When you go to buy a laptop or even a desktop PC you might notice that in most cases the processor is from Intel from the Intel Core i3, Core i5 or Core i7 family . While PCs with an i3 processor are cheaper, those with an i7 processor are among the powerful and even more expensive computers.
Depending on your needs, you could think of choosing a PC with an i3 processor to save money or go to an i5 or buy an i7 to have a faster and more capable CPU.
This type of selection criterion is not, however, to be used so precisely and clearly, because there are not only differences between i3 and i5 models, but also between different i5s there are different generations of processors.
With this article we try to understand how to read the numbers that identify the different models and generations of processors, in order to understand well if you are buying a truly modern PC or that is already old at the time of purchase, as happens when in the centers commercial there are offers.
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To determine the generation of a particular Intel processor just check the initial model number.
For example, the Core i5-6400 is the sixth generation, while the i5-7600K is part of the 7 series, the most recent today.
The first digit of the model number can therefore tell us if the processor is newer or older.
The last three digits, however, determine the SKU, or the identification number, and how powerful the processor is within its product line.
For example, the Core i5-7600K is more advanced than the i5-7500.
If you want the best CPU you can then compare these model numbers and choose the PC with the latest and most powerful processor.
The letter found at the end of the processor model number, for example the K of the Core i5-7600K, is an Intel suffix used to tell us what kind of performance that CPU has.
Briefly the letters mean:
H: high performance graphics.
K: unlocked for overclocking.
Q: Quad-core (four physical cores).
T: Optimized for desktop computing.
U: low energy use on portable processors.
Now that we know what the names and codes with which the different processors are identified, let's see a brief overview of the three CPU families, very different from each other:
- Core i3 : dual-core processors with Hyper-Threading.
- Core i5 : quad-core processors without Hyper-Threading.
- Core i7 : quad-core processors with Hyper-Threading.
Core i3 processors do not support Intel's Turbo Boost technology and have less memory cache than the Core i5 and Core i7.
Cache is an important component for a processor, such as RAM, to perform specific tasks more efficiently.
Intel's Core i3s are the ones that require less power and that also include Hyper-Threading technology to improve performance under load (Hyper-Threading makes the computer believe it has more cores than there are actually).
This CPU line is more suitable for PCs that will be used to surf the Internet, read emails and write on Word, but they are not powerful enough to support the latest generation of games and applications for intensive use of the processor.
Intel's Core i5s are quad-core processors without hyper-threading.
The Intel i5 CPU family is considered optimal for games and heavy programs, capable of handling more intense tasks than the i3.
The Core i7 series of processors are the most suitable ones for those who have to work with graphics and video editing programs and also for those who simply want the best available today with no expense spared.
In another article we explained the meaning of CPU, Core and Hyper-Threading .
