i3 vs i5 vs i7 – Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a way to easily decide which processor was right for us? First off what do all of these numbers mean?
Codename = SandyBridge
Sandybridge is Intel’s newest architecture/offering that was released in January 2011. This is still the fastest and most efficient architecture to date. It comes in three offerings, or flavors so to speak: the i3, i5, i7. Let’s begin by shedding some light on what these numbers mean, and what these processors have in common with one another.
i3-XXXX, i5-XXXX, i7-XXXX is the first way to tell if the processor you are looking at is truly the new SandyBridge architecture as they just switched to a 4 model number. Now, each of these offerings may also have a (K), (T), (S), (M).
The K stands for an unlocked multiplier. What this allows the user to do is to increase the multiplier on the cpu core without having to increase the fsb in order to achieve a higher clock speed. This is referred to as overclocking your processor. It is not warranted by Intel and should only be used by the most hardcore of PC users and builders as it can cause premature failure of the i3, i5, and i7.
The S and T stand for low-power and Ultra-Low-Power. While the M stands for mobile, which I am sure you already guessed. The mobile version is of course used in laptops only.
With speed comes power consumption unfortunately.
The two fastest processors are the i5-2500 and i7-2600 with the only difference being more l3 cache on the 2600 and the addition of Hyper-Threading.
These processors do use the 95W power design which is slightly higher power consumption than the other offerings. For the average user the Hyper-Threading will not make much of a difference to justify the price jump from the i5 to the i7.
However, if you are a student who is studying video/photography in school or a father who loves capturing his family on camera then the i7 is for you. The i7 allows for much better video and photo editing/encoding due to the Hyper-Threading technology.
I am sure you are asking yourself now, “What is Hyper-Threading? I see it mentioned over and over again when it comes to the i3 vs i5 vs i7 discussion but, am still a little confused as to the meaning behind it”.
Well, Hyper-Threading is a term coined by Intel to describe its technology which improves upon the ability to perform multiple tasks with ease.
The way it works is for every physical core the application creates, a virtual core is also created. This in turn allows the application to share the work load between both the physical core and the virtual core. This essentially transforms a dual core (2 cores) into a quad core (4 cores) or a quad core (4 cores) into an 8 core. This may sound awesome, but remember not all applications have the ability to use hyperthreading.
The most common instance of this is PC Gaming. The majority of video games on the PC do not support hyperthreading which is why most pc gamers save some money by going with the i5-2500k (no Hyper-Threading) vs the i7-2600k (Hyper-Threading).
For a gamer the i7 does not justify the $100 price markup however, for the video editor the Hyper-Threading significantly increases performance by up to 30% in some cases making it a worth while investment.
i3 vs i5 vs i7 Desktop Processors
The design of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture is a huge step forward taken by Intel to fabricate significantly better microprocessors compared to the predecessors. Using the 32 nanometer manufacturing process, Sandy Bridge processors exhibit up to 17% more powerful performance than the most recent Intel processors. The integrated graphics processing unit within the CPU is also estimated to be twice as powerful as the older integrated GPUs.
Classified using the more convenient i3, i5 and i7 naming convention adapted by Intel, Sandy Bridge processors are quickly replacing the older technologies running the older systems. The i3 vs i5 vs i7 desktop processors comparison follows a fairly simple trend, that is, these processors are targeted, respectively, for the mainstream, performance, and extreme markets.
The Intel Core i7 family of processors is the flagship product that serves the high-end market. The latest i7 processors have a total of 6 cores to handle 12 threads altogether. The most powerful i7 processor sports an L3 cache of 15 MB running at 3.3 GHz, while the least powerful has 8 MB running at 2.8 GHz. Operating at 130 W of thermal design power (TDP), the i7 processors are also the most power-hungry compared to the i5 and the i3.
The Intel Core i5 family of processors, on the other hand, is targeted towards the performance market below the i7 and right above the i3. All the i5 processors have 4 cores capable of handling 4 threads. It uses the Intel Smart Cache technology just like the i7 and is equipped with 6 MB of L3 cache. Both the i5 and i7 families take advantage of Intel Turbo Boost technology to increase CPU clock rates by as much as 30% whenever required by certain applications.
For the mainstream market joining the group of Celeron and Pentium, the Intel Core i3 family of processors occupies the upper mainstream spectrum. The i3 processors are ideal for everyday office applications but not for high-performance computing. The i3 family is not capable of boosting CPU clock rates but is reasonably cheaper with low TDPs ranging between 35 and 65 W.
In conclusion, the i7 processors are recommended for demanding applications such as high-definition video editing and large-scale 3D rendering. The i3 processors, on other hand, are ideal for everyday office applications and other less demanding tasks. If one needs a balance in performance and price, then the i5 is an optimal choice.
i3 vs i5 vs i7 laptop processors.
Intel are designed for the core i3, i5 and i7 processors for mainstream, performance and high-end markets, respectively, A wide spectrum of microprocessors by Intel extends from low-end to high-end performance specifications. The latest Sandy Bridge processor microarchitecture is classified into three tier levels that will serve different computing needs and budget constraints.These processors were released in January 2011 designed using the latest 32 nm fabrication process for better overall computing performance while lowering down power consumption.
The i3 i5 i7 processors are available as either desktop or mobile processors.
The Sandy Bridge Intel Core processors for your desktop are more powerful than their mobile counterparts as they have higher thermal design power. The most powerful of the series, the Core i7 processors have standard CPU clock rates of at least 3 GHz. With the Intel branded Turbo-Boost feature, this clock rate can be increased by up to 20%. The Core i7 Extreme 2960XM running at 3.3 GHz with 15 MB of L3 cache is the most powerful Intel Core desktop processor, as it knocked out the i7 2920XM in September 2011, when Intel added another line up, where one point made is that the Macbooks will be seeing upgraded processors in Q4 2011. At roughly $1000, this microprocessor is suited for intensive calculations involved in editing high-definition videos and 3D computer-aided modeling applications.
The Core i5 processors, on the other hand, are designed for mid-level performance computing. To date, 11 models are available under this category with prices ranging between $150 and $250. Computer-aided drawing, most types of gaming and similar mid-level applications can comfortably take advantage of the i5.
The least powerful of this architecture, the Sandy Bridge Core i3 processors are designed for mainstream applications suitable for daily office needs such as surfing the net, desktop publishing and light photo and video editing needs. Cheapest models can go for as low as $127.
The Intel Core processors for mobile applications are mostly designed for the mainstream market. Mobile Core i3 and i5 models are all designed for mainstream applications that demand lower calculation requirements. Although prices are just similar to their desktop counterparts, a great advantage of mobile i3 i5 and i7 laptop processors is lower energy consumption. Thermal design power can go for as low 17 W.
With the new coding scheme developed by Intel for the i3 i5 and i7 laptop processors, getting the right computing power is easier unlike the unsystematic coding adapted before. For mainstream applications, the i3 is preferred; for mid-level performance computing, i5 is recommended. For extreme calculation requirements, one should tap the power of the i7. Hopefully that shed some light in your i3 vs i5 vs i7 laptop processor debate.
The second generation of Intel’s latest Core processor line, more commonly known as the Core i3/i5/i7 series, features the “Sandy Bridge” micro-architecture. This type of micro-architecture takes advantage of the 32 nm manufacturing process by integrating an HD graphics processor into the processor chip. But what does it all really mean?
The 32 nm process means that the transistors present in the chip are smaller, therefore more transistors can fit in much smaller space. This also improves thermal design, lowers power consumption, and improves the the efficiency of the device, allowing the graphics processor to be fitted into the chip. This integration greatly improves the speed of the computer because the processor need not communicate with another device on a separate part of the computer.
