I foresee you getting many what would call "fanboyish" comments. Really depends on what you are searching for and a few things to take into account.
1. Overclockability -This is one of the major points around here. Intel gets the crown here. If you are looking at processors that you don't want to overclock and spend the extra for a better board to overclock with, I suggest looking at AMD.
2. Power supply consumption -Intel takes the cake here with there 32nm Clarkdale chips, everything else(in my opinion) they are the same.
3. Memory performance & Multitasking -Again dependent on which chip, if you get i7 on the x58 it will take the crown, refer back to point 1.
4. Gaming standpoint -See point 2. When overclocking Intel would be the leader here. If not, AMD clock for clock with gaming would as good choice and perform the same (see next 2 points as to why).
5. Motherboard cost -AMD takes the cake here. There are many sites
if not overclocking you can purchase $30-$45 motherboard and would function just as good as the $100-$150 motherboards.
6. Processor cost -In reality, you get what you pay for. If you only need a dual core. AMD's Athlon II x2 performs very well for it's price tag.
7. Overall -Intel would take the crown overall with AMD only a touch behind in tech, but again see points 5 & 6.
Final comments:
In reality, it depends on what the use is going to be for. I see every processor currently on the market has its own specific function. Need to build an HTPC -get an i3 Clarkdale. Need to build an office machine -Look at AMD's Athlon II x4.
when it comes down to it, AMD is good for the here and now, Intel is good for the future(meaning the intel will perform better and give adequate performance for a longer period of time than a AMD proc will)
One point to take into consideration, AM3+ motherboards. Current AM3 chips will work on that socket.
Benchmarks speak for themselfs in games
Not necessarily. Those are synthetic benchmarks, if you wish to do a comparison you will need to pull a timed demo in a game and run nearly the same hardware.