Intel Core i3 vs. i5 vs. i7 vs i9 Processor: Which CPU Should You Buy?
The processor is the brain of a computer, but understanding the difference between processors requires a lot of brainpower of your own. Unfortunately, Intel has a confusing naming scheme, and the question we get asked most often is: What’s the difference between an i3, i5, or i7 processor? Which CPU should I buy?
It’s time to demystify that. Read on to learn about the difference between an Intel Core i5 and a Core i7, if a Core i3 is any good, and whether you should buy an Intel Core i9.
The Differences Between Core i9, i7, Core i5, and Core i3
An Intel Core i7 is better than a Core i5, which in turn is better than a Core i3. The trouble is knowing what to expect within each tier. Things go a little deeper.
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First, Core i7 does not mean a seven-core processor! These are just names to indicate relative performance.
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Older Intel Core i3 series had only dual-core processors, but more recent generations have a mixture of dual- and quad-core CPUs.
It is a similar story for older Intel Core i5 CPUs. Older generations of Intel Core i5 processors had a mixture of dual- and quad-core processors, but the later generations typically feature a quad- or even hexa-core (six) configuration, along with faster overclock speeds than the Core i3. The latest i5 generation includes 10-core CPUs.
The latest Intel Core i7 CPU generations include quad-core, hexa-core, and octa-core, and 12-core configurations. Again, the Intel Core i7 CPUs outperform their Core i5 counterparts and are much faster than the entry-level Core i3 CPUs.
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Quad-cores are usually better than dual-cores and hexa-cores better than quad-cores, and so on, but it isn’t always accurate depending on the CPU generation—more on these differences in a moment.
Intel releases “families” of chipsets, called generations. At the time of writing, Intel has launched its 12th-generation CPUs, named Alder Lake. Each family, in turn, has its own line of Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 series of processors. The latest CPU generations have another tier above Core i7, the Intel Core i9.
The Intel Core i9 series is Intel’s extreme performance line. Most Core i9 CPUs are now 16-core beasts (doubling the octa-configuration of the previous generation) and come with a very high clock speed, enabling them to perform to a very high standard for prolonged periods. They may also come with a larger CPU memory cache than their counterparts, enabling faster overall performance.
Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs added another consideration for would-be users: Hybrid Cores.
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How to Tell Which Intel CPU Generation Is Which?
You can spot which generation a processor belongs to by the first digits in its four or five-digit model name. For example, the Intel Core i7-11700K belongs to the 11th generation.
For a long time, a useful rule of thumb for Intel CPU model names was that the other three digits were Intel’s assessment of how the processor compares to others in its own line. For example, an Intel Core i3-8145U is superior to the Core i3-8109U because 145 is higher than 109.
That rule is still in place, but it isn’t always as easy to follow as it once was as there are several other product line modifiers you can find in the model number. However, “A higher SKU within otherwise-identical processor brands and generations will generally have more features,” as per Intel’s naming convention guide.
Furthermore, this change is another reason why comparing CPUs across generations using their model number alone is advisable, as Intel tweaks things.
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What Intel’s Model Letter Suffixes Mean: U vs. HQ vs. H vs. K
As you can see, the model number will typically be followed by one or a combination of the following letters: U, Y, T, Q, H, G, and K. Here’s what they mean:
- U: Mobile power efficient. The U rating is only for mobile processors. These draw less power and are better for battery life.
- Y: Extremely Low Power. Processors designed for devices with extremely low power requirements, such as Internet of Things devices or other embedded hardware.
- T: Power Optimized for desktop processors.
- H: High-Performance Mobile. These CPUs are high-performance models optimized for mobile hardware.
- HK: High-Performance Mobile, but also has an unlocked CPU which allows for overclocking.
- HQ: High-Performance Mobile. Optimized for mobile hardware, with a quad-core processor.
- G: Includes Discrete Graphics. Typically found on laptops, this means there is a dedicated GPU with the processor.
- G1-G7: The level of integrated graphics performance you can expect.
- K: Unlocked. This means you can overclock the processor above its rating.
- KF: Unlocked, no integrated graphics. These high-performance CPUs can be overclocked, but they do not come with onboard graphics.
- S: Special Edition processors, usually featuring very high-performance hardware.
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Understanding these letters and the numbering system above will help you know what a processor offers just by looking at the model number without needing to read the actual specifications.
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Intel Core i7 vs. i5 vs. i3: Hyper-Threading
The physical cores largely determine the speed of a processor. But with how modern CPUs work, you can get a boost in speed with virtual cores, activated through hyper-threading.
In layman’s terms, hyper-threading allows a single physical core to act as two virtual cores, thus performing multiple tasks simultaneously without activating the second physical core (which would require more power from the system).
If both processors are active and using hyper-threading, those four virtual cores will compute faster. However, do note that physical cores are faster than virtual cores. A quad-core CPU will perform much better than a dual-core CPU with hyper-threading!
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The difficulty is that there is no blanket approach from Intel regarding hyper-threading on its CPUs. For a long time, only Intel i7 CPUs featured hyper-threading, with a few Intel Core i3 CPUs but no Intel Core i5 CPUs.
That situation changed with Intel’s 10th Gen CPUs, with some Core i5 processors launching with hyper-threading, but prior to this, Intel disabled hyper-threading on some of its Intel Core i7 9th Gen CPUs in response to security risks.
In short, you’ll have to check the individual CPU for its hyper-threading potential, as Intel appears to chop and change with each processor generation.
One thing is for sure: the fastest Core i9 series does support hyper-threading.
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Choosing Between Intel Cores i3 vs. i5 vs. i7 vs. i9
| Processor | Physical Cores | Cache Size | Hyper-Threading | Turbo Boost | Graphics | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i3 | 2/4 | 4-12MB | Yes | Yes | Low | Low |
| Core i5 | 2/4/6/10 | 4-20MB | Selected Models | Yes | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Core i7 | 4/6/8/12 | 12-25MB | Yes | Yes | High | High |
| Core i9 | 8/16 | 16-30MB | Yes | Yes | Best | Very High |
Generally speaking, here’s who each processor type is best for:
- Intel Core i3: Basic users. Economic choice. Good for browsing the web, using Microsoft Office, making video calls, and social networking. Not for gamers or professionals.
- Intel Core i5: Intermediate users. Those who want a balance between performance and price. Good for gaming if you buy a G processor or a Q processor with a dedicated graphics processor.
- Intel Core i7: Power users. You multi-task with several windows open at the same time, you run apps that require a lot of horsepower, and you hate waiting for anything to load.
- Intel Core i9: The extreme performance tier is marketed for those that demand the best and fastest performance in every area of their machine.
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Conclusion
Anyone wishing to purchase a new Intel CPU but unsure of the differences between Core i3, i5, and i7 can use this article as a basic guide. Even after knowing all of this, you might still need to pick between two CPUs from different generations because they are equally priced.
My best comparison advice is to go to CPU Boss, where you can compare both processors and get ratings as well as a thorough study. Simply follow the grade and the simple recommendations if you don’t grasp the jargon. Even if you are familiar with CPU terminology, CPU Boss offers all the information you require.
Source: MakeUseOf
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