Why You Should Upgrade to a 14th Gen Intel Processor

There's no shortage of new processors in 2024. Whether you want an option for gaming, dedicated AI and machine learning processors, or just for casual web browsing, there's likely to be a processor that fits your specific requirements.

As the performance of computers depends largely on the processor used, with the release of Intel 14th Gen processors, users can benefit from significant improvements in speed and efficiency. These processors come with new features that enhance the user experience whether you are a gamer, a professional at work, or even a regular user.

When it comes to upgrading, Intel’s 14th Gen processors are currently Team Blue’s best bet. If you’re looking to upgrade, here are a few reasons why Intel’s 14th Gen processors are a good fit. Check out our comparison of AI-focused processors from Intel, AMD, and Apple: Which is the best one to buy?

Intel's 14th Gen Processor Lineup Explained

Now, depending on whether you’re looking to upgrade your desktop or laptop, your processor choice will vary a bit. As you might expect, you have more options for desktop-grade processors, with the entire Intel Core processor family getting an upgrade.

On the mobile side, Intel has a five-core HX lineup. Note that you won't get a 14th-gen Core i3, as the cheapest processor in the 14th-gen mobile lineup is the Core i5 14450HX.

As you can see, it’s a tough competition, and you’ll get good performance regardless of whether you choose a laptop or desktop processor. This is especially true since Intel allows for CPU, graphics, and memory overclocking on the HX series processors. However, since the desktop processor lineup has much more options and the i3 processors are lower cost, it may be more cost-effective given your budget constraints. Check out the reasons why you should avoid the Surface Laptop and wait for Intel Lunar Lake to arrive.

Why You Should Upgrade to Intel's 14th Gen

If you're running an older processor, it's time to upgrade, and here's why Intel's 14th Gen is the right choice.

Better performance

Intel’s 14th Gen lineup outperforms AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series across the board. You get more threads and cores, higher max clock speeds, more diverse memory support (DDR4 and DDR5 on Intel versus DDR5-only on AMD), and a much higher TDP of up to 253W for Intel and up to 170W for AMD.

These numbers translate to better real-world performance when used in a system. In general, you can expect Intel's 14th Gen processors to perform better than AMD's offerings regardless of whether you're gaming, programming, handling complex calculations, or just going about your day.

However, AMD processors are more power efficient and won’t produce as much heat, a major advantage that plays in AMD’s favor and could be a reason to avoid Intel’s 14th generation altogether. If you’re choosing a laptop processor, this could affect your decision, but Intel’s next-gen Lunar Lake processors could keep you on the blue team. For now, if you’re looking for overall performance, Intel’s 14th generation is the clear winner.

Better processor drivers and application support

Intel's application support has been ahead of AMD since the beginning, and that trend continues here. Processor drivers aren't something you update as frequently as some of the other peripherals in your system, like your graphics card, but it's crucial that they're stable enough to keep your system running smoothly.

AMD Ryzen processors have had issues with drivers, causing everything from USB issues to security vulnerabilities that require them to update their systems frequently. If you’re not keen on running BIOS updates to keep your PC healthy, Intel is the right choice.

Additionally, one of the best things about using Intel processors is the third-party application support you get. Many applications are optimized to work on Intel processors, and with the new Thread Director included with 14th Gen CPUs, that performance will be even better. That’s not to say AMD processors don’t get the same love from developers, but it usually takes a while for improvements and application support to arrive.

Improved connectivity options

Intel’s new platforms also offer better connectivity options than AMD’s equivalent offerings. This makes a bigger difference for anyone building custom desktops than for those buying laptops, where the manufacturer and form factor tend to dictate the type of connectivity and ports available on mobile devices.

Intel is officially supporting Wi-Fi 7, which means that even if you don’t have compatible routers and networking devices/bandwidths right now, you’re ready for it in the future. There are plenty of reasons to upgrade to a Wi-Fi 7 router now, too.

Beyond networking, Intel's 700-series motherboards also support up to 192GB of memory, while AMD falls short at 128GB. Not that you'll realistically use any amount of memory even close to the numbers above, Intel gives you a little more breathing room, not to mention support for DDR4 and DDR5.

Perhaps the most important thing about this is that if you’re building a PC with 14th-gen Intel processors, you can expect more USB 3.2 ports. For example, the Intel-based Aorus Z790 Master motherboard comes with seven USB ports, while its AMD equivalent, the X670E, has a maximum of four USB ports.

The cost of manufacturing using 14th generation is lower.

This may come as a surprise, but Intel’s 14th Gen processors are backwards compatible with older 600-series motherboards. This means that if you have a 13th Gen processor running on an older motherboard and DDR4 memory, you can just swap out the processor and worry about the rest of the components later. On the other hand, upgrading to AMD’s latest offerings will force you to buy the latest AM5 socket motherboards and more expensive DDR5 memory.

Now, if you’re looking for straight-up performance, then upgrading to DDR5 is definitely a must. However, for anyone looking to get the most bang for their buck, building with Intel’s 14th Gen processors means you can buy a cheaper motherboard and memory to run things. High-end PC parts aren’t cheap, and backwards compatibility can save you a lot of money and headaches.

Better protection for the future

Finally, you’ll be more future-proofed if you build a PC with 14th-gen Intel processors. This isn’t true for laptop processors, as there are far fewer upgrade options, but the CPU will still last you a long time.

When you combine multiple memory options, better connectivity, application support, and overall performance, you won’t feel the need to upgrade as early as you might with an equivalent AMD processor. This means you’ll likely have to invest a larger sum of money up front into your PC, but it will pay off nicely in the long run.

Finally, it would be a good idea to also consider your upgrade path. If you are coming from a 10th or 11th Gen Intel processor (or AMD equivalent), the sheer number of options and flexibility that Intel’s 14th Gen lineup offers is unparalleled.

Sure, you can save some money by buying an older processor, but the 14th generation does its best to appeal to as many users as possible. Given the wide range of processors, you’re sure to find something that fits your budget while still providing enough power for your PC. Check out Intel’s processors explained: What are Efficiency Cores (E-Cores) and Performance Cores (P-Cores)?