What is the difference between i3 i5 i7 processors. Processors Intel i3 and i5 processors

Intel was founded in 1968 by chemist Gordon Moore. He was assisted in his endeavors by his colleague Robert Noyce, who was engaged in applied physics. The head office of the company is located in California, USA. The first developments of "Intel" concerned the production of microcircuits. Already in 1969, they managed to release a prototype 3101. This microcircuit had insignificant indicators of RAM. However, the new 3301 series was soon released, which had a good amount of memory.

The advent of processors

The world saw the Intel processor for the first time in 1971. It just cost a lot of money. Starting in 1975, Robert Noyce began developing microprocessors of the 4004 series. Intel made a serious step in 1989. The new model was distinguished by a large memory and frequency. The whole secret was in an additional math coprocessor. The first dual-conveyor device for personal computers was invented in 1993. Processors "Pentium" began to be produced only in 2000. Their clock frequency was at the level of 2 GHz. In turn, the Intel Core series went on sale in 2006. She had two physical cores.

What are the benefits of Intel processors?

First of all, it should be noted a large number of contacts. Additionally, Intel processors are famous for their high internal frequency. At the same time, data buses have an indicator of 5 GE / s. The L1 cache is 64 KB on average. The TDP power is also high. Antivirus protection technology is installed in almost all models. There is an energy saving system. The possibility of work on EM64T is provided. HD Graphics 4400 series integrated graphics.

Cons of processors

Among the minuses, many note the poor performance of the cooler. Thus, cooling does not take place properly. As a result, the processor quickly overheats and may fail. Also, many owners complain about the small functional part. Not all memory types are supported. It all depends on the dual-channel controller built into the processor. There are also some problems with RAM. In some models, it is extremely small, and this is felt when the device is fully loaded.

Model Intel Core i3-4130

This Intel Core i3-4130 processor has 1150 pins. Moreover, the connector type is "Socket". The internal clock frequency is at around 3700 MHz. The data bus parameter is 5 GT/s. Additionally, it should be noted that this dual-core processor has a good amount of cache memory. At the first level - 32 Kb. Integrated graphics in this model is provided by the manufacturer. The power of the TDP device is 54W. Energy saving system installed. Among other things, it should be noted good anti-virus protection. The cost of this model is 12,000 rubles.

What is the difference between the Intel Core i3-2120?

Compared with the previous model, the Intel Core i3-2120 processor features a large number of pins. The connector type, in turn, is also available and also "Socket". Among the shortcomings, the lack of an unlocked multiplier can be noted. The internal clock frequency is at around 3300 MHz. The data bus frequency is 5 GT/s.

The amount of cache memory is the same as in the previous model. Integrated graphics are provided by the manufacturer. Core type - "Sandy" series. The TDP power is higher than the previous model, and is at the level of 65W. 64-bit technology is available. Antivirus system - "Disable". The cost of this processor model is 7000 rubles.

Intel Core i3-4160: specifications and reviews

This Intel Core i3 processor has good reviews. Many buyers liked this model for its support for the Graphics HD 4400 graphics system. At the same time, the characteristics of this processor are very good. The number of contacts is 1150. The frequency parameter is at around 3600 MHz. There is no unlocked multiplier. It should also be taken into account that the processor has a good cache memory. At the third level, it is equal to as much as 3 MB. Integrated graphics in this model is provided. The core in this processor is of the Haswell type. Among other things, it should be noted a good energy saving system. This model will cost about 9,000 rubles on the market.

Specifications Intel Core i3-3250

These Intel Core i3 processors differ in good performance from others. In many ways, this was achieved by specialists by lowering the heat release rate. The number of processor contacts is 1155. The connector type in the model is "Socket". The clock frequency of the device is at around 3500 MHz. The amount of cache memory does not differ from other models. Support for integrated graphics is available. The TDP power in this model is 55W. The core in the processor is installed in the Bridge series. The technology to ensure 64-bit operation is provided. The price for this processor is 9000 rubles.

What is the difference between the Intel Core i3-3220?

This Intel Core i3-3220 processor is capable of supporting multiple graphics cards. At the same time, it works absolutely silently and at high speed. Anti-virus protection - "Disable" class. At the same time, there is a technology for 64-bit operation. Separately, mention should be made of the new energy-saving system. The cores are installed in the "Bridge" series. At the same time, the TDP power is at around 55 watts. Integrated graphics in this model is provided. The amount of cache memory at the third level is 3 MB. The data bus frequency is at around 5 GT/s. Clock update rate - 3300 MTsg. The total number of contacts is 1155. This model will cost about 9000 rubles on the market.

Reviews about Intel Core i3-4150

Many people fell in love with this Intel Core i3 CPU 4150 processor for its high clock speed. All this allows owners to play many modern games. In this case, fps will be very small. Additionally, this makes it possible to work with different programs. The quality of this model will be appreciated by people who work, for example, with video editors. Among other things, a good TDP power should be noted. The core in the processor is used by the Nasvel class. The amount of cache memory at the second level is 256 KB. The data bus frequency is 5 GT/s. There is no unlocked multiplier in this model. The connector in the processor is provided by "Socket". The cost of this device on the market is approximately 9600 rubles.

Model Intel Core i3-3240

This Intel Core i3-3240 processor is an excellent choice in terms of price / quality. The temperature in the system is maintained within normal limits. The number of contacts is 1155. At the same time, the internal clock frequency is at around 3400 MHz. The data bus rate, in turn, is 5 GT/s. Among other things, we should highlight the good memory of the device. Integrated graphics in this model is provided by the manufacturer. There is also a 64-bit technology. In general, it is more expedient to install these processors on office personal computers. The cost of this model in the market is 7200 rubles.

What are the specifications of the Intel Core i3-4330?

This Intel Core i3 processor has good characteristics. The TDP power in this model is 54W. The core in the processor is installed in the class "Haswell". Energy-saving technology in the device is available. It should also be noted a reliable system of protection. Integrated graphics are provided and support many formats. The first level cache is 32 KB. The data bus frequency is standard 5 Gt/s. In this case, the clock frequency parameter is 3500 MHz. In general, this model can be described as simple and economical. It will cost the buyer an average of about 10,000 rubles.

Comparison of the Intel Core i3-4340 model with analogues

These Intel Core i3 processors are more suitable for gamers. To do this, manufacturers have provided a high clock rate. The graphics system is powerful. As a result, the picture on the screen is very clear and high quality. For office programs, this processor is also ideal. A wide variety of memory standards are supported. The number of contacts is 11,500.

There is no unlocked multiplier. The type of connector in this model is "Socket". The bus parameter is 5 GT/s and the amount of cache memory is quite impressive. Among other things, we should highlight the good performance of the system. The DPI power limit is 54W. Also, do not forget about the technology of 64-bit operation. The cost of this processor on the market is 10,200 rubles.

Model Intel Core i3-4130T

The power consumption of these Intel Core i3 processors is 35 watts. At the same time, the technical process takes place over 22 nm. The number of threads in the processor is 4. The maximum amount of memory in this case is 32 GB. However, this setting can vary greatly. Much in this situation depends on the configuration of the device. The memory type, in turn, is provided by DDR3.

The base frequency of the graphics core is at around 200 MHz. In this case, the maximum values ​​sometimes reach 1.15 GHz. The ability to support three displays is available. The critical temperature for this processor is 72 ° C. In general, the device can be described as productive. It will work most effectively in conjunction with the Zalman cooler. You can also consider some models of "Dipkul". The cost of this processor on the market is 9300 rubles.

Review Intel Core i3-4350

This Intel Core i3 processor has good characteristics. This model is designed to work with office applications. There is a special visualization system for this. In general, this processor is fast and silent. Electricity consumption, in turn, is quite low. Data protection is set to secure. Thanks to this processor, you can also surf the Internet with confidence. If we talk about the characteristics, then the number of contacts is 1150.

The internal clock frequency is at 3600 MHz. Among other things, a good data bus should be highlighted. The amount of cache memory at the third level is a record 4 MB. Integrated graphics installed Intel 4000. At the same time, the cores are of the Haswell class. This model will cost about 9900 rubles on the market.

Summarizing

Summing up, for office computers, we can advise the Intel Core i3-4330 processor. At the same time, each core of the device is capable of performing two tasks simultaneously. The graphics system "Intel 400" is supported, so working with applications is quite comfortable. All tasks will be calculated as soon as possible. There is also an opportunity to work on the Internet. To do this, manufacturers have provided a good indicator of DPI power. At the same time, different video cards can be installed on a personal computer.

For home use, it is better to choose an Intel Core i3-4130 processor. This model has a data visualization system. With this in mind, you can watch movies in high resolution. Also, this model allows you to play many computer games. At the same time, the quality of the graphics will be quite high. Processing all the data will not take much time. The amount of memory in the processor is also impressive. With a small load on the system, the temperature is able to stay at a normal level. If there are any problems, you can always purchase an additional cooler.

For real gamers, Intel Core i3-4340 processors are most suitable. The maximum power in this model is quite high. Also, manufacturers took care of the cooling system. All computer data is protected. There is a high frequency for the graphic component. Integrated graphics installed "Intel 4000". In general, the processor may be of interest to many designers. This modification allows you to work with editors at very high speeds.

I greet you, dear colleagues and guests of the club of experts. Today we will talk about desktop processors. Unlike the booming market for ARM processors for mobile and media solutions, the x86 processor market is no longer developing as dynamically as it was a few years ago, there have not been any significant breakthroughs since the advent of the Sandy Bridge family, and the development of desktop processors at this stage , first of all, is to reduce the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe crystal (technological process), reduce heat generation, reduce power consumption, improve integrated graphics and update instructions.

The technology for the production of central processors has changed significantly, but this has not greatly affected performance. For example, Sandy Bridge processors, whose release began back in 2009, are still more relevant (especially their older segments). Intel, which has been a leader in the desktop processor market for a long time, is no longer trying hard to raise the performance bar that it set all the same in 2009, and in response to AMD solutions, with an emphasis on integrated graphics, it began to do the same aspect specifically on her. Such developments are undoubtedly very useful for mobile platforms, where the installation of a discrete card has a detrimental effect on battery life, useful for the budget segment, in which more or less productive integrated graphics can turn their attention to themselves, useful for work solutions, where graphics are just a nice bonus , but is actually useless in the older segment. Intel, which has completely conquered the senior desktop segment, has taken the offensive on the budget front. The first attempt to change something was the Ivi Bridge family: by reducing the crystal area, improving the graphics, Intel stopped playing dry in the market of budget and multimedia PCs. However, Intel's main mistake (in the desktop processor market) was the use of high-performance graphics only in top-end solutions, while budget and mid-range solutions did not get enough graphics performance. This error was decided to be corrected by the Huswell family, in which productive solutions are used even in budget series. Even the graphics in the Intel DualCore are somewhat faster than those found in the desktop i3 and i5 of the last generation, so AMD may have to move a little with their APUs. What exactly has been improved in the new solutions from Intel? Can they even compete with AMD's APUs in terms of graphics performance? And what surprises await us from budget decisions? All this we must find out.

To begin with, let's consider 2 new representatives of the Core i3 family: 4330 and 4130. The i3 4330 solution is remarkable not only for its very high frequency, for its class - 3.5 GHz, being, in fact, the fastest desktop dual-core processor (only i3 4340 is faster - 3.6 GHz), but as well as an increased cache and Intel HD4600 graphics, which is found in older Intel solutions. Yes, you heard right, in the new solutions from Intel, each line has processors with improved graphics (at the same time, the frequency of this graphics is 1150 MHz for all, in previous generations the graphics frequency varied depending on the family).

The i3 4130 processor has a slightly lower frequency, 1 MB less cache and slightly weaker Intel HD 4400 graphics. Both new products have a lower TDP of 54 W, are made using a 22 nm process technology and support Hyper-Threading

Specifications

Intel Core I3 4330

Socket - H3 (LGA 1150)

Lineup – Intel Core i3

Core – Haswell

Manufacturing process - 22 nm

Processor frequency - 3500 MHz

GPU Model - Intel HD Graphics 4600

Stream processors - 20

Number of cores - 2

L1 cache size - 64 KB

L2 cache size - 512 KB

L3 cache size - 4096 KB

SSE4 support - yes

Heat dissipation - 54 W

Intel Core i3 4130

Socket - H3 (LGA 1150)

Lineup – Intel Core i3

Core – Haswell

Manufacturing process - 22 nm

Processor frequency - 3400 MHz

Integrated graphics core - yes

GPU Model - Intel HD Graphics 4400

The maximum frequency of the graphics core is 1150 MHz

Stream processors - 16

Built-in memory controller - yes

Maximum memory bandwidth - 25.6 Gb / s

Number of cores - 2

L1 cache size - 64 KB

L2 cache size - 512 KB

L3 cache size - 3072 KB

Support for Hyper-Threading - yes

SSE4 support - yes

Support for Virtualization Technology - yes

Heat dissipation - 54 W

Packaging and equipment

We got the Core i3 4330 in the BOX package, so we can see the new packaging design for Intel processors. The new packaging does not have a bright accent on the line (unlike Sandy Bridge, where the design of the Pentium Dualcore and Core iX series were very different).

The package includes, as usual, instructions, a branded sticker and a boxed cooler. Let's take a closer look at the last one. It's no secret that each new series of processors takes a step towards lowering TDP, this trend allows manufacturers to save more and more on CO. At the moment, instead of BOX coolers from Delta (which were used to cool the older processors of the Sandy Bridge family) with a copper base, simpler ones from Foxconn (F90T12NS1A7), made entirely of aluminum, are used.

Appearance

Actually, the design of the processor from the side of the heat-distributing cover has not actually changed. But the type of contact surface and the design of the microcircuit have changed.

A cooler that is now used throughout the Haswell family, from the simplest to the most expensive. But lowering the TDP of top processors to 84 W did its job, the cooler is designed for a maximum TDP of 90 W, so for everyday tasks this cooler is enough for any processor.

test stand

To draw a full conclusion, we need to compare the results of our guests with other processors, namely:

Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge and Ivi Bridge (i3 2130 3.4 GHz and i3 3210 3.2 GHz);

Intel Pentium DualCore G2140 3.3 GHz;

Comparison with the budget processors of the previous generation will help us feel the changes in the series. Comparison with AMD A4 will let you know if Intel's budget solutions can compete in terms of graphics capabilities with AMD's budget APUs. The presence of the older AMD A10 processor in the test will allow us not only to set the bar for the runners (the A10 solution has the fastest graphics built into the processor), but will also allow us to show whether 2-core Intel solutions can compete with 4-core AMD solutions.

Test stand:

The choice of motherboards and power supplies was determined only by their availability (what was at hand was used). For tests, the same RAM sticks were used to minimize their impact on the test, especially this will affect graphics tests (we are dealing with integrated graphics). In order to speed up the testing process, as well as reduce the impact on hard disk synthetics (especially in encoding and archiving tests), we will use SSD for the test. For the "purity of the experiment", the same boxed cooler for modifications from Intel was used, as well as a boxed cooler from AMD to draw conclusions about heat dissipation.

This is how the test bench looks like, based on Intel Haswell processors.







participants in our testing.

Boxed coolers from Intel and AMD participating in testing.

Characteristics of test participants:

As we can see from the table, AMD A4 attracts with its low price; according to this indicator, it is absolutely out of competition. The quad-core A10 costs in fact the same as the Intel Core i3 4330, further confirming the correctness of adding it to the tests.

Testing and Performance




1. Synthetic tests

In order to be able to draw some sort of parallel, we tried to use memory of the same frequency at 1600 MHz for testing (the exception was processors that did not support this frequency). We also tried to take into account the fact that AMD graphics (especially in the A10 processor) have a much higher theoretical performance, therefore, in tests we would get a result that would be limited by the memory bandwidth. In order to understand how much bandwidth could affect graphics performance, we decided to use dual-channel memory for our today's guests and for AMD processors (fortunately, there were enough test memory strips for this, the memory switched to the frequency in the BIOS without problems 1866 and even 2133 MHz, increasing the timing), for graphics tests and games. Please note that all graphics are clickable, it is possible to see the image in original size.

In the popular 3DMark benchmark, our guests showed themselves very well, in absolutely equal conditions catching up and even overtaking not only the A4 5300 processor, but even the A10 6700 processor, the latter managed to regain its leadership only with an increase in memory bandwidth, on processors from Intel memory bandwidth has little effect. Actually, the result was a pleasant surprise, the graphics from Intel became much better, it not only managed to outperform the cheap A4, but also compete with the A10, even in conditions of limited memory bandwidth. As for the difference between HD4400 and HD4600 graphics, the difference between them in this test was about 10%, which, in general, is quite predictable.

In Heaven Benchmark, the advantage of using dual-channel memory with AMD processors is still evident, performance has increased by more than 2 times, moreover, both in the case of the A10 and A4 processors. The increase in bandwidth again did not greatly increase the performance of Haswell processors, they are quite cheerful, regardless of the width of the memory channel.

In the OpenGL Cinebench test. The performance gain from the increase in memory bandwidth for the AMD A4 5300 processor is not so huge, and the gain for the A10 6700 is again more than 100%. Naturally, when using a wide memory bandwidth, the A10 has no competitors, but using single-channel 1600 MHz memory, the i3 4330 processor was able to take the lead.

Having finished with graphics performance, we will smoothly move on to combined and computing performance. In the Cinebench CPU test, the i3 4330 processor turned out to be the absolute leader, the i3 4130 took the second place, as if breaking the row of i3 processors, the A10 6700 “wedged” into the 3rd place, the rest of the i3 processors literally “breathed” in its back. In general, in terms of computing performance, we can say that progress has mostly affected AMD processors, which have been able to reach the level of i3 processors in computing. Changes in the architecture of the new Haswell processors helped them win only about 10-15% compared to their predecessors (this is most noticeable with the i3 4130 and i3 2130 processors, which are completely analogous in frequency, but at the same time the new processor, by about 14% faster, and the i3 4330, which has a frequency of 100 MHz more, is faster than its "brother" by almost 18%). Between Haswell processors, in this test, the performance differs by only 3%, that is, approximately the same.

In the combined PCMark 7 test, AMD processors turned out to be absolute outsiders, losing even to the Pentium G2140. This is most likely due to optimization and problems with the multithreading of the tester itself, since even the i3 2130, which has prohibitively weak graphics, passed this test more successfully (hence, the bandwidth of 1600 MHz and single-channel mode are not the reason). Representatives of Haswell again took the lead, leaving the closest competitors with a 20% lag.

In the SVPmark 3 benchmark, which is able to evaluate the processor's video encoding capabilities, as well as computing and graphics performance, the A10 processor was able to show its best side. Bypassing the i3 4330 processor in all tests. This tester actually did not notice a difference in the performance of the i3 4330 and i3 4130.

In WinRar, which also does not work very well with a large number of cores, there is not much difference from using HyperThreading or full-fledged cores. If you look at the graph, you can understand that within the generations of Intel Core, the archiver is more sensitive to frequency than to generation. In single-threaded mode, the difference between the A10 and A4 processors has virtually disappeared, and in the same mode, AMD processors turned out to be the weakest among all participants. In multi-threaded mode, the A10 was able to outperform the i3 3210, but it couldn't come close to Haswell's results.

In another well-known archiver 7Zip, the situation is somewhat different. In multi-threaded mode, although the archiver does not see much difference between threads and cores, there is a clear priority towards the processor frequency, so the A10 6700 became the winner in the 7Zip test. In single-threaded mode, the above-mentioned processor could not even overtake the Pentium G2140. Our today's participants were able to take their rightful place, having received excellent results in both multi-threaded and single-threaded modes.

2. Gaming performance

Since there were quite a lot of configurations for tests, we did not manage to test a large number of games, however, given that all processors have rather mediocre graphics for games, this drawback is not so significant. So, let's consider 3 games: DoTA 2, Mass Effect 3 and World of Tanks (two games are taken, in which performance excites many and one platformer game to test the capabilities of integrated graphics on one of the Unreal engine games).

V Dota 2, at medium graphics settings, it is possible to play comfortably on most of the tested processors. It is absolutely impossible to play on the Intel Core i3 2130 processor, with its Intel HD 2000 graphics, and there were also small FPS drops in large battles on the Pentium G2140, i3 3210 and A4 5300 (in single-channel memory mode). AMD A10 6700 turned out to be the absolute leader, in dual-channel mode it simply had no equal, but in single-channel mode, resting on a narrow bus and low frequency, the processor retained its leadership. Our today's guests showed themselves well, in any case, there were no freezes, friezes and FPS subsidence to an unplayable level, by which they undoubtedly surpassed the processors of previous generations. Interestingly, in dual-channel memory mode, even the cheap A4 5300 shows a more than acceptable level of performance in this game.

V Mass Effect 3, where the settings were lowered in the first place to allow all processors to run this game, the A10 6700 processor turned out to be the leader again. Haswell processors were barely able to compete even with the AMD A4 5300 processor, but they delivered a fairly acceptable level of performance. On the processors of the previous generation, the game showed a rather low or sometimes sagging FPS, which generally makes the game on these processors uncomfortable at Full HD resolution without discrete graphics.

in the popular game World of Tanks, at medium graphics settings, only the A10 6700 processor allowed us to play comfortably, in other configurations there was a drop in FPS in massive battles. Naturally, you can reduce the graphics to the minimum and play comfortably on any of the processors, except, perhaps, the Core i3 2130 (the game refused to start at all), but the choice of settings is not accidental, this is the highest quality picture for our configurations. FPS sag is not very critical, in the case of Haswell processors, so playing at medium settings, with anti-aliasing turned off, on these processors is possible, but sometimes FPS sags, so some may find this unacceptable, while others will not even notice short-term "losses » frames.

3. Load temperature

The processors are not too hot, so all test participants show acceptable heating values, even on Box coolers, of course, the situation can change if they get into a poorly ventilated case, but I think overheating will not happen even in this case. The hottest was the old Core i3 2130. Haswell processors were not colder than their predecessors in the face of Ivi, the coldest among the participants of the "tournament" was the intel Pentium G2140, however, this processor has disabled the HyperThreading function, which undoubtedly increases the "ardor" of the processor .

conclusions

Having tested and compared the new processors from Intel, we saw that the Haswell series turned out to be quite successful in terms of integrated graphics. In terms of integrated graphics, the new Intel processors can not only outperform the junior APUs from AMD in some tests and games, but even compete with the champions in the face of older APUs in some places. The computing side of the processors was also at its best, although not very far removed from previous generations.

Pros:

+ excellent performance; + productive integrated video; + the presence of HyperThreading; + 22 nm process technology; + low heat dissipation; + low power consumption.

Minuses:

- So far, the price of the platform is somewhat overpriced (buying a PC on platforms of previous generations is much cheaper).

As for the choice between i3 4130 and i3 4330 processors, it all depends on your goals, in general, we found out that the graphics gap between them turned out to be about 10%, and the computing power gap is about 3%, is it worth overpaying for this 600-800 rubles, it's up to you, with the same price and a difference of 100-200 rubles, the choice is obvious, when buying a PC with discrete graphics, the choice is also obvious. When choosing between AMD A10 6700 and Intel Core i3 4330, you need to set the priority, which is more important for you, if your goal is only games, and you do not plan to buy discrete graphics, then the A10 6700 processor is for you, but if discrete graphics are in run or on the computer you'll not only play, the i3 4330 option is much better. Using the new processors as an example, we could see that Intel was able to seriously improve the graphics, making it competitive with AMD, given the fact that the new processors are still somewhat faster in terms of processing power, and also have slightly lower power consumption, and have only slightly weaker graphics, the choice is no longer as obvious as it used to be, and we can safely say that Intel has every chance to win these "budget wars".

Thank you all for your attention, until we meet again, AnSoReN was with you.

P.S. I express my gratitude to the administration of the website of DNS and Technopoint for providing a platform for testing.

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 the average user will not understand at all what one or the other 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, a reasonable question will arise, what is the difference between 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). 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 won't need another motherboard for the same Core i3 as you would with an i5 or i7. All processors have a built-in graphics core. The sixth generation of Skylake we are reviewing uses 1151 sockets and integrated HD530 graphics.

Core i3

Although i3 processors are the least powerful among the Core processor series, they are an excellent choice for everyday tasks. They have two physical cores, but Hyper-Threading technology makes up for this. Hyper-Threading doubles the available CPU threads by emulating 4 "virtual" cores. The L3 cache size reaches 3-4 MB, depending on the specific model, and the frequencies range from 2.7 to 3.9 GHz. You can buy a processor for 110-140 US dollars.

He can do a little of everything, but he can do nothing perfectly. The performance of these processors is enough for the responsiveness of the system, but heavy tasks like rendering or video editing on them will be flour. They are fast enough to unleash a modern graphics card, so they can be used in entry-level gaming systems with a mid-range graphics card.

Core i5

Sitting right in the middle between the i3 and i7 lines, the i5 line has many of the latest features with pretty good power efficiency. This series does not have Hyper-Threading technology, but has 4 physical cores, Turbo Boost, and processor models with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The amount of L3 cache reaches 6 MB (in i5 desktop models).

Turbo Boost allows the processor to temporarily increase the frequency of one or more cores under load, at the cost of increased power consumption and reduced 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, as in the i5 line. Hyper-Threading is also present, already 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 with Turbo Boost. The i7 comes with 8MB of L3 cache, and the processors in this line can be purchased for prices ranging from $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 how the i3 i5 i7 processors differ. i7 processors are great for programs that can take full advantage of all 8 threads. Despite this, many games still use only 4 cores to this day. Even Photoshop only wins with more than 2 cores when using special filters and operations. If you do not work in Maya and Autodesk on a regular basis, you will hardly see an increase, how and how the i3 i5 i7 differ in simple tasks.

Index values

A processor from any manufacturer has its own indexes, which are in the rest of the name after the manufacturer and product number. The larger the product ID, the more powerful the processor is usually. Letters T, U and Y denote processors designed for low power consumption. The letter K at the end denote 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 to buy?

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

Most users will be fine with the i5, which provides a good price-to-power ratio. i3 will still be a great choice for budget builds, it's 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 that this article has clarified how the i3 i5 i7 processors differ. I hope this information will play a role in choosing one or another processor when buying.

In 2010, Intel introduced new brands of processors - Core i3, i5, i7. Such an event has confused many users. This is because the company's goal was quite different - it wanted to offer a faster way to identify low, mid, and high level patterns. Also, Intel wanted to convince users that the Intel Core i7 is much better than the same i5, and this one, in turn, is better than the i3. But this does not give an exact answer to the question, which processor is better, or what is the difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors?

A little later, the company released new generations of processors based on architectures such as Ivy Bridge, Sandy, Haswell, Broadwell and . Such an innovation further confused many consumers. Although such new technologies have appeared, the names have not changed - Core i3, i5, i7. The differences between these technologies are only as follows: i3 processors are for small (basic) class computers, i5 processors for mid-range computer systems, and i7 processors for high-end computers, for powerful PCs, in simple words.

But still there are other differences, which 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 arbitrarily chosen by Intel. Therefore, the chips of all these processors can have both two and four cores. There are also more powerful models for desktop computers that have more cores and are superior to other processors in many ways.

So what are the differences between these three models?

Hyper Threading

When processors were still in their infancy, they all had one core each executing just one set of instructions, namely thread (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 company's next goal is to increase the optimization of such a process. To do this, they created technology Hyper Threading, which allows 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 quad-core one.

turbo boost

Previously, processors worked at one 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, in a couple of moments, you can cause enormous damage to the processor or other computer components.

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

Cache size

Processors tend to work with large amounts of data. The operations performed can be different in size and complexity, but it often happens that the processor needs to process the same information several times. To speed up this process, and in particular the processor itself, such data is stored in a special buffer (cache memory). Therefore, the processor can extract such data almost instantly, without unnecessary load.

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

Of course, the more cache memory, the better and faster the processor will work, but this instruction is not suitable for all applications. For example, applications for processing photos and videos will take advantage of a large amount of cache memory. Therefore, the larger the cache size, the more efficient applications will run.

For simple tasks, such as surfing the Internet or working in office programs, the cache is not so significant.

Types of Intel processors

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

Intel Core i3

What is suitable for: General, daily use of office applications, Internet browsing and movies in high quality. For such processes, Core i3 is the best option.

Characteristic: This processor offers up to 2 cores and supports Hyper-Treading technology. The truth 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

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

Intel Core i7

What is suitable for: This processor is predisposed to work with powerful graphic editors. You can play modern games at maximum settings, but other components play a big role here, for example, a video card. Also, you can watch video files in 4K.

Characteristic A: At the moment, this chip is the highest grade. It has both 2 and 4 cores and support for Hyper-Treading and Turbo Boost.

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

Hello, dear subscribers of our blog. Today I will try to explain how the i3 processor differs from the i5. Surely many are interested in why one Intel Core is much more expensive than another, although you won’t immediately understand what the point is. In this article, we will analyze which stone is best suited for PC games, work tasks.

The comparison will be multistage and contain pivot tables. By the way, in the second part we will consider, and also advise which one for certain tasks.

Separately, I would like to say that we do not specifically mention mobile processors - everything is much more complicated there, besides, special attention is paid to marking rather than to the numerical value of the chips and characteristics.

The difference between Coffee Lake and previous generations

The release of the 8th generation of Intel Core literally set the entire computer hardware market on its ears. The difference between previous generations is colossal, and is expressed in the following figures:

Characteristic Core i3 (2–7) Core i5 (2-7) Core i3 (8) Core i5 (8)
Number of physical cores 2 4 4 6
Level 3 cache 3 MB 8 MB 6 MB 9 MB
Support for HyperThreading + - - -
Turbo boost support - + - +
Memory support DDR-2400 DDR-2400 DDR-2400 DDR-2666
Unlocked multiplier - + + (8350K) +
socket 1151 1151 1151v2 1151v2

As you can see, the familiar concept has changed radically, as have the technical specifications. This was facilitated by the release of AMD Ryzen, which in the minimum configuration included 4 cores (Ryzen 3 1200).

I am glad that the built-in video remains, like most proprietary technologies and instructions. Another thing is that the graphics quality has not changed compared to Kaby Lake - the same Intel UHD 630.

Difference between i3 and i5

First, let's look at the classic confrontation of processors, and then switch to the more recent Coffee Lake. The confrontation scheme will include several points.

  • Number of Cores

The more physical cores, the more operations per cycle the chip performs. For i3, this indicator is 2, for i5 - 4, respectively.

For Coffee Lake, the situation is as follows: both chips have added 2 physical cores, but the i5 is still the leader in this area.

  • turbo boost

This technology allows you to significantly increase the frequency of the CPU in automatic mode only in cases where it is really necessary. In fact, this is a “lazy” option for overclocking by a multiplier, which rests on the limitations of the platform, heat pack and cooling. Only i5 has the mode, when i3 has fixed frequencies.

  • Hyper Threading

Processors have one physical core, usually one stream of data is supplied, which this core processes. This function (i.e. HT) allows you to use 2 threads at once per 1 core.

Many mistakenly believe that virtual cores are almost identical to physical ones, but in fact the processor does one operation not with one, but with two hands, to put it as simply and intelligibly as possible.

The second, third, fourth and even seventh generation i3 processors supported this feature, but with the advent of Coffee Lake, the number of physical computing units increased from 2 to 4, and the need for technology disappeared. Core i5 do not support the mode natively.

  • Cache size