There is an objective way to test this. Get fraps, run some frame time captures where you think you are seeing the difference in stutter and send the data out as well as graphing the intervals and the ordered intervals of the intervals and we can objectively look at the two graphs.
It is actually possible that the faster CPU showed stuttering where the slower one did not due to moving the bottleneck. A game that is GPU limited on the Intel but CPU limited on the AMD could show stuttering from the GPU whereas once CPU limited the game become more stable in its FPS production. We also know from Pcper.com's recent FPS comparisons that 30 fps looks smoother than 45 when vsync is enabled. So it could have been either of these aspects that caused the lack of smoothness.
In addition to that there is a collection of bugs on the AMD 7000 series cards that produce stuttering. Many of them have been fixed since the problem was exposed in December but some still remain and we are still awaiting fixes. Thus this can be very game dependent and is likely determined by the game moving from CPU limited (AMD) to GPU limited (Intel).
Its certainly possible, but in all cases I know the fraps frame time data will show by how much the stuttering has increased, if at all. Objective data capture for this issue exists and its free to capture, please do so.
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All true, however at the gaming event above it was all like systems. And while yes frame rates matter in FPS, its as much or more the combo of min. frame rates and latency (which tend to hit at key moments).
If I'm asked to test a pre-release game, I always play it on 2 matching systems (as much as can) and try to offer in-put based upon both platforms. Right now my 2 systems I do this on are:
Intel i7-3960x | Windows 8 64 Pro | Crucial 32GB DDR3-1866MHz 8-8-8-24
OCZ Vector 512 SSD | Sound Blaster ZXR PCIe Audio | Killer2100 NIC |
Asus Rampage IV Formula X79 MB | EVGA GTX TITAN Superclocked Signature |
NXZT case |Microsoft 4000 Keyboard | Razer Death Adder 2013 Mouse |
A40 Audio System ASTRO 2013 ED. |Razor Vespula Mouse Pad |
OCZ-ZX1000W Power Supply | Asus VG278HE 144Hz LED & Samsung 27SA950 120Hz Monitors
and
AMD FX-8350 | Windows 8 64 Pro | Crucial 32GB DDR3-1866MHz 8-8-8-24
OCZ Vector 512 SSD | Sound Blaster ZXR PCIe Audio | Killer2100 NIC |
Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z MB | EVGA GTX TITAN Superclocked Signature |
NXZT case |Microsoft 4000 Keyboard | Razer Death Adder 2013 Mouse |
A40 Audio System ASTRO 2013 ED. |Razor Vespula Mouse Pad |
OCZ-ZX1000W Power Supply |
Asus VG278HE 144Hz LED & Samsung 27SA950 120Hz Monitors
Of course when measuring "feel" of game play, just as in the gaming event above, its personal perception that may not hold up to fact that can be proven by benchmarks and such.
Going by feel as example Crisis 3, BF4, COD MW3, and Warface all seem to play smoother on the AMD 8350 System - However Stronghold 3, Sniper Ghost Warrior 2 seem slightly more smooth on my i7-3960x - With no real differences with some titles like MH Warfighter or any of the old COD as example.
With consoles such as PS4 and X720 going AMD inside (processors) it should be interesting if we see gaming optimize more around AMD than Intel moving forward (AMD has a strong hold on that market now).
Maybe Intel will step it up and come forward with a (highend) Graphic Solution while at the same time AMD and Nvidia find it in them to merge - That would be interesting to say the least.