If you're not sure which features that processor you're interested in has, you can use the website. Fortunately, these models aren't generally available and we recommend avoiding any of these strange models unless you have a specific reason for wanting one.
For example, the Core i5-4570T has two cores and Hyper-Threading.
In particular, Intel sells some low-power processors, where the model name ends in a T, TE or S. ExceptionsĪs always, there are some exceptions to the rules. We recommend buying a dedicated graphics card instead. In all cases, if you're serious about playing games, Intel chips don't cut it and won't give you high-resolution, high-detail gaming. They're slightly faster in games, but can cope with 4K video, making them suitable for high-end video editing
#PENTIUM QUAD CORE VS I3 PRO#
Some of the more expensive chips have Intel Iris Pro chips in them.
#PENTIUM QUAD CORE VS I3 HOW TO#
With Haswell, came the Intel HD Graphics 4600 line, which is fine for a bit of light gaming some cheaper models (we'll show you how to check later) have HD Graphics 4400 chips, which are fine for some older less-demanding games. Pre-Haswell, the GPUs weren't particularly good for games, although they were fine for watching video. We've seen big improvements in performance this way - we pushed the Intel Core i7-4790K chip to 4.7GHz! Graphics chipĪll Intel processors have graphics chips in them. This means that you can use BIOS settings to up the clock speed of the chip, overclocking it yourself. K ModelsĪny CPU that has a model ending with a K means that it the CPU is unlocked. Core i5 and i7 CPUs have this technology, Core i3 models do not. The CPU monitors its temperature and, when it's running cool enough, will apply the overclock. Turbo Boost is Intel's technology for automatically overclocking a processor, boosting its clock speed higher than the default setting. However, running a multi-threaded application, the Core i5 would most likely be quicker, as its four real cores are better than the Core i3's two cores and Hyper-Threading. It would be faster running a single-threaded application, which can only use one core, than a Core i5-4590, which only has a clock speed of 3.2GHz. For example, a Core i3-4370 Haswell processor runs at 3.8GHz. This can create some variances in performance. The faster the clock speed in MHz, the faster each core can run. Core i3 and i7 processors have this technology, Core i5 processors do not. It's not as fast or as efficient as extra 'real' cores, but it's an improvement over a single Core. In terms of performance, Hyper-Threading speeds up multi-tasking and multi-threaded applications. In other words, to your operating system it appears as though your CPU has double the number of cores than it really does. Hyper-Threading is Intel's technology for creating two logical cores in each physical core. More cores are useful for multi-tasking for example, you can run two applications at the same time, each one having access to its own dedicated processor. A dual-core processor, therefore has two internal processors, a quad-core model has four. CoresĪ core can be thought of as in individual processor. What's important is what these different features mean, which we'll explain. Also, mobile processors are completely different again, so we're focussing on desktop models here only. Note that there are exceptions (see below), but you're mostly unlikely to encounter these odd models when buying a new CPU. The differences in Core i3, i5 and i7 are the same for Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge, Haswell and Devil's Canyon (a Haswell refresh). The feature table above shows you how the most popular processors line-up in terms of features. The differences in performance come from which features are enabled or disabled, the clock speed and how many cores each one has. The most important thing about different architectures is making sure that you have a motherboard that supports the type of processor you're interested in. Processors, regardless of whether they're a Core i3, i5 and i7, based on the same architecture are fundamentally the same inside. You can tell the architecture by the model number, Devil's Canyon and Haswell start with 4 Ivy Bridge with a 3 and Sandy Bridge with a 2.
Generally speaking a Core i3, i5 or i7 that has a newer architecture is faster than the older-architecture processor that it replaces. Before that we had Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge. We're currently starting to see Devil's Canyon chips, a refresh of last year's Haswell. Every year, Intel releases a newer, faster range of processors. Architectureįirst, it's important to explain about architecture and codenames. If you're struggling to work out the differences between the Core i3, i5 and i7, don't worry, as we'll explain everything for you. Although Intel's naming convention is generally a lot better and less confusing than it used to be, it can be difficult to work out exactly which processor suits your needs.