Core i5 6 and 7 generation difference. What is the difference between Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5

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Computer progress does not stand still, more and more new technologies are constantly appearing. Not everyone in our time can explain the difference between one processor model and another. Let's try to figure out together what is the difference between the two most popular models today. Intel processors Core i3 and Intel Core i5.
Intel Core i3dual core processor last generation. Originally intended for desktop computers entry level. The processor is equipped with a built-in dual-channel controller random access memory DDR3-1066/1333 with voltages up to 1.6V. It is important to note that modules that are rated for higher voltages will not work with this chip, and they may also damage it. The processor is equipped with an integrated PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller, with which graphics accelerator can be connected directly to the processor. DMI bus with throughput 2 GB/s is used to connect to the set system logic. The i3 processors have a 733 MHz GMA HD graphics core with twelve pipelines. However, the basic clock frequency for all Core models i3 is equal to 133 MHz, the nominal frequencies are achieved by applying multipliers.
Intel Core i5– latest generation dual or quad-core processor. Originally designed for mid-range desktops. The processor is equipped with a built-in dual-channel DDR3-1066/1333 RAM controller with a voltage of up to 1.6 V. The DMI bus with a bandwidth of 2 GB/s is used to connect to the system logic set. The processor is equipped with an integrated PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller, which can be used to connect a graphics accelerator directly to the processor. However, in models equipped with a GMA HD graphics core, one video card can be connected to the chip in x16 mode, and if the model does not have integrated graphics, then two video cards in x8 modes each. Dual-core models feature Hyper-Threading technology. It is worth noting that if the model number ends with 1, then the graphics clock frequency will be 900 MHz, and if it ends with 0, then 733 MHz. All i5s feature Turbo Boost technology at a resource-intensive cost.

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  1. i5 processors have options for 2 and 4-core modifications, while i3 only has 2-core modifications.
  2. L3 cache in i5 processors - 4 or 8 MB, shared by all cores, in i3 - only 3 MB.
  3. The i5 processor supports Turbo Boost technology.
  4. The built-in PCI Express 2.0 controller in i5 can have one x16 lane or two x8 lanes, while i3 processors have only one x16 lane.
  5. The integrated graphics adapter i5 can be clocked at 900 MHz, unlike the i3 which is clocked at 733 MHz.

So what to choose? Which model is still better?
As can be seen from the comparison, these chips are very similar. Processors i3 is powerful enough and at the same time inexpensive, ideal if you are strictly limited on a budget. Core i5 600 series processors have high performance, however, they have a chip with integrated graphics. These models are aimed at office workers who do not need powerful graphics. The quad-core i5-750 is the most the best choice if you want to collect powerful computer for reasonable money.

Intel has earned fundamental trust from active users desktop gaming PCs, working And computers for home. Reliable and high-performance - this, of course, is about its modern multi-core CPUs. But choosing between AMD And Intel, many of us are faced with very confusing series and names of crystals from the "blue" chipmaker.

This is an instruction on how to understand the processors Intel V 2017 which is the best in the series Core what characteristics mean lineups i3, i5 And i7 and where did they go Intel Pentium And Celeron?

What kind of processors does Intel have in 2017?

Modern Intel processors are divided into three types of the Core family.

Intel "Core i" processors differ from each other:

level cache(own super-memory is a very important characteristic that helps the CPU perform tasks more efficiently);

The presence and absence of certain technologies;

architectural decisions;

goals and their marketing purpose.

Intel Core i3


These are dual-core processors equipped with technology Hyper Threading. It helps to improve performance under high load. It is enough for simple games and most applications under Windows.

Family Intel Core i3 does not have a large cache, does not support Turbo Boost technology, and is most like work and home computers, where the main tasks are related to the Internet, web browsing, light games and office programs.

Intel Core i5


Quad-core processors without Hyper Threading, but with faster processing of physically intensive tasks. Optimal choice for lovers of games and resource-intensive applications. In terms of performance, they often outperform Core i3.

Intel Core i7


Quad-core processors with Hyper Threading for enthusiasts of the world of computers, gamers (for gaming PCs) and professionals. High level cache, advanced integrated graphic technologies and the latest achievements of the company at the level of core architecture.

Where did the Intel Pentium and Celeron processors go?

There are practically no old processors left for sale Intel. Series Pentium(for home and gaming computers) and Celeron(working systems) by 2017 were officially transferred from the architectural range to the category of the brand.


Intel Pentium processors out of production since 2009. Since then, this name has been used as a brand for some entry-level products based on Intel architectures core.

Intel Celeron processors finally withdrawn from commercial production in 2011, giving way to the Atom, Core and in some cases Pentium series.

Everyone thinks that the Core i3 is just cheaper, and the Core i7 is more expensive - that's not

The prevailing opinion that Intel thus segmented its desktop processors into inexpensive Core i3, mass medium-budget Core i5 and high performance Core i7 for enthusiasts - not entirely true. The model numbers in each family will completely confuse you.

Can you tell what is the difference between Intel Core i5-6400 and Core i5-7600K?

Central processors within the same series may differ in performance level, different modifications and even generations. Now in a few steps we will analyze what all these numbers and letters mean. You will immediately determine which of the processors, for example, Intel Core i5, is better.

What does the number mean in Intel Core processors after i3/i5/i7?


Number 6 in Intel Core i5- 6 400 means generation number ("sixth Intel generation core"), as 7 in Core i5- 7 600K means 7 generation of Intel processors for Windows 10. This way you can determine which one is newer and put the models in order.

The last three digits define SKU. In fact, they show how powerful this processor is within the production line. Core i5-7 600 K will be faster than Core i5-7 500 K.

Letters the name shows various additional qualities of the Intel Core processor. Here are the differences:

H- high performance graphics.

K- the ability to unlock the overclocking of the Intel processor.

Q- four physical cores.

QM- the same, but for mobile PCs.

T- Optimized for efficient desktop PCs.

U- optimized with low power consumption for mobile computers.

How to compare Intel, AMD, laptop, PC processors?


There is a universal online service where you can enter the processor model ID and get a table with a full comparison of characteristics and features: cpuboss.com.

The question of the differences between the processors of the Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 families arises for most users when choosing a PC or laptop with the declared characteristics, as well as when upgrading an existing system. With completely identical technical characteristics in the catalog or on the price tag (clock frequency, number of cores, cache size), the difference in price reaches several thousand rubles. Naturally, a toad immediately comes, which strangles a potential buyer, and he certainly wants to know what he is overpaying for and whether he needs it at all. Consultants, as a rule, cannot clearly explain how i5 processors differ from i7. Probably because there are many models in the i5 and i7 lines, and they are all different, although they are labeled the same. However, there are features that are common to models within the same line, and they can be considered, albeit not the main, but important selection criteria.

Intel Core i7 processors– a family of Intel processors based on the Nehalem microarchitecture, designed for LGA 1156/1366/2011 sockets. Used for high-end desktop systems, have at least four cores in any modification.

Intel Core i5 processors- a family of Intel processors designed for mid-range systems. These processors are compatible with LGA 1155/1156 sockets, have two cores in the most budget modification, four in the top one.

Intel Core i7 processors are considered to provide better performance in demanding applications. In practice, it is not always possible to notice the difference in work, and often the performance gain remains the prerogative of exclusively test benches.

The most important and obvious Intel difference Core i7 from Intel Core i5 - the first to support Hyper-Threading technology, which allows each core to serve multiple threads. The quad-core i7 processor serves 8 threads, which corresponds to the performance of eight cores. Intel Core i5 does not support this technology (except for the i5-661 model). Intel Core i5 can be dual- or quad-core, Intel Core i7 can be quad- or six-core.

L3 cache in Intel Core i7 processors can be up to 12 MB, while in Intel Core i5 it is limited to 8 MB. The RAM controller in the i7 can be triple-channel (LGA 1366) and dual-channel (LGA 1156), while the i5 only works with two channels. Intel Core i7s work with QPI buses, while i5s work exclusively with DMI.

The maximum clock speed of the Intel Core i7 family processors is slightly higher than that of the Intel Core i5 family models. True, in real work these numbers practically do not play a role - there is no performance gain due to an increase in frequency. But the heat dissipation of i7 processors in normal mode can be higher than that of i5 processors (up to 130 W), with the same 45 nm process technology.

Intel Core i7 processors are always more expensive than Intel Core i5. This is due to the marketing tricks of the company, positioning the i7 as top components for high-end systems.

The difference between Intel Core i7 and Intel Core i5 processors is as follows:

  1. Intel Core i7 are positioned as processors for high-end systems.
  2. The maximum number of cores in the Intel Core i7 is six, while in the Intel Core i5 it is four.
  3. Intel Core i7 support Hyper-Threading technology.
  4. The heat dissipation of some Intel Core i7 models is higher.
  5. The performance of the Intel Core i7 in tests is higher than that of the i5.
  6. Intel Core i7 can work on the QPI bus and with a three-channel memory controller.
  7. Intel Core i7 is more expensive.

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The Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processor has been on the market for over a year now, but some buyers are still stumped when choosing between these three processors.

Now there are new processors in stores with Sandy Bridge architecture and buyers again have the question, which one suits them best? Let's make a comparison and see what is the difference i3 i5 i7.

The difference between core i5, core i3 and core i7 in a nutshell

If you want to answer this question simply and clearly, then the Core i7 is better than the Intel Core i5, which in turn is better than the i3.

The Core i7 does not have seven cores, and the Core i3 does not have three cores. These numbers are simply indicative of their relative processing power.

Their relative level of processing power is calculated from their stars: Intel will help you with this, which is based on a combination of criteria: number of cores, clock speed (in GHz), cache size, as well as some new Intel Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading technologies.

The i3 has three stars, the i5 has four stars and the i7 has five stars. If you're wondering why the rating starts with three stars, the entry-level processors are Intel Celeron and Pentium - they got one and two stars, respectively.

Note: Core processors can be grouped in terms of their target device, i.e. and for desktop computers.

Each of them has its own specific features/characteristics. Note also that we will focus on the 2nd generation (Sandy Bridge) processors. Now in more detail than i5 differs from i7 and from i3.

Number of Cores

The more cores, the more tasks (threads) can be served at the same time. How many cores does i3 have? The smallest number of cores in the Core i3 processor, it has only two cores. Currently, all i3s are dual-core processors.

Now all Core i5 processors, with the exception of the i5-661, are quad-core. Core i5-661 dual-core processor clocked at 3.33 GHz. Remember that all mainstream i3s are also dual core.

Advice: The i3-560 also has a clock speed of 3.33 GHz, but is much cheaper than the i5-661.

But even if the i5-661 runs fine at the same clock speed as the Core i3-560 and they have the same number of cores, the i5-661 has a huge plus is Turbo Boost technology.

Intel Core i7 processors have 4 or 6 cores.

Intel Turbo Boost

Intel Turbo Boost technology allows the processor to dynamically increase its clock speed whenever the need arises.

The maximum amount that Turbo Boost can raise the clock speed at any given time depends on the number of active cores, the current power consumption and the temperature of the processor.

For Core i5-661, the maximum allowed processor frequency is 3.6 GHz. Since none of the Intel Core i3 processors have Turbo Boost, the i5-661 can outrun them when needed.

Because all Core i5 processors are equipped with latest version of this technology - Turbo Boost 2.0 - all of them can overtake any of the Core i3 family.

Cache size

Whenever the processor detects that it is using the same data over and over again, it stores that data in its cache. Cache is the same as RAM, only faster - because it is built into the processor itself.

RAM and cache are used in waiting areas for frequently accessed data. Without them, the processor would have to read the data, which would take much longer.

Basically, RAM minimizes interaction with the hard drive, while cache minimizes interaction with RAM.

Obviously, the larger the cache, the more data you can get quickly. All Core i3 processors have 3 MB cache, all i5s except 661 (4 MB) have 6 MB cache.

Finally, all Core i7 processors have 8 MB of cache. This is one of the reasons why the i7 is superior to the i5 - and why the i5 is superior to the i3.

Hyper Threading

Strictly speaking, only one thread can be served per core at a time. So, if the processor is dual-core, then only two threads can be served at the same time.

However, Intel has Hyper-Threading Technology. It allows one core to serve multiple threads.

For example, the Core i3 is a dual-core processor, but in fact, each of its cores can serve two threads, in other words, four threads can run simultaneously.

Intel core i5 processors have four cores, but they unfortunately do not support Hyper-Threading technology (again, with the exception of i5-661), so it turns out that the number of threads that they can serve at the same time is equal to the number of threads in Core i3.

This is one of the many reasons why i7 processors are the best. This is that not only do they have four cores, but they also support Hyper-Threading.

Thus, a total of eight threads can be processed simultaneously. Combine that with the 8MB of cache and the Intel Turbo Boost technology they have and you can see what sets the Core i7 apart from its brethren.

Another factor in this comparison is that more and more programs support multithreading. That is, they can use more than one thread to execute a single command to speed up execution.

Some photo editors and video editing programs are multi-threaded. However, Internet browsers do not use multithreading and are unlikely to use it in the foreseeable future.

Who needs a Core i3 processor?

For people who use their computer for word processing, email, web surfing, etc., a Core i3 processor is more than enough to handle it all with ease.

The Core i3 processor is 100% affordable for the vast majority of users.

Who needs a Core i5 processor?

If you like editing videos and playing games, as well as processing texts, surfing the Internet and reading email, Core i5 processor for you.

It has enough performance to do this sort of thing for an average price.

Who needs a Core i7 processor?

As mentioned earlier, the i7 processor is not necessary for the vast majority.

But if you need breakneck speed, then the i7 is your choice. If you are an avid overclocker, then the Core i7 is just right for you.

Conclusion

By comparing the processors, we concluded that, regardless of your choice of Core i3 or Core i5 or Core i7 processor, you can be sure that you will get the best performance and high quality from the processors of this series.

All three Core I-series are valued all over the world and the main differences are the number of cores, multitasking and of course, the price.

I advise you to buy a computer that suits your needs within your budget.

Computer progress does not stand still, more and more new technologies are constantly appearing. Not everyone in our time can explain the difference between one processor model and another. Let's try to figure out together what is the difference between the two most popular models of Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5 processors today.

Intel Core i3- Dual-core processor of the latest generation. Initially designed for entry-level desktop computers. The processor is equipped with a built-in dual-channel DDR3-1066/1333 RAM controller with voltage up to 1.6 V. It is important to note that modules that are designed for higher voltage will not work with this chip, in addition, they can damage it. The processor is equipped with an integrated PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller, which can be used to connect a graphics accelerator directly to the processor. The DMI bus with a bandwidth of 2 GB / s is used to connect to the system logic set. The i3 processors have a 733 MHz GMA HD graphics core with twelve pipelines. However, the base clock frequency for all Core i3 models is 133 MHz, the nominal frequencies are achieved using multipliers.

Intel Core i5– latest generation dual or quad-core processor. Originally designed for mid-range desktops. The processor is equipped with a built-in dual-channel DDR3-1066/1333 RAM controller with a voltage of up to 1.6 V. The DMI bus with a bandwidth of 2 GB/s is used to connect to the system logic set. The processor is equipped with an integrated PCI Express 2.0 x16 controller, which can be used to connect a graphics accelerator directly to the processor. However, in models equipped with a GMA HD graphics core, one video card can be connected to the chip in x16 mode, and if the model does not have integrated graphics, then two video cards in x8 modes each. Dual-core models feature Hyper-Threading technology. It is worth noting that if the model number ends with 1, then the graphics clock frequency will be 900 MHz, and if it ends with 0, then 733 MHz. All i5s feature Turbo Boost technology at a resource-intensive cost.


differences between Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5:

  1. i5 processors have options for 2 and 4-core modifications, while i3 only has 2-core modifications.
  2. L3 cache in i5 processors - 4 or 8 MB, shared by all cores, in i3 - only 3 MB.
  3. The i5 processor supports Turbo Boost technology.
  4. The built-in PCI Express 2.0 controller in i5 can have one x16 lane or two x8 lanes, while i3 processors have only one x16 lane.
  5. The integrated graphics adapter i5 can be clocked at 900 MHz, unlike the i3 which is clocked at 733 MHz.

So what to choose? Which model is still better?
As can be seen from the comparison, these chips are very similar. Core i3 processors are powerful enough and at the same time inexpensive, ideal if you are strictly limited on a budget. The 600-series Core i5 processors have high performance, however, they have a chip with integrated graphics. These models are aimed at office workers who do not need powerful graphics. The quad-core i5-750 is the best choice if you want to build a powerful computer for a reasonable price.

Call or directly on the site! Our specialists will be happy to help you!



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