRock Arc B580
  • Motherboard: ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming 4 AC
  • Memory: OLOy Black Owl - 16GB - DDR4 - 2666 MHz

AMD costs $10 less than Intel on this $1,000 build.

Cheapest Intel parts

Cheapest AMD parts

Frequently asked questions

Do the Intel and AMD builds use the same motherboard?

No. The Intel build pairs the Intel Core i5 14600KF with an MSI PRO B760M-P, while the AMD build uses an ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming 4 AC for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT. The sockets differ, so you cannot swap one board onto the other CPU.

Which build has the better upgrade path?

That depends on the platform you commit to. The MSI PRO B760M-P and the ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming 4 AC are the starting points, and future CPU options follow from which board you own rather than from today's build price.

Why is the AMD build only $10 less than the Intel build?

Because both are built to the same $1,000 budget. The AMD build spends more on the ASRock Arc B580 and its 2666 MHz 16GB RAM kit, while the Intel build spends more on the Intel Core i5 14600KF and 3200MHz 16GB RAM. The $10 difference is what is left after those trade-offs.

Who should pick the Intel side?

Buyers who want the Intel Core i5 14600KF and 3200MHz memory in a $930 build. Intel's catalogue median is $247 across 10 parts, so the Intel side is the higher-median option today.

Who should pick the AMD side?

Buyers who would rather have the ASRock Arc B580 and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT in a $920 build. AMD's catalogue median is $225 across 29 parts, and the cheapest AMD part is the $82 AMD Ryzen 5 5500 versus $165 for the Intel Core i5 12400F.

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