I7 which one to buy

It has less cache than the i7s and comes with a lower clock speed, though it still comes with four cores and eight threads. As with desktop chips, Core i7 CPUs tend to be a lot more expensive. Minus a change in cache size — from 8MB on the i5s to 12MB on the i7s — the two ranges are mostly the same. A higher clock speed is better, but you can get by with a lot less especially considering how much more expensive i7s can be in mobile configurations.

If you have the extra cash, though, an 11th-gen i7 is a great option. The iG7 consumes the same amount of power as the iG7 while boasting a higher boost clock speed, making it ideal for high-performance thin and light laptops. To make things even more confusing, Intel also offers 10th-generation Core i5 and Core i7 Comet Lake chips.

However, Intel is a lot closer to matching entry-level gaming laptops with Xe, climbing toward 60 frames per second at medium settings in games like Battlefield V and Civilization VI. The HK rules the roost in the mobile space, packing eight cores and 16 threads into a laptop CPU. It comes with a base clock of 2. Some laptops, like the massively expensive Alienware Aream , actually come with a desktop i9.

Not only is the K cheaper, but it also has fewer issues with power and thermals, and it comes with two more cores and four more threads. If you have workloads that can use the extra power of an i7, consider springing for an i9 especially if you can get a last-gen chip on sale. Laptops are a different beast. Your processor can process more information at once, thanks to more threads and cores. Instead of stressing a single core or thread, the processor spreads out the workload.

So, the benefit of more cores and threads is clear: It allows the processor to better handle multitasking. Some applications are explicitly optimized to capitalize on multiple threats, in conjunction with most file compression and decompression, Adobe Premiere, and Handbrake apps.

There are only a few applications that still use a single thread or core from your computer. Should you buy a monitor on Black Friday ? The physical cores largely determine the speed of a processor. But with how modern CPUs work , you can get a boost in speed with virtual cores, activated through hyper-threading. In layman's terms, hyper-threading allows a single physical core to act as two virtual cores , thus performing multiple tasks simultaneously without activating the second physical core which would require more power from the system.

If both processors are active and using hyper-threading, those four virtual cores will compute faster. However, do note that physical cores are faster than virtual cores. The difficulty is that there is no blanket approach from Intel regarding hyper-threading on its CPUs. In short, you'll have to check the individual CPU for its hyper-threading potential, as Intel appears to chop and change with each processor generation.

One thing is for sure: the fastest Core i9 series does support hyper-threading. All of the latest Intel Core processors now support Turbo Boost frequencies. Previously, Intel Core i3 owners were left out in the dark, forced to suffer with their regular CPU speeds. Turbo Boost is Intel's proprietary technology to intelligently increase a processor's clock speed if the application demands it.

So, for example, if you are playing a game and your system requires some extra horsepower, Turbo Boost will kick in to compensate. Turbo Boost is useful for those who run resource-intensive software like video editors or video games, but it doesn't have much of an effect if you're just browsing the web and using Microsoft Office.

The cache is the processor's own memory and acts like its private RAM. Upgrading to a newer CPU with a larger memory cache is one of the upgrades that will benefit your PC the most. Just like with RAM, more cache size is better. So if the processor is performing one task repeatedly, it will keep that task in its cache. If a processor can store more tasks in its private memory, it can do them faster if they come up again.

Ever since graphics were integrated on the processor chip, integrated graphics have become an important decision point in buying CPUs. But as with everything else, Intel has made the system a little confusing. Intel Graphics Technology is the umbrella term covering all Intel integrated graphics.

Within that, there are different generations of Intel integrated graphics technology, confusingly referred to by both series names and generational names. Still following? This lets the iK work more efficiently with certain applications.

There are CPUs today from both Intel and AMD that boast more cores and more threads, but the iK's impressive single-core performance still makes it a fast, reasonably priced option, particularly if you're focused on gaming. Its formidable base clock rate can be boosted to 4. Even though it comes with UHD integrated graphics, you'll want to pair the iK with a dedicated graphics card to see its full potential. Coupled with the right card, you'll be able to handle high-quality 4K games with ease and hit blazing-high frame rates.

With its ability to overclock to 5GHz with the right setup, it can keep your gaming futureproof for years. If you're looking to build a gaming rig and don't want or need the newest and most expensive CPU, the Intel Core iK is a great option that can save you a bit of cash. The K features 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base speed of 3. The iK is optimized for Optane Memory for faster access to your most-played games; it also supports DirectX12 and Quick Sync Video for editing and sharing your greatest gaming moments.

This CPU can support up to three monitors so you can game, chat, and stream with ease. It also won't hit your wallet as hard as an i9 or Threadripper. Sometimes older models stand the test of time, like Intel's Core iK. A quad-core Kaby Lake processor from a couple of generations back, this flagship product line continues to serve gamers and power users alike.

It runs at a fast rate of 4. There's some room to overclock the unlocked processor if you can successfully manage the power usage and temperature, as it tends to run fairly hot. Right out of the box, the speedy base clock and four cores with hyper-threading give the iK the versatility and power necessary to take on high-end games and other tasks.

You'll get performance similar to newer processors, while potentially saving money for your graphics card, cooling system, and other components for your gaming rig. The Intel Core iK is a good option for creators who work with large, raw video files. It has 8 cores and 8 threads no hyper-threading , and it has a base speed of 3. This, along with support for up to GB of RAM, makes it great for rendering large video files and multitasking graphic design programs.

Like the other i7 CPUs on this list, it's optimized for Intel's Optane Memory so you get fast, reliable access to your most-used programs like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

You can use this as a gaming processor, but you have to add a gaming-grade graphics card. This CPU requires discrete graphics anyway. You can find this chip in the Acer Predator Helios laptop, as well as some other gaming laptops.

It has 6 cores, and it allows for Hyper Threading. The H has a base clock speed of 2. The CPU is also compatible with 4K video and graphics, so you get excellent detail and lifelike images. It supports up to three displays so you can connect your laptop and up to two external monitors if you need to multitask or prefer multi-monitor set-ups. It's 4K ready, and it has a base clock speed of 3. The locked i is a close second, as the i comes packaged with a cooling fan where the K does not.

We evaluate CPUs based on their ability to handle productivity, multitasking, and gaming. To test processors, we put them in our custom build, keeping all other components the same. Then we put the processor to the test by running benchmark tests like PCMark, Geekbench 5, Passmark to get objective scores. We also use the processors in our workflow, using them for video rendering and gaming, and other productivity tasks. Finally, we look at price and competitor benchmarks to get an idea of the value proposition and make a final judgment.

Lifewire purchases all review products; we do not receive them from manufacturers. Ajay Kumar is Tech Editor at Lifewire. With over seven years of experience, he's previously been published in PCMag and Newsweek where he reviewed thousands of products including PC hardware, monitors, phones, laptops, and other devices.

He built his own gaming rig and though he uses a Ryzen X, he has previously used Intel processors. Alan Bradley is Tech Editor at Lifewire. With thousands of reviews under his belt, he's also built his own gaming rig and has used and tested various Intel processors.

Is Intel or AMD better? Both AMD and Intel have some really great offerings, and are highly competitive with one another.