What is Computer RAID? – RAID Levels. 
Computer circuit board or Motherboard. 
Computer security – mobile and computer safety. 
Computer storage – What is the difference between SSD and HDD 
Computer hardware maintenance – Improve performance. 
What are mobile phones about? 
What is computer mediated communication – How does it help? 
How to create a bootable USB drive. 
What are the pros and cons of digitalization? – Is it worth it? 
How to compare CPU isn’t normally based on the branding nor the make of it, but it may revolve around a few facts, based on how much you are willing to spend on it and your main core of usage for that CPU, we are going to highlight a few facts along the way as we go down.
Getting the best of it.
There are many CPU manufacturing companies out there. In order to get the best out of it, it might be important to first analyze what you want to use it for. Performance is one of the leading factors out there when deciding on which CPU to purchase, for your computer build up. I won’t deny to you that Intel isn’t the lead industry in the production of CPU’S but AMD also has powerful CPU that can surpass some of Intel powerful CPU and you can get them at an affordable price. Example can be the Ryzen 7 3800X which is said to have beat out the Intel i9 9900k, although it has high performance than the Intel core i9 9900k, you might also want to think twice about how much it can cost you to get the motherboard too, even after saving some change on it. So, of all the thing you may want to build, budget may also be the key leading factor here.
Hyper threading
Most of you would be wondering what is hyper threading and what does it have to do when comparing CPU. Well hyper threading is the technique or technology that increases CPU performance of multithreaded tasks. Making the CPU to appear to have doubled in the number of cores to the application and operating system. Hyper threading mostly becomes useful when you are building a computer that you may use for streaming gameplay, converting and also tasks like video rendering and web surfing including many more that may require high-end performance. Hyper threading simply enables a core to perform two tasks at once. The core i3 and i5 may have hyper threading but it may be limited to four, and on the core i5 if it’s a quad core then it may not have hyper threading since it’s only limited to four threads. In an event where the core i5 has two cores it may have hyper threading making it appear as if it has four cores. There are also AMD processors that have multiple cores and hyper threading with less to spend on but with good performance.
Families
The most popular and common are the Intel core families the took over the Pentium series. With the Intel core i3 marking the first of the core series. Most of the core i3 are mainly limited to dual core and some may have hyper threading making them to appear as if they have four cores while others may not have. The Intel core i5 mainly differs from the core i3 as it may be limited to only four cores. One would say there isn’t much of a difference between the core i3 and the core i5, as the core i3 ranges from 3.6 to 4GHz with a turbo speed of 4.2 to 4.6GHz and about 8mb L3 cache. On the other hand, the core i5 ranges from 2.9 to 3.8GHz with a turbo speed of 4.1 to 4.6GHz and has about 9mb L3 cache. The core i7 differs from the core i5 as it has a faster base clock speed or has more GHz than the core i5, it ranges from 3 to 3.6GHz with a turbo speed of 4.7 to 4.9 and about 12mb L3 cache. The larger the cache the less the CPU or processor has to access the main memory or RAM storage, in order to get the required data. Thereby, making it faster. The Intel core i9 family have about 8 cores, and with the X series 8 to 18 cores. All i9 have hyper threading and turbo speed going beyond 5GHz, which include huge amount of cache memory. That means faster processing for core i9.
Voltage regulator module (VRM)
This is mainly the buck convertor that supplies power to the CPU, from the power supplier thought the motherboard and then the CPU socket. For every Processor there is a minimum power supply to which it can operate on a circuit board. This is mainly defined by the minimum specifications of how many VRM there needs to be. This allows different processor to be mounted onto the circuit board even when they differ in power supplies. It also allows processors with high end processing power to be mounted on the motherboard and enable you to experience the vast processing power that goes beyond the average overall predicted performance specified on the box. Now keep in mind that the CPU has to match with the motherboard firstly.
In conclusion
It does not mean that every time, when you want a high-end processing machine you have to go for the bigger cores like i7 or i9. Even some cores like i5 can perform better than some i7 and still not have a bottleneck during gaming performance. When its assembled with a compatible graphics card, it can do more damage than one who has a high-end processor like a core i7 or i9 but with a low graphics card. If your budget does not allow you to purchase all the high-end equipment like the i7 and i9 with a high-end graphics card. Then it is best to settle for an Intel core i5 with a much better graphics card or AMD Ryzen can still do better when you have a low budget. The Intel i9 X series are mainly built for high-end performance which contain most powerful Intel consumer chips, used for high-end photo work, video work and are also ideal for design tools like game creation. And are also used in huge databases that require powerful processing power, it would be a worst of computational power if these high-end processors are not exploited to the fullest. Overall Intel Xeon processors are use in servers and workstations while Intel core and Pentium are used for consumer application. At the end of the day you need to find something that’s suitable within your budget and can give you a better gaming or working experience.
I enjoyed this post and have learnt much more about processors as a result. I have heard recently also that Ryzen are becoming very popular and now competing against intel. I think more people need to be educated on this stuff as buying any pc nowadays is a minefield. Thanks for the read
True in fact AMD are becoming more popular than before. Hence becoming more of a competitor for intel.
Hey Volkert. Very interesting article. I’m not a computer expert and posts like this are extremely helpful when choosing new computer. I’m just looking for new gaming machine and its really not easy to choose wits so many types of CPU. Thank you for your detailed and clear review, it definitely will make my live easier.
You are most welcome cogito and its a great pleasure to be of help and hope you do get that gaming machine you desire.
To be honest with you when it comes to computer, I’m a bit lost. However, your post provides great info to help people like me make an inform decision if ever we are in the market to purchase a CPU. I thought when looking for something such a computer or a mother board it has to do much with the brand of the product, and the use and how much you can afford comes in second to last. Wow, who would have thought, the brand of the product should not be the first criteria?
Thank you for you post, it would definitely makes some of our lives easier.
Nicole,
Thanks Nicole and am glad you found this piece of information useful. Am quiet sure next time you go around looking for a CPU or a computer you will have this info at your finger tips to help you out.
Hello there, Volkert! This is a really detailed article and I am no expert with computers! I barely know the basics of the parts. But the CPU is one that I have heard of and my computer and laptop have a core i5. I have not had the chance to check out a core i7 or let alone a core i9 but I imagine them to be incredibly fast! Somewhere along the line, I also heard about the SSD (solid state drive), is that similar to core i7 or core i9 or is it a completely different computer part?
Hello Mike, a solid state drive is a storage component of a computer and it’s faster than a hard disk drive
You gave a lot of vital information when it comes to CPU. I was un aware that core i7 has a faster base cock that i5. You gave great content and your website is amazing. You have really done your research and it shows. I want to look more indebt to the core processors as i know it will benefit in the long run.
Thank you Sw33t_Mints for taking time in reading though and leaving us a comment
This is literally amazing. This is what I have been looking for. I have not been able to actually find an article that carefully explains all of this in simple English. You have made what you speak about user-friendly because I am definitely a new user to anything that involves technology ha ha. Thank you for this informative article
Thank you Misael H for taking time reading though this article and leave a comment. There is always something new for everyone when it comes to technology. And am sure glad that it helped out.
Very mechanically precise, comprehensive, and thorough post. I love how this article is not typical and mentally forces the reader to push their horizons and consider possibilities not originally realized.
You do a great job explaining the process of how to compare CPU. However, I felt like you used a lot of jargon that needed better context for the (occasional?) uninitiated reader. Nonetheless, I loved how your images enhanced the quality of your content, not to mention how you leave the reader wanting to know more about the subject.
Well-done!!
The overall concept is to give both experienced and non experienced audience something that they can grasp from the trending CPU comparisons and not forcing or hardening the understanding that can only be understood by computer experts. Feel free to hang around, you might also find something that interests you. Thank you for taking time reading through and leaving a comment.
Wow what a great article! CPUs are the core part of a computer and should always be chosen wisely. I remember when I was building my own computers I was always concerned about the CPU because in my eyes it was the heart of the PC. Of course it depends what you are using your computer for, but as you already said in your article, if you want great performance you should always go for the high end cpus like i7 or i9.
Thank you for the article, will definitely share it with my friends.
Sergej
You are most welcome Sergej, and please go for the best if you want high end performance. For gaming and graphic designing.
Thanks for this interesting article How to compare CPU – Getting the best of it. With all that written, I really learned a lot about processors, which I hadn’t even thought about until now. This is a great article to read if you have a need for a more powerful processor, depending on the nature of the work and the expectations of the computer. Because you really described in detail all the important components that can help you choose a CPU.
I wish you all the best
Nina
Thank you Nina for taking time reading though and leaving a comment, and am glad you found this article useful and learnt something new.
I remember a time when Intel was all the fuss and AMD was only doing catchup. How things have turned the last few years. In my opinion when choosing a CPU you have to take into account the performance to cost ratio. First you set a maximum budget you want to have for your CPU and then you look for the best performance you can find in that price. This way you keep the expenses in check and also get the best for your buck.
That’s absolutely right Stratos, your expenses can not exceed how much bucks you are holding.
I have always bought the most expensive processor I could afford at the time. I guess if I researched more, I could save some money and received more power by looking at the processor speeds. I think most of my computers over the last 20 years have had intel processors. Do you think the processor is the most important factor on speed and performance? I just bought a machine that has 32 GB ram and a 4 gb video card. It is so much faster than the last desktop I bought.
There is a correlation between RAM and CPU. In most cases the CPU, motherboard and OS determines the maximum RAM that can be supported. For better performance mainly depends on how powerful your CPU is, the size of your RAM and how big your GPU is.
Having never considered building my own computer (I have enough trouble using one) I found this a fascinating and informative read about the various components needed to balance usability with speed, especially if you are playing games. Obviously, there are a few ways you can go for strength and you mention the i5 can perform better than the i7 sometimes and still not get a bottleneck.
Great information.
Hello Lily, you don’t really have to be a tech savvy to be good at computers, all you have to do is just build an interest in them. And you would be good at them.
Thanks for sharing this helpful analysis of comparing CPU options to get the best option for your needs. I found a lot of helpful information here that is practical and can help to understand the difference in price and features for the different builds available. It’s important to choose the right CPU for your computing needs to ensure the best experience for yourself, your customers, and any employees. Kudos for pointing out key areas to watch.
Hello Aly, thank you for finding this article useful and feel free to stick around you may find more amazing and interesting information that could be helpful too.
Very interesting and useful post, I’ve been out of the pc building game for a good many years now, but ironically even 15 years ago I preferred AMD over Intel, they just seem to give a better all round bang for your buck.
Unfortunately with the advance of laptops my pc building will never have the pull it once had.
I toy with the idea of building another server for home but to do what job? Music movies and tv shows all stream easily, I can cast photos off my phone to my smart tv and I store all my important documents in the cloud.
I guess times change so although your article made me consider building pc’s again I think your info will be more helpful deciding what processor my new laptop will have.
There has been a remarkable change when it comes to technology, with the use of cloud and streaming services. But still it wouldn’t be a burden if you passed down the knowledge to younger generations, on how to build a pc. It would also be fun for you considering its something you used to do 15 or more years back then.
A very informative and comprehensive article on CPU. i was also educated as I read with interest about hyper threading and some of the things to look for when buying a computer. . I was not aware also that the CPU must match with the motherboard of the computer.. I do remember several years ago when my computer went bad and i tried to have it repaired at a computer place, I was told that the motherboard had gone bad. When I checked the cost of a motherboard it was very expensive and I was advised by the technician that it as best to purchase a new computer instead of buying a new motherboard. Taking ones budget into consideration is also key.
Budget is the key player when it comes to computers or any other devices or item that you want to purchase. It plays a vital part and can determine the type of CPU you can buy, for building your new machine.
When is comes to Motherboards, they can be expensive mostly for laptops and unlike the desktop ones which can be kind of affordable. The motherboard is the key component of a computer as it determines the type of CPU, computer casing and the type of power supply to use.
I think you made a good point that AMD has moved ahead of Intel in CPU capability. But there is more to this topic than meets the eye. Namely power consumption.
There is one company that has leapfrogged both Intel and AMD in CPU design and implementation. Apple. Since Apple controls the Operating System software as well as their hardware, they have been able to develop the M1 CPU that operates extremely efficiently and uses less power than either Intel or AMD so that they don’t need to use fans.
They are able to do this by combining functions on the CPU silicon that turns them to complete systems on a chip. By integrating core and user memory together, it speeds up the process while reducing power at the same time.
Intel and AMD understandably are at a disadvantage since it is Microsoft who controls the OS. Not them. No wonder Apple is the most valuable corporation in the world by stock valuation.
Cheers.
Edwin
Thank you Edwin for that positive feedback. Well technology is an ongoing trend. Each and everyday that goes by new solutions and tech is being developed. And considering the fact that power consumption has been an issue for sometime now. It is possible that the two might have been surpassed by Apple.