Intel Core i7-14700K vs AMD Ryzen 8700G: Which is the better high-end gaming CPU?

Both the Intel Core i7-14700K and AMD Ryzen 8700G are powerful mid-range CPUs. (Image via Amazon and AMD)
Both the Intel Core i7-14700K and AMD Ryzen 8700G are powerful mid-range CPUs (Image via Amazon and AMD)

The Intel Core i7-14700K and the Ryzen 8700G are two very popular chips among enthusiasts for gaming and professional work. Both CPUs are equipped with the latest tech in the CPU industry, making them some of the fastest options at their price points. However, the 14700K and 8700G cater to slightly different user groups. While the 14700K packs more cores for workstation users, the 8700G offers a unique advantage in terms of integrated Radeon graphics for gamers.

So which one should you get for your PC? In this article, we will take a look at the differences between the two chips. We will go over their performance, specifications, and value proposition to determine which one is the better option for you.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the author’s opinions.


Intel Core i7-14700K vs AMD Ryzen 8700G: Hardware and price overview

The i7-14700K features a higher core count and max clock speeds (Image via Amazon)
The i7-14700K features a higher core count and max clock speeds (Image via Amazon)

Before we move further into the Intel vs AMD comparison, let’s have a look at hardware and price differences between the i7-14700K and Ryzen 8700G. Do note that both processors use different architecture and technologies so an apples-to-apples comparison isn’t possible.

Specification

Intel Core i7-14700K

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G

Series

14th Gen Intel Core

AMD Ryzen 8000 Series

Architecture

10nm Raptor Lake Refresh

4nm Zen 4

Core Count

20 (8 performance + 12 efficiency)

8

Thread Count

28

16

Total Cache (L2+L3)

33MB

24MB

Max. Turbo Frequency

5.6 GHz

5.1 GHz

RAM Support

Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s

Up to DDR5 5200 MT/s

iGPU

Intel UHD 770

AMD Radeon 780M

Power Draw (TDP)

125W

65W

Price

~$400

~$320

The Intel Core i7-14700K and the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G differ in several key specifications that impact performance. The i7-14700K belongs to Intel's 14th generation Core series and utilizes the latest Raptor Lake Refresh 10nm manufacturing process. On the other hand, AMD Ryzen 8700G utilizes a more advanced 4nm Zen 4 architecture for higher efficiency.

Coming to core counts, the i7 14700K features a whopping 20 cores (eight performance cores and 12 efficiency cores) and 28 threads setup compared to the standard eight cores and 16 threads of the 8700G.

The higher core count also results in more heat and energy consumption. The i7-14700K has a higher power draw (TDP) of 125W compared to the more power-efficient 65W TDP of the Ryzen 8700G. While the Ryzen 8700G is more efficient, its performance is lower than the Intel. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G’s price of $320 reflects this difference compared to the $400 i7-14700K.


Intel Core i7-14700K vs AMD Ryzen 8700G: Performance comparison

The i7-14700K performs consistently better in benchmarks than the Ryzen 7 8700G (Image via Amazon)
The i7-14700K performs consistently better in benchmarks than the Ryzen 7 8700G (Image via Amazon)

AMD has caught up to Intel in terms of performance these days. However, in the case of i7-14700K vs Ryzen 7 8700G, Team Blue is still ahead. Thanks to the higher core count and TDP, the i7 14700K consistently pulls higher numbers than the 8700G. Cinebench R23 showcases a 15% better performance in single-core performance and a whopping 94% difference in multi-core performance. However, this performance doesn’t come without a cost. The Intel i7-14700K drew 253W of power during this test, showcasing its power-hungry nature.

A side-by-side comparison of benchmark scores is mentioned below. These numbers have been sourced from NanoReview and Geekbench.

Intel Core i7-14700K

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G

Cinebench R23 single-core

2069

1804

Cinebench R23 multi-core

34629

18011

Geekbench 5 single-core

2948

2617

Geekbench 5 multi-core

19318

12435


The i7-14700K is clearly more powerful than the 8700G, and it is the better choice if you’re building a PC with a dedicated GPU and require the extra cores. However, if you have budget constraints and do not want to spend over $400 on a processor, the Ryzen 7 8700G is still competent enough.

The same trend continues in other noteworthy CPU tests. The Intel Core i7-14700K continues to score higher than the 8700G across tests like Geekbench v6, PassMark, and CPU-Z.


Intel Core i7-14700K

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G

GeekBench v6 single-core

2898

2725

GeekBench v6 multi-core

19768

14330

PassMark single-core

4449

3997

PassMark multi-core

51911

32102

CPU-Z single-core

870

681

CPU-Z multi-core

14503

7342


Integrated GPU performance

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a capable chip for high-end gaming PCs (Image via Best Buy)
The Intel Core i7-14700K is a capable chip for high-end gaming PCs (Image via Best Buy)

While the 14700K performs significantly better in raw CPU processing tests, you'll need to factor in the cost of a dedicated graphics card to get playable FPS on this Intel CPU.

The raw graphics performance of Intel UHD 770 graphics on 14700K is abysmal compared to the 8700G’s in-built Radeon 780M graphics. This becomes pretty clear in the gaming tests conducted by the Hardware Test YouTube channel.


Intel Core i7-14700K

(Max FPS at 1080p Low settings)

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G

(Max FPS at 1080p Low settings)

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

7

38

Fortnite

45

136

Spider-Man Miles Morales

23

70

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

14

72

Pairing the 14700K with a high-end Nvidia or an AMD graphics card would unlock its full potential for high-resolution, high-refresh-rate gaming. However, for those who cannot attach a dedicated graphics card to their system, the 8700G remains a significantly better choice for gaming.


Check out more PC-related articles below:

Intel Core i5-14400 vs Core i5-12400 || Intel Core i7-14700K vs Ryzen 7 7700X || Best apps to boost gaming performance || Are Intel Arc GPUs good for gaming?

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