Which Processor is Better?
How hard is it to choose one computer? About 70.6 million computer units were shipped to markets all over the world in the fourth quarter of 2019. If you need a clearer perspective, just walk into any computer store and you’ll find at least three or six different models from different brands on display at the main table.
To make things easier for you, we recommend narrowing down your options to models with specific features that will serve as your baseline for choosing a computer.
i5 and i7 Processors
One way to simplify things is to choose between i5 and i7 computers. Why these two? Because i3 computers are mostly used for budget computers; and if you’re already used to fast laptops, there’s no way you will be happy with an i3 processor. An i9 processor would be best, of course, but they are commonly used for powerful CPUs of expensive gaming and professional laptops and desktops.
So, if you’re looking for an everyday laptop that you can also use for work, play games with, stream multimedia, and basic photo and video editing, among other things, we highly recommend i5 and i7.
Which is the Better Processor?
We will preface this by saying there’s no clear-cut rule as to which one is better. All factors being equal, an i7 is superior to i5. But computer manufacturers don’t make laptops unilaterally: they make variations, options, that can make a world of a difference.
For example, a video editor might prefer an i5 computer with 64GB RAM instead of an i7 with 32GB RAM. The bigger cache of the i5 will make editing 4k videos smoother and faster than with the i7 computer.
But if we get technical and compare them, there is not much difference between an i5 and i7 computer. Both of them typically have four cores, although the base clock speed (in GHz) of the i7 is slightly faster. If both units have the same size caches, the i7 can gain an upper hand because the computer can use the excess memory to expand its cache bandwidth.
In other words, if all things are equal, the i7 can be faster and better at multitasking than the i5. Considering that the price difference between i5 and i7 computers is often small, you can get better value for your money with the i7 if the processor is the only significant difference between the two models you’re comparing.
Other Features to Match and Compare
We’ve now used the “all things being equal” condition twice in this article, but as we’ve said earlier, this is not always the case. Here’s a list of the features that can shake up the “i7 is better than i5” notion and make the i5 the better choice:
- Cores – Many recent releases sport six or eight cores. Keep in mind that the more cores, the better. The only downside is that the price also increases with each additional core pair, so budget will be an immediate second consideration.
- Cache – To expound on the discussion earlier about cache sizes, at least 16MB cache is optimal for i5 and i7 computers. The higher number is also better in this case, especially if you do repetitive tasks, use the same programs several times a day, or run a lot of background apps.
- Hyperthreading – Not all Intel processors have hyperthreading. This technology maximises multiple core CPUs. Essentially, instead of delivering all the work to one core, multi-threaded programs can distribute the workload to all the cores in the CPU. The result is a faster processing of commands and a smoother run for demanding programs. So, regarding hyperthreading, having it is better than not having it at all. If you must choose between a four-core i5 with hyperthreading versus a six-core i7 without hyperthreading, and you frequently use software that recommends multithreading (e.g., word processors, web browsers, editing programs) the i5 computer should win.
For more information and tips on how to choose computers, read our previous blog articles.
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