Tech Savvy - in Tagalog Teknikal Sabi Ko

What's the difference

 between  an Intel Core 

 i3, i5 and i7?

We take a look at the latest 7th Generation 

Intel Core family of chips

If you want a plain and simple answer, then generally speaking, Core i7s are better than Core i5s, which are in turn better than Core i3s. Nope, Core i7 does not have seven cores nor does Core i3 have three cores. The numbers are simply indicative of their relative processing powers.

Their relative levels of processing power are based on a collection of criteria involving their number of cores, clock speed (in GHz), size of cache, as well as Intel technologies like Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading.

Number of cores

The more cores there are, the more tasks (known as threads) can be served at the same time. The lowest number of cores can be found in Core i3 CPUs, i.e., which have only two cores. Currently, all Core i3s are dual-core processors.

Currently all Core i5 processors, except for the i5-4570T, are quad cores in Australia. The Core i5-4570T is only a dual-core processor with a standard clock speed of 2.9GHz. Remember that all Core i3s are also dual cores. Furthermore, the i3-4130T is also 2.9GHz, yet a lot cheaper. Sounds like it might be a better buy than the i5. What gives?

At this point, I’d like to grab the opportunity to illustrate how a number of factors affect the overall processing power of a CPU and determine whether it should be considered an i3, an i5, or an i7.

Even if the i5-4570T normally runs at the same clock speed as Core i3-4130T, and even if they all have the same number of cores, the i5-4570T benefits from a technology known as Turbo Boost.

What is CORE?

In relation to computer processors, a core is the processing unit which receives instructions and performs calculations, or actions, based on those instructions. A set of instructions can allow a software program perform a 

specific function.

Turbo Boost

A feature in Intel's Core i7 CPUs and certain models of its i5 line. Turbo Boost enables processor cores to run faster if power usage and temperatures are within limits. For example, if one core would benefit by processing faster while the others are idling or running slower, the base frequency of that core can be increased on demand in increments of 133MHz. See Core i7 and Core i5.