When looking at a new processor for your PC, you will likely compare processors from Intel and AMD. Intel's most popular processors in the desktop world are the Core i3, i5, and i7 product lines. The Core i3 is entry level, and Core i7 processors are the more powerful hyper-threaded quad-core options.Depending on your requirements, or if you need a faster and more capable CPU, you may want to go for an i5 or an i7. If you're on a budget, Core i3 may be your best option.That's it, right? Unfortunately not.
Intel's model numbers can be rather confusing. For example, do you know the difference between a Core i5-6400 and an i5-7600K? Not only are there tiers and different processor models, but also generations.Here are some detail that should help you decide between the main families of processors, as well as the specific chips within each tier. What do the numbers mean? Terjemah kitab fathul izar pdf free.
It's actually really easy to determine the generation a particular processor belongs to. Taking the examples above, the Core i5- 6400 is sixth generation, while the i5- 7600K is part of the most recent, seventh-gen. Simply look at the first digit in a model number, and you'll be able to tell if it's a newer or older processor.The latter three digits determine the SKU and just how powerful the processor is within its immediate product line. The Core i5-7 600K is more advanced than the i5-7 500, for example.
If you wish to go for the more capable CPUs, be sure to check the higher model numbers within a product line. It's worth noting if you're considering Intel's 7th-gen processors that they only support Windows 10.What about the K located at the end of the Core i5-7600K? That is a suffix Intel uses to show specific features the processors sport. Here's a quick list of those suffixes:. H - High-performance graphics. K - Unlocked for overclocking.
Q - Quad-core (four physical cores). T - Optimized for efficient desktop computing. U - Ultra low power, usually found on laptop processors (slower than desktop chips).This should solve the mystery of the codenames, but we always recommend double-checking processor features and specifications on store listings. Which Intel processor right for you?
Now that we have the more complex processor codenames out of the way, here's a brief overview of the three processor families:. Core i3: Dual-core processors with hyper-threading. Core i5: Quad-core processors without hyper-threading.
Core i7: Quad-core processors with hyper-threading.There are a number of differences between these product lines. The Core i3 processors don't support Intel's Turbo Boost technology, for example, and they also sport less cache than their Core i5 and Core i7 counterparts. Cache is an important specification that helps the processor perform specific tasks more efficiently.
Think of it as the CPU's own super-RAM.Intel's Core i3 is ideal for people who don't require much power. These processors are more affordable, and they have hyper-threading for improved performance under load but aren't powerful enough for advanced gaming or intensive applications. This line of CPU is best suited for PCs that will be used for email, word processing, light gaming, communications and web browsing.The Core i5 takes a quad-core processor and strips out hyper-threading. This paves the way for four physical cores to handle everything Windows can throw at the component. The Core i5 family of processors is considered optimal for gaming and productivity. They won't destroy a budget and will be more capable of handling intense tasks than Core i3s.We recommend the Core i7 series of processors for enthusiasts or for users who will be handling extreme applications, such as video and photo editing. This is the best of the best when it comes to Intel's processor offerings, sporting the most cache, the largest number of physical and virtual cores, and the most advanced integrated graphics.
The Core choice is yoursShould you require a helping hand with a few examples for different PC builds, take a look at our buyer's guide for desktop processors:Tools like are also available to help make comparisons between two processors a little easier. Generally speaking, Core i3s are more affordable, Core i5s are good for most general purposes, and Core i7s are for enthusiasts and those who require maximum performance.
Intel’s naming scheme for its processors can have any new user confused rather easily. Without going to the Pentium and other names such as Core M, let’s only talk about the i3, i5 and i7 line of processors from Intel.
According to the naming scheme, you can naturally guess that an i5 is better than an i3 and i7 is better than i5. That is actually true, in theory, but practically, you might just find that an i3 is the best you for you.
There are a few key differences between Intel Core i3, i5, and i7. But Intel mainly uses these names to categorize its processors based on price and performance.
i7: High-end. i5: Mainstream. i3: Entry-levelIntel Core i3 vs i5 vs i7The main differences between a core i3, i5 and i7 are in the number of cores, hyperthreading and turbo boosting (or lack thereof), cache size, and clock speed. Before you draw any conclusions, no i3 does not have three cores, i5 does not have 5 cores and i7 does not have 7 cores.
Those numbers simply represent the relative level of processing power compared to one another. Furthermore, there is also a difference in desktop CPUs and mobile CPUs that are used in laptops.
So a desktop i5 may not be the same as the mobile i5 in your laptop. CoresCore i3 processors have the lowest core count which shouldn’t come as a surprise. These processors are dual-core but support Intel’s hyperthreading technology which we will discuss in a bit. Coming on to i5, these can be quad-core but there are also dual-core variants. Especially when you consider mobile i5 CPUs such as those used in a laptop or an ultrabook.
Difference Between I3 And Dual Core Laptop
If you’re talking about desktop CPUs most i5 CPUs are quad-core except a rare case here or there. But don’t worry, there is an easy way to figure out how many cores a processor has and we’ll talk about that too.Even though some i5 processors are dual-core, they will outperform an i3 dual-core thanks to Turbo-boosting. More on that later too. Similarly, all desktop i7 CPUs are quad-core, at the very least. Some extreme versions can have six or eight cores but there are hardly any applications that utilize more than four cores. Hyperthreading Source: IntelIn layman’s terms, hyperthreading is a technology that lets a single physical core act like two cores thus improving multitasking without the need to activate another core. This helps deliver more performance per physical core while also saving power.
With hyperthreading, your dual-core Inter i3 will perform better than any normal dual-core processors especially when it comes to multitasking. If you’re good at math, you may have figured out that hyperthreading is actually creating four cores out of the two available cores. And that’s true here, but these are four virtual cores not real, physical cores.When it comes to it, a quad-core processor (one with four physical cores) will always outperform an i3 with four virtual cores. This is an important piece of information because i5 processors, which are generally quad-core, lack hyperthreading. So if a quad-core does perform better than a dual core with hyperthreading, why not add hyperthreading to a quad-core and further increase performance?That’s where the i7 comes in.
These too, support hyperthreading on top of the actual four cores that they have and thus provide an edge over the i5 line of processors. Turbo BoostInter’s Turbo Boost technology lets a processor increase its clock speed when the need arises, to state it simply. This increase in speed is not set in stone and is, in fact, dynamic, depending on the situation. Turbo Boost is dependent on the number of active cores, the estimated current consumption, the estimated power consumption, and the processor temperature. It operates in 133Mhz increments and will scale up if needed. The clock speed keeps increasing until it either reaches the Turbo Boost limit or the processor temperature reaches its maximum thermal design power. In essence, thermal design power of TDP is the temperature up to which a processor can safely operate.For example, the Core i5 750 has a base clock speed of 2.66GHz but has a maximum Turbo Boost speed of 3.2GHz.
So when needed, the clock speed will be boosted up to 3.2 GHz automatically. Intel still categorizes the processor with the base clock speed because this is the actual clock-speed the processor will perform at most of the times. Turbo Boost kicks in only when necessary, that is under load, and hardly ever reaches the maximum capacity. That’s not to say it can’t under the right load.i3 processors don’t support Turbo Boost, while both i5 and i7 do.
Other differencesThere are some other differences such as cache size, power usage, and the integrated graphics chip. As a general rule of thumb, i7 i5 i3 when it comes to cache size. Cache is a processor’s very own RAM and it can greatly affect performance. Just like normal RAM, when it comes to cache size, the more the merrier is the rule. The Core i3 series typically has up to 3 MB of cache. The Core i5 has between 3 MB to 6 MB of cache while the Core i7 series has between 4 MB and 8 MB of cache.
Integrated graphics are okay but if you really want to use graphics-intensive applications or play games it is always best to have a dedicated GPU.Here’s a quick look at all the major differences that we have covered and have skipped so far.FrequencyTurbo BoostCoresHyperthreadingSmart CacheTDWGraphicsCore i72.0-3.5GHzYes2-4Yes8MB35-84WIntel HD 4600Core i53.0-3.4GHzYes2-4No4-6MB35-84WIntel HD 4600Core i32.4-3.6GHzNo2Yes3-4MB35-54WVaries (Low)Understanding the Intel naming schemeTypically, you will find there is a pattern to how Intel processors are named. You have most probably heard of the third, fifth or seventh “generation” of chipsets.
To best understand these, just think of these like your Samsung Galaxy or whatever smartphone you have. There are different series of Samsung Galaxy smartphones for different price-segments. The J series for budget oriented users, the A series or C series for the mid-range and the S or the Note series for high-end. Each year the company launches a new smartphone and names it a J5 or an S8 depending on where it falls in the price segment.
The numbersIntel too launches its newer processors in three pre-defined categories which it has named i3 (budget-range), i5 (mid-range), i7 (high-end). Just as the 8 in Samsung Galaxy S8 signifies the eight version or generation of the Galaxy S smartphones, Intel processors use a number to signify the generation of the processor. Let’s take the Intel Core i5 7400 and Core i5 7500 as examples.
Clearly, you can figure out that the 7500 has to be better than 7400 but how? You already know what to expect from a Core i5, the number 7 represents the generation.
So both the i5 7400 and i5 7500 are 7th gen processors. The numbers 400 and 500 are Intel’s internal assessment of how a processor compares to other processor’s in its own line. So the i5 7500 is better than i5 7400. The lettersSome Intel processors also have letters in their name after the numerical part, for example, Intel Core i7 6920HQ. Following the naming scheme you can figure out it’s a sixth gen processor but what’s with the HQ? It’s not a rule that you’ll always find two letters after the numerical part, but here’s what those letters mean.
U (Ultra Low Power): The U rating is only for laptop processors since laptops and ultrabooks have to be power efficient. Y (Low Power): Also power saving but not as good as those marked U. These are typically found on older generation laptop and mobile processors. T (Power Optimized): Optimized to consume less power but for desktop processors. Q (Quad-Core): As we said before, identifying if the i5 or i7 is quad core is easy. Just look for a Q in the name. H (High-Performance Graphics): The chipset has one of Intel’s better graphics units in it.
K (Unlocked): This means you can overclock the processor above its rating (although that can be harmful).Tags.