Intel has their own compiler(s) but at least on the server side where everything is compiled using gcc or LLVM, both are optimized for both AMD and Intel. Was A

Intel has their own compiler(s) but at least on the server side where everything is compiled using gcc or LLVM, both are optimized for both AMD and Intel. Was AMD behind a year ago in this regard? Yes. Even Windows just finally got more optimizations. On the other hand, the benchmarks with AMD in the lead are obviously using compilers that 'exist' so really the compiler advantage Intel 'may' have is already taken into account. Additionally, the last few years of security issues has shaved off an additional 3% to 20% off of Intel's performance (compared to the 2-5% AMD lost). The effect is that Intel has been loosing from both directions allowing AMD to be outpacing them in many ways.