Workstation Standoff

You recently ran a comparison between AMD and Intel regarding workstation performances, centering on video rendering and Gigapan image editing. The microprocessors in question, the Ryzen 7 1800X and Intel Core i7- 6950X, are comparable in relation to their multi- processing abilities, but that’s about it. Have you run these same benchmarks using the Threadripper (16- core) and Skylake-X (18- core)?

As stated many times in your magazine, it is difficult to fairly benchmark systems be they alike, and we are talking about two computer systems here, not apples and oranges, even though one could say it is like comparing a family sedan to a sports car. The cost of an Intel machine vis- àvis Skylake-X (18) to AMD Threadripper (16) is +$1,000 US just for the processor. I’m writing this from Canada, which puts it in an elevated market position, but doesn’t unfairly test against AMD in the above scenario.

– Murray McCullough DEPUTY EDITOR ZAK STOREY RESPONDS: You’ve got a very good point, and we’re definitely planning on revisiting this concept some time soon. Our particular Intel versus AMD build- off in that issue actually tried to tackle two separate questions. First, which platform was stronger, and secondly, how the memory speed and capacity affect performance.

As for the future, the plan right now is to take two identically priced systems— specifically, identically priced parts (so a $160 Ryzen 5 1500X versus a $160 Intel Core i5- 8400)— and pit them against each other, in a flat- out gaming and everyday benchmarking challenge. One Ryzen, one Intel, featuring identical storage and memory setups, too, to eliminate any potential anomalies.