Which core i7 should i buy

Clock speed - The speed at which a CPU can execute instructions, measured in hertz. A processor with a 3. Clock speed is one of the most critical factors for determining performance in games and workload functions. Heat sink - A cooling solution for PCs that utilize fans or liquid cooling active or aluminum radiators passive that rely on convection to regulate a component's temperature. Hyper-Threading SMT - Intel terminology for a tech that allows a processor to handle two sets of instructions 'threads' simultaneously.

LGA is used on Intel sockets with pins as part of the socket. A BGA socket is when the processor is permanently soldered to the motherboard, typically on a laptop. TDP - Thermal design power, the maximum amount of heat a system or chip can produce that the attendant cooling system is designed to deal with under workload.

This term can apply to PCs as a whole, GPUs, CPUs, or nearly any other performance component that generates heat and is in large part an indicator of how much power a part draws. Thread - A thread refers to a series of CPU instructions for a specific program. Turbo Boost - Intel technology that allows processors to run at higher clock speeds under demanding loads.

AMD also supports turbo or boost clocks, and we use the terms interchangeably regardless of CPU vendor. Alan has been writing about PC tech since before 3D graphics cards existed, and still vividly recalls having to fight with MS-DOS just to get games to load. He fondly remembers the killer combo of a Matrox Millenium and 3dfx Voodoo, and seeing Lara Croft in 3D for the first time.

He's very glad hardware has advanced as much as it has though, and is particularly happy when putting the latest M. Included in this guide: 1. Intel Core i5 K. Threads: Base Clock: 3. Boost Clock: 4. Overclocking: Yes. L3 Cache: 20 MB. Processor Base Power: W. PCIe 5. Reasons to avoid - Still more power hungry than Ryzen - Doesn't play nice with some games.

Intel Core i9 K. Boost Clock: 5. L3 Cache: 30 MB. Reasons to avoid - Some games don't play nicely with Alder Lake yet - High power consumption - Potentially high platform costs at launch. AMD Ryzen 5 X. Specifications Cores: 6. L3 Cache: 32 MB. PCIe 4. AMD Ryzen 9 X. Specifications Cores: L3 Cache: 64 MB.

Reasons to avoid - Needs a proper 3rd-party cooler. Base clock: 3. Why would you want one? They also create less heat, so are a good fit for cramped mini PCs. They let you play some surprisingly demanding games. These processors get you closer to desktop PC power, but also use a lot more of battery and create more heat under strain. They are used in thicker, heavier laptops that can accommodate better cooling systems. It stands for Ultra Low Voltage — battery-saving, in other words.

There are two rungs below the Intel Core i3 series: Pentium and Celeron. Pentium Golds are desktop CPUs, and are not a bad fit for a computer that will just be used for Office apps, video streaming and browsing. Or as part of a budget gaming PC with a low-end or lower-mid-range graphics card. However, they only have two cores and are not close to the recommended Core i and Core i in performance. The G is the latest Pentium Gold processor. Pentium Silver chipsets, like the N, are laptop processors and are only well suited to the basics.

If the jump to an 11th Gen Intel Core i3 does not cost too much, make that jump. Celerons are the weakest Intel processors, and are not recommended in general. Laptops with these processors are usually noticeably slow. You are better off spending a little more on at least a Pentium Gold in a desktop build. Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct. It has 6 cores, and it allows for Hyper Threading. The H has a base clock speed of 2. The CPU is also compatible with 4K video and graphics, so you get excellent detail and lifelike images.

It supports up to three displays so you can connect your laptop and up to two external monitors if you need to multitask or prefer multi-monitor set-ups. It's 4K ready, and it has a base clock speed of 3. The locked i is a close second, as the i comes packaged with a cooling fan where the K does not. We evaluate CPUs based on their ability to handle productivity, multitasking, and gaming. To test processors, we put them in our custom build, keeping all other components the same.

Then we put the processor to the test by running benchmark tests like PCMark, Geekbench 5, Passmark to get objective scores. We also use the processors in our workflow, using them for video rendering and gaming, and other productivity tasks. Finally, we look at price and competitor benchmarks to get an idea of the value proposition and make a final judgment. Lifewire purchases all review products; we do not receive them from manufacturers.

Ajay Kumar is Tech Editor at Lifewire. With over seven years of experience, he's previously been published in PCMag and Newsweek where he reviewed thousands of products including PC hardware, monitors, phones, laptops, and other devices. He built his own gaming rig and though he uses a Ryzen X, he has previously used Intel processors.

Alan Bradley is Tech Editor at Lifewire. With thousands of reviews under his belt, he's also built his own gaming rig and has used and tested various Intel processors. Is Intel or AMD better? Both AMD and Intel have some really great offerings, and are highly competitive with one another. The better brand often changes with each generation. It's best to research all available AMD and Intel chips in your price range before making a decision. Should I buy Ryzen or Intel?

This depends on many factors. When deciding what to buy, first think about your current system. What chipset does your motherboard have, how big is your power supply, and what cooling do you currently have? Next, determine what your budget is, and what level CPU you want to buy, especially considering the main purpose for your CPU gaming, productivity, content, or a combination.

Which CPU is best for home use? If you work at home, you may want something that can handle everything, like our best overall choice: the AMD Ryzen X. What do you use your PC for? Are you spending most of your time surfing the web and word processing, or are you performing heavier tasks like content creation? How much multitasking do you need to do? This is particularly useful for graphic designers, media editors, and other people whose work requires a lot of numbers to be crunched or images to be rendered.

The trick it pulled out this time was to offer 8-core CPUs in its Core i7 as well as in its Core i9 CPUs, giving users greater performance potential without having to pay for the top-dollar chip. Even though 11th-generation laptops are starting to come out, you can still find some good products with 10th-generation CPUs, including the MSI GE76 gaming laptop we reviewed earlier this year.

It even wears its RGB right there across the front edge. As with the 11th-gen chips, the close cores and clock speeds mean the differences between Core i7 and Core i9 are minimal for most users.

With a maximum boost clock of 5. Sure, this chip came out two years ago, but you can still find it in good gaming laptops including the XPG Xenia 15 , which Intel helped design.