Why I Chose Intel Instead of AMD for My Compact Home Server

In recent years, AMD has become the preferred choice for many in the PC community because some Intel processors had stability issues. Whether for gaming or virtualization, most people recommend AMD. Even on YouTube, AMD is often praised for its better performance and the future-proof AM5 platform.

If AMD is so popular, why did I choose Intel for my compact home server build in 2025, even though there are many AMD options available? In this post, I’ll explain my decision so I can remember why I made this choice.

Understanding the Need

Before picking a processor, it’s important to understand the need. I needed a low-maintenance, low-power, and quiet system that could run Proxmox on bare metal, allowing me to deploy multiple containers and VMs while staying operational for hours on backup power. My other computers either use too much power or don’t have enough resources.

Performance Considerations

At a similar price, I had two options: AMD Ryzen 5 8500G (6 cores, 12 threads) and Intel Core i5-14400 (10 cores: 6p+4e, 16 threads). Clearly, the Intel has one-third more threads, which can help in handling multiple workloads easily.

While AMD’s cores are stronger, virtualization often benefits from having more cores rather than just faster ones. Some might think Intel's 4 efficiency cores are not very useful, but if the first computer that I purchased, which had 2 cores that were even weaker than the current E-cores, could handle programming, virtualization, and many other tasks, then having four extra modern efficient cores will be useful for my needs.

Power Efficiency

Many say AMD is more power-efficient, which is true under high loads. However, in an idle state, Intel processors tend to use less power. Since my home server will run on backup power for long periods, lower idle power usage is a big advantage.

Compatibility

While AM5 is future-proof, LGA1700 has been around for a few years, meaning there are fewer compatibility issues. Intel also has a track record of having fewer bugs, making it a more stable choice for this setup. From my experience with another 14th-gen Intel processor, I did not face any Linux compatibility challenges. Other users have also tested multiple P and E-core configurations in Proxmox, and the default kernel has worked well with them.

Cross-Hardware Compatibility

This reason may not be applicable to other users, but for my specific case, I already have another PC with a 14th-gen Intel processor, so I can swap hardware between the two if needed. This will be very helpful for troubleshooting or replacing parts, especially in times of need.

Even though there are many new and stable AM5 AMD processors, I chose an older Intel processor for my home server based on these reasons. Now, it's time to install Proxmox and enjoy the magic of automation!