What is the difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors? Which Intel processor to choose - Core i3, i5 or i7

Before the advent of the Sandy Bridge architecture, choosing an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processor was very difficult. This was difficult because Intel didn’t split the features for all brands equally.

Processors of the same brand sometimes don't even use the same socket. This made it extremely difficult to explain the differences between the two.

After the company introduced the Sandy Bridge architecture and relaunched its products using the same i3, i5 and i7 brands, the problems were gone.

To represent this, Intel switched to a 4-number naming scheme and numbered 2100, 2500, etc.

Core i3 series

The Intel Core i3 line has always been a budget option. These are dual-core processors, unlike the rest of the line, which consists of quad-cores. They also have more limited options.

The main feature is Core i3 Turbo Boost support, an overclocking feature dynamically available on most Intel processors.

This, along with the dual-core feature, plus the difference in performance between the i3, i5 and i7.

Core i3 processors also feature Intel Vpro virtualization and AES encryption acceleration technologies.

The feature that the i3 and i5 have is Hyper-Threading Technology. This is a duplication of logical cores, which allows each physical core to manifest itself as two logical cores.

The result of this is that the dual-core Core i3 will appear as a quad-core processor.

This results in slightly less performance degradation than regular PGI, but the difference is small and invisible in many situations.

Core i5 series

Intel used two different lines to split the i5 brand, one with dual-core and one with quad-core. It was a little confusing for buyers.

Fortunately, all Sandy Bridge i5s are now quad-core, but not all have Hyper-Threading amplification features.

Most i5s except the K series have a PGI 2000 series with a maximum execution speed of 1100 MHz.

In a battle between three processors, the Core i5 is now the most popular choice. The only significant difference between the i5 variants is the core clocked at 2.8 GHz to 3.3 GHz.

Obviously, products with a higher clock speed are more expensive than those with a lower clock.

Core i7 series

The i7 series currently only offers five Sandy Bridge Core i7 desktop processors, which are: i7-2600, i7-2600S, i7-2600K, i7-2700K, i7-3820.

These processors are almost identical to the i5. The real difference is the addition of Hyper-Threading Technology to the i7, which means the processor will look like eight cores.

This improves performance and can lead to significant performance gains if you are using a program that can run in 8 threads.

Of course, most programs cannot use 8 threads. Therefore, they are intended for those who use video editing applications, advanced 3D software, rendering and scientific software.

The average user is unlikely to benefit much from these features (from Hyper-Threading).

the i7 can reach a maximum speed of 1350MHz. As I said, this difference is largely irrelevant when measuring performance in normal situations.

Sockets and chipsets were a headache for those looking to build their system with Core products. Different devices in the same brand used different connectors.

Not anymore. All LGA 1155 Sandy Bridges use the same and are compatible with the new P67, H67, B65, H61, Q67 and Z68 chipsets.

They are also reasonably priced. However, the i3 should be considered if you are not looking for very high performance for day to day tasks. Good luck.

A processor is the brain of a computer, but it takes a lot of your own brains to understand the difference between processors! Intel hasn't made it easy for consumers to use its weird naming schemes, and the most common question that arises is: What's the difference between an i3, i5, or i7 processor? Which one should I buy?

It's time to demystify this. I'm not going to touch on other Intel processors in this article, such as the Pentium series or the new Core M-series laptop. They are great on their own, but the Core series is the most popular and confusing, so let's just focus on that.

Understanding model numbers

To be honest, it's very simple. Intel Core i7 is better than Core i5, which in turn is better than Core i3. The challenge is knowing what to expect from each processor.

First, i7 doesn't mean a seven-core processor! These are only names that indicate relative performance.

Typically, the Core i3 series uses only dual-core processors, while the Core i5 and Core i7 processors use dual-core and quad-core processors. Quad-core processors are usually better than dual-core processors, but don't worry about that for now.

Intel is releasing chipset families such as the next generation of Skylake processors for the 6th generation Skylake family. Each family, in turn, has its own line of Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors.

You can determine which generation of the processor belongs to first digit in four-digit model name... For example, Intel Core i3- 5 200 refers to 5 -th generation. Remember, newer generations of Intel will not support Windows 7, but since Windows 10 is a free upgrade anyway, use the latest generation.

Council. Here's a helpful rule of thumb. The other three numbers are Intel's assessment of how the processor compares to others in its own line. For example, the Intel Core i3-5350 outperforms the Core i3-5200 because 350 is more than 200.

Last letters: U, Q, H, K

That has changed since the last time we looked at the list of Intel processors. Decoding the list of processors. The model number is usually followed by one or a combination of the following letters: U, Y, T, Q, H, and K. Here's what they mean:

• U: Ultra low power. U rating is only for laptop processors. They use less power and are better suited for the battery.
• Y: Low power. Typically used for older laptops and mobile processors.
• T: Power Optimized for desktop processors.
• Q: Quad-core processor. The Q rating is for processors with four physical cores only.
• H: High performance graphics. The chipset has one of the best Intel graphics units.
• K: Unlocked. This means that you can overclock the processor yourself.

Understanding these letters and the numbering system above will help you know what a processor has to offer just by looking at the model number, without having to read the actual specifications.

You can find the meaning of other letters in Intel's processor number guides.

Hyper-Threading: i7\u003e i3\u003e i5

As you can see above, Intel specifically writes U and Q for the number of physical cores. Well, what other kernels are there, you ask? The answer is virtual cores activated using Hyper-Threading Technology.

In layman's terms, hyper-threading allows one physical core to act as two virtual cores, thereby performing many tasks at the same time without activating the second physical core (which will require more power from the system).

If both processors are active and are using hyper-threading, these four vCores will compute faster. Note, however, that physical cores are faster than virtual cores. A quad-core CPU will perform much better than a dual-core CPU with hyperthreading!

Intel Core i3 series has hyper-threading. The Intel Core i7 series also supports hyper-threading. Intel Core i5 series does not support it.

Turbo Boost: i7\u003e i5\u003e i3

On the other hand, the Intel Core i3 series does not support Turbo Boost. The Core i5 series uses Turbo Boost to speed up your tasks, just like the Core i7.

Turbo Boost is a patented technology to intelligently increase the CPU clock speed if the application requires it. For example, if you are playing a game and your system needs some extra power, Turbo Boost will start working to compensate for it.

Turbo Boost is useful for those using resource-intensive software like video editors or video games, but it doesn't really matter if you're just going to surf the web and use Microsoft Office.

Apart from Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost, one of the main differences in the Core lineup is cache size. Cache is the processor's own memory and acts like its own RAM - and it's one of the little-known features that can slow down your PC.

Just like with RAM, the larger the cache size, the better. Therefore, if the processor performs the same task over and over again, it will keep that task in its cache. If the processor can store more tasks in its private memory, it can make them faster if they come up again.

The Core i3 series typically contains up to 3MB of cache. The Core i5 series has 3MB to 6MB of cache. The Core i7 series has 4MB to 8MB of cache.

Since the graphics were integrated into the processor chip, this has become an important consideration when purchasing processors. But like everything else, Intel has made the system a little confusing.

There are now generally three levels of graphics devices: Intel HD, Intel Iris, and Intel Iris Pro. You see the model name, for example Intel HD 520 or Intel Iris Pro 580 ... and this is where the confusion begins.

Here's a quick example of how overwhelming that can be. Intel HD 520 is the mainstream graphics chipset. Intel Iris 550 is better than Intel HD 520, but also basic. But the Intel HD 530 is a high-performance graphics unit and better than the Intel Iris 550. However, the Intel Iris Pro 580 is also a high-performance graphics unit and better than the Intel HD 530.

Best advice on how to interpret them? Just don’t. Rely on the Intel naming system instead. If the processor model ends in H, you know it is a high performance module.

Comparison of cores i3, i5, i7

Simply put, here's who each processor type works best for:

• Core i3: main users. An economic choice. Convenient for browsing the web, using Microsoft Office, video calling, and social networking. Not for gamers or professionals.
• Core i5: Intermediate users. Those who want a balance between performance and price. Good for gaming if you buy an HQ or Q processor with a dedicated GPU.
• Core i7:Professionals. This is the best Intel can do right now.

How did you choose?

This article is a basic guide for anyone looking to buy a new Intel processor but are confused between a Core i3, i5, and i7. But even after realizing all this, when it's time to make a decision, you may need to choose between two different generations of processors.

What else can you advise for those who are also stuck buying a PCU and have to make a choice?

In the process of assembling or buying a new computer, a question always arises before users. In this article, we will look at Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, and also tell you what is the difference between these chips and what is better to choose for your computer.

Difference # 1. The number of cores and support for Hyper-threading.

Perhaps, the main difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors is the number of physical cores and support for Hyper-threading technology, which creates two threads of calculations for each actually existing physical core. Creation of two computation threads per core allows more efficient use of the processing power of the processor core. Therefore, processors with Hyper-threading support have a certain performance advantage.

Core count and Hyper-threading support for most Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors can be summarized in the following table.

But, there are exceptions from this table.... First, there are Intel Core i7 processors from their Extreme line. These processors can have 6 or 8 physical processing cores. At the same time, they, like all Core i7 processors, have support for Hyper-threading technology, which means that the number of threads is twice the number of cores. Second, some mobile processors (laptop processors) are exempt. So some mobile Intel Core i5 processors have only 2 physical cores, but at the same time they have support for Hyper-threading.

It should also be noted that intel has already planned to increase the number of cores in its processors... According to the latest news, the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors with Coffee Lake architecture, which are scheduled for release in 2018, will have 6 physical cores and 12 threads.

Therefore, you should not completely trust the table below. If you are interested in the number of cores in a particular Intel processor, then it is better to check the official information on the website.

Difference # 2. The amount of cache memory.

Also, Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors differ in the amount of cache memory. The higher the processor class, the more cache memory it receives. Intel Core i7 processors get the most cache memory, Intel Core i5 processors get slightly less, and Intel Core i3 processors even less. Specific values \u200b\u200bshould be found in the characteristics of the processors. But for example, you can compare several processors from the 6th generation.

It should be understood that reducing the amount of cache memory is associated with a decrease in the number of cores and threads. But, nevertheless, there is such a difference.

Difference # 3. Clock frequencies.

Typically, higher-end processors come with higher clock speeds. But, everything is not so simple here. It is not uncommon for Intel Core i3 to have higher frequencies than Intel Core i7. For example, let's take 3 processors from the 6th generation line.

In this way, Intel tries to keep the performance of Intel Core i3 processors at the desired level.

Difference No. 4. Heat dissipation.

Another important difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors is the level of heat dissipation. A characteristic known as TDP or thermal design power is responsible for this. This characteristic tells how much heat should be removed by the processor cooling system. For example, let's take the TDP of three 6th generation Intel processors. As you can see from the table, the higher the processor class, the more heat it produces and, the more powerful cooling system is needed.

It should be noted that TDP has a downward trend. With each generation of processors, the TDP is getting lower. For example, the TDP of the 2nd generation Intel Core i5 processor was 95 W. Now, as we can see, only 65 watts.

Which is better than Intel Core i3, i5 or i7?

The answer to this question depends on what kind of performance you want. The difference in cores, threads, cache memory, and clock speeds creates a noticeable difference in performance between the Core i3, i5, and i7.

• An Intel Core i3 processor is a great option for an office or budget home computer. If you have a video card of the appropriate level, you can play computer games on a computer with an Intel Core i3 processor.
• Intel Core i5 processor - suitable for a powerful work or gaming computer. A modern Intel Core i5 can handle any video card without any problems, so you can play any games on a computer with such a processor, even at maximum settings.
• An Intel Core i7 processor is an option for those who know exactly why they need such performance. A computer with such a processor is suitable, for example, for editing video or conducting game streams.

This article provides a small comparison of i3 i5 i7 processors. Typical tasks for all Core series processors will also be briefly described. The names of processors from Intel vary so much that an ordinary user does not understand at all what one or another processor name means. Of course, in itself it carries its own meaning, but at first glance, this is a confusion of abbreviations and numbers.

Before buying a new processor from Intel, the reasonable question is what is the difference between the i3 i5 i7 processors. To understand all this, we can divide all the names of Core processors into two groups. The first, the most interesting for us, is the line (i3 / i5 / i7), and we will focus our attention on it. The rest of the name, including numbers and letters, shows us the distinctive features of a particular processor, which we will consider below.

There are a couple of main features in the Core series. The socket (socket for installing the processor) in the same generation will always be the same. You don't need a different motherboard for the same Core i3 than the i5 or i7. All processors have an integrated graphics core. The sixth generation Skylake we are reviewing uses 1151 sockets and onboard HD530 graphics.

Core i3

Although the i3 processors are the least powerful in the Core series, they are a great choice for everyday tasks. They have two physical cores, but Hyper-Threading technology mitigates this disadvantage. Hyper-Threading doubles the available processor threads by emulating 4 "virtual" cores. The L3 cache reaches 3-4 MB, depending on the specific model, and the frequencies range from 2.7 to 3.9 GHz. The processor can be purchased for $ 110-140.

He knows a little bit of everything, but he can’t do anything perfectly. The performance of these processors is enough for the responsiveness of the system, but heavy tasks like rendering or editing video on them will be a torment. They are fast enough to open up a modern graphics card so they can be used in entry-level gaming systems with a mid-range graphics card.

Core i5

Sitting exactly in the middle between the i3 and i7 lines, the i5 line processors have many of the latter features, while being quite energy efficient. This series lacks Hyper-Threading technology, but has 4 physical cores, Turbo Boost, and unlocked processor models for overclocking. The amount of L3 cache reaches 6MB (on desktop i5 models).

Turbo Boost allows a processor to temporarily increase the frequency of one or more cores under load by increasing power consumption and decreasing the processing power of other cores. In fact, this technology is a kind of overclocking of the physical core. Sixth Generation i5 frequencies range from 2.2 to 3.5 GHz, and prices range from $ 180 to $ 220

Core i7

At the top are the i7 processors. They have four logical cores like the i5 line. Hyper-Threading is also present, creating as many as 8 threads on 4 physical cores. These processors have the highest frequencies, reaching 4 GHz by default and 4.2 GHz in Turbo Boost. The i7 comes with 8MB of L3 cache and can be purchased for a range of $ 300 to $ 340.

Although these processors are endowed with the highest performance, this is clearly more than enough for the average user. It is the processors of this line that will allow you to see by eye what distinguishes the i3 i5 i7 processors. I7 processors are great for programs that can take full advantage of all 8 threads. Despite this, many games to this day use only 4 cores. Even Photoshop wins in work with more than 2 cores only when using special filters and operations. If you do not work in Maya and Autodesk on a regular basis, you will see practically no gain, how and how the i3 i5 i7 differs in simple tasks.

Index values

A processor from any manufacturer has its own indices found in the remainder of the name after the manufacturer and product number. The larger the product ID, the more powerful the processor is. Letters T, U and Y designates processors designed for low power consumption. Kat the end designate processors with overclocking potential, and P indicates the presence of a less powerful graphics core. If you want a more detailed description of the indexes, take a look at the Intel website.

What should you buy?

Without going into all these notations, we can say that Core processors make it easy to determine which one is more suitable for you. This can be seen even from one symbol in the name of the line. The difference between i3 i5 i7 lies in processing power. Another difference between the i3 i5 i7 processors is the graphics core. In the i5 and i7 it is usually the same, and in the i3 it is weaker. Unfortunately, not all users think about the difference between the i3 i5 i7 and take a processor whose capabilities are simply not used, or vice versa.

For most users, the i5 will be fine with a good price-performance ratio. i3 will still be a great choice for budget assemblies, it is a good option for the money. If you are confident that heavy tasks like rendering or editing large video files or modeling will fall on the shoulders of your processor, then the capabilities of the Core i7 will completely satisfy you.

I think this article has clarified how the i3 i5 i7 processors are different. I hope this information will play a role in choosing a particular processor when purchasing.

In 2010, Intel introduced new processor brands - Core i3, i5, i7... This event was confusing for many users. This is because the company's goal was completely different - it wanted to offer a faster way to identify models of low, medium and high levels. Intel also wanted to convince users that Intel Core i7 is much better than the same i5, and this, in turn, is better than the i3. But this does not give an exact answer to the question, which processor is still better or what is the difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors?

But there are still other differences that we will talk about.

Key points

Some users believe that the names i3, i5 and i7 are related to the number of cores in the processor, in fact, this is not the case. These brands are randomly selected by Intel. Therefore, the chips of all these processors can have either two or four cores. There are also more powerful models for desktop computers that have more cores, and are superior to other processors in many respects.

So what are the differences between these three models?

Hyper-Threading

When processors were still in their infancy, they all had one core, executing only one set of instructions, namely a thread. The company was able to increase the number of computing operations by increasing the number of cores. Thus, the processor could do more work per unit of time.

The next goal of the company is to increase the optimization of such a process. For this they created the technology Hyper-Threadingallowing one core to execute multiple threads at the same time. For example, we have a processor with a 2-core chip that supports Hyper-Threading technology, then we can consider this processor as a four-core.

Turbo Boost

Previously, processors worked at the same clock frequency, which was set by the manufacturer, in order to change this frequency to a higher one, people were engaged in overclocking (overclocking) processor. This type of activity requires special knowledge, without which, you can cause colossal damage to the processor or other computer components in a couple of moments.

Today, everything is completely different. Modern processors are equipped with technology Turbo Boost, which allows the processor to operate at a variable clock speed. Thus, the energy efficiency and operating time of, for example, laptop and other mobile devices are improved.

Cache size

Processors tend to handle a lot of data. The operations performed can vary in volume and complexity, but it often happens that the processor needs to process the same information several times. To speed up this process, and especially the processor itself, such data is stored in a special buffer (cache memory). Therefore, the processor can retrieve such data almost instantly, without unnecessary load.

The amount of cache memory in different processors is calculated differently. For example, in a low-end processor - 3-4 MB, and in higher-end models - 6-12 MB.

Of course, the more cache memory, the better and faster the processor will perform, but this instruction is not suitable for all applications. For example, photo and video processing applications will use large amounts of cache memory. Therefore, the larger the cache size, the more efficient the applications will be.

To perform the simplest tasks, such as surfing the Internet or working in office programs, the cache is not so significant.

Intel processor types

Now we will consider the types of processors, namely the description of each of them.

Intel Core i3

What is suitable for: Normal, daily work with office applications, Internet browsing and high quality movies. For such processes, Core i3 is the best option.

Characteristic: This processor offers up to 2 cores and supports Hyper-Treading technology. True does not support Turbo Boost. Also, the processor has a fairly low power consumption, so such a processor is undoubtedly suitable for laptops.

Intel Core i5

What is suitable for: More intensive work, such as using video and photo processing programs, you can play many modern games, at low, medium and sometimes high settings.

Characteristic: This processor is used in both conventional desktop computers and laptops. Has from 2 to 4 cores, but does not support Hyper-Treading, but supports Turbo Boost.

Intel Core i7

CharacteristicA: At the moment, this chip is the highest grade. Has both 2 and 4 cores and support for Hyper-Treading and Turbo Boost.

We have reviewed brief characteristics of 3 types of processors, and now you can choose the best one for you.