Difference Between i3 i5 i7 Processors What set these new processor lines, developed by Intel, to be miles ahead of its closest

competitors are the new technologies developed by Intel to boost performance. The synergy between mult-core processors achieved in Intel core i3, i5 and i7 is what sets them ahead of the rest of the pack. Here is an i3 i5 i7 comparison which discusses how the three processor lines differ in terms of features and performance. Intel Core i3 i5 i7 Comparison: Technical Features Let us have a look at the technical points of difference between i3, i5, i7 processors. Let's start with the entry level processor line released in January 2010. All the core i3 processors have twin core with clocking frequency ranging from 2.933 GHz to 3.2 GHz. A 4MB L3 smart cache, 2 x 256 KB L2 cache and Direct Media Interface bus, fitted with the brand new LGA 1156 socket, makes them the best entry level processors. All these chips are built on a 32 nm architecture which ensures that more transistors can be etched on the silicon chips. An integrated GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) makes graphic processing even more faster. With Intel's hyper-threading and virtualization technology enabled, along with HD graphics, these chips are priced at $133 only. As the i3 i5 i7 comparison chart on the Intel web site reveals, core i5 line consists of three separate series of processors with twin and quad cores. The twin, as well as quad cores come with 4 threads each. The clocking frequencies of these processors range from 2.4 GHz to 3.33 GHz, powered by the Intel Turboboost technology that boosts clocking frequencies to higher levels when need be. With 4 MB to 8 MB L3 cache, direct media interface, integrated GPU, LGA 1156 socket, Intel HD graphics, Intel smart cache technology and Hyper-threading enabled, the cost of these processors ranges from $176 to $256. As a core i5 vs core i7comparison will prove, i5 chips are faster than the i3 chips. They form the mid level segment. With the core i7 line, Intel has fulfilled its dream of creating the 'best processors on the planet'. In the core i3 vs i5 vs i7 comparison, core i7 is miles ahead of the rest of the pack. This line consists of quad core processors with clocking frequencies reaching 3.33 GHz powered by Intel Turboboost. As a quad core vs dual core comparison would prove, greater number of cores can immensely boost computing speeds. With L3 smart cache ranging from 8MB to as much as 12 MB, Intel QuickPath Interconnect technology (that can enhance data transfer speed to 25.6 GB/Sec), integrated GPU, Hyperthreading and Intel HD graphics, the core i7 series processors are indeed, unarguably, the best processors ever manufactured. They are meant for high end computing applications, web servers and high end business users. The price of these processors ranges from $200 to as much as $1000. Intel Core i3 i5 i7 Comparison: Performance Let us now make an Intel core i3 vs i5 vs i7 performance comparison. Besides being multicore, what makes the i3, i5, i7 processors to be computing power houses, is the hyper-threading technology, combined with the Turboboost feature. An integrated GPU and an enhanced L3 cache makes graphic processing super fast. As an Intel core i3 vs core 2 duo comparison would reveal, the i3 processors surpass the computing power offered by the earlier core 2 duo series. If you are eying an entry level laptop computer, go for the core i3 line. It is great for home use desktop computers too. If you are a business user, I suggest that you go for the core i5 line, that can handle multitasking even better than the i3 line. With hyper-threading enabled and Intel's range of innovative technologies fully operational, the core i5 line is ideal for the business user or home users, who are into intensive gaming. If you want to settle for nothing less than the very best in computing today, go for the high end core i7 line. As you must have realized while going through the core i3 i5 i7 comparison, the i7 line puts phenomenal computing power at your fingertips that was available once only to users of supercomputers! Budget wise, they may be the costliest out of the whole lot, but they offer true value for your money.

Hope this straightforward core i3 i5 i7 comparison has cleared out any doubts in your mind about these new Intel chips. This article is based on research on i3 i5 i7 benchmark tests. Choose any one of these three lines that suits your budget and computing requirements.

Core i3 Vs Core 2 Duo: Technical Specifications Like the core 2 duo processors, the new core i3 line of processors, have two cores with many other technological enhancements including an integrated GPU (Graphic Processing Unit). The clocking frequency of the core i3 series of processors ranges from 2.26 GHz to 3.06 GHz. Each processor is endowed with the new line of advanced technologies including Intel developed hyperthreading, Intel virtualization and smart cache technology which makes these chips faster than core 2 duo processors. This is the most important point in the core i3 vs core 2 duo comparison. The Intel codename for core i3 architecture is Clarkdale. They are based on the Westmere architecture with 32 nm fabrication and a direct media interface (DMI) bus. The socket type used for core i3 processors is LGA 1156 and the RAM type is DDR3. They support mother boards with the following types of chipsets- H55, P55, H57 and Q57. Let us have a look at the latter processors in the core i3 vs core 2 duo comparison. Core 2 Duo processors come in three types of architectures, codenamed as Conroe, Wolfdale and Allendale. With 65 nm and 45 nm fabrications they are a tad slower and less power efficient than the 32 nm based core i3 processors.

i3 Vs i5: Technical Specifications The core i3 5xx series (Code name: Clarkdale) consists of three chips (i3-530, i3-540 and i3550) with a clocking frequency range starting from 2933 MHz and extending to 3200 MHz. All processors have a twin core and four threads, with an integrated graphic processing unit (GPU). These processors have a 4MB L3 cache and 2 x 256 Kb L2 cache. As part of the total architectural revamp, FSB bus that was usually used before is replaced by the DMI (direct media interface) bus, along with a new LGA 1156 socket. The major difference is the migration to a 32 nm based architecture which enables more transistors to be placed on the chip. With Intel's new Hyperthreading technology enabled in these chips, it provides greater multitasking ability. The cost of these chips is around $133. Continuing with the Intel core i3 vs i5 comparison, let us have a look at the core i5 series. This line of processors is further divided into three series of processors named the core i5 7xx, core i5 7xxS and core i5 6xx. This line consists of processors with dual and quad cores with 4 and 8 threads respectively. One main point of difference from the core i3 series is the enhanced 8MB L3 cache. All have an integrated GPU and a LGA 1156 socket with DMI bus. The processor clocking frequencies range from 2.4 Ghz to 3.33 GHz. What sets this line ahead in the i5 vs i3 comparison is the Intel Turbo Boost technology. It can increase the clocking frequency and boost it beyond the set frequency when need be. Besides this, core i5 series processors have Intel HD graphics and Intel Smart Cache technology.

Compared to core i5, core i7 processors come in 5 architectures which include Gulftown (Core i7-980X Extreme Edition with 12 MB L3 cache, Core i7 9xx series Extreme Edition with 8 MB cache), Bloomfield (Core i7-9xx Extreme Edition series with 8 MB L3 cache, Core i7-9xx series with 8 MB L3 cache) series, Lynnfield (Core i7 8xx, Core i7 8xxS) series with 8 MB L3 cache and Clarksfield (Core i7-9xxXM, Core i7-8xxQM, Core i7-7xxQM) as well as Arrandale with 4MB

cache series for mobiles. These are Intel's top of the line processors based on the LGA 1366 socket or LGA 1156 socket and PGA-989. The Lynnfield line has the same architecture as core i5 quad but it has hyper threading enabled, which make it a lot more powerful and fast. The Gulftown Intel core i7 processors are the most powerful of the lot with 6 hyper threaded cores. They are enabled with the Intel 'Turbo Boost' technology which makes it possible for the CPU clock speed to increase dynamically beyond the set speed on demand. This technology is also enabled in certain processors in the intel core i5 series. The newly developed Quick path connection bus is another addition to the core i7 arsenal which makes it even more faster. The most powerful processors are the ones with the six core based Gulftown architecture which have a basic clocking frequency of 3.33 MHz, with potential to reach a maximum of 3.6 GHz with 'Turbo Boost' technology.