i3 vs i5 vs i7

What is Core i3, i5 or i7 in CPU

When we are planning to buy a laptop or desktop the biggest confusion in our mind is that what to choose i3, i5 or i7 or which one is best suitable for us and what are the generations of CPU such as 3rd generation, 4th generation etc. So let's try to clear all these confusion and how to choose a CPU wisely.........

Firstly let's try to understand what is a generation:

As you know that the main electronic component inside the CPU is Transistor. Inside a CPU there are millions of transistors. A generation of CPU is most imp parameter to define the efficiency of CPU. In every generation, the size of the transistor is getting less and the number is increasing inside a processor. The size of the transistor has a direct connection with the power consumption. Lower the size of transistor lower the power it consumes. Bigger the number of transistors in a CPU better the efficiency. Every year Intel tries to reduce the size and increases the number of transistors in CPU. So we can say that bigger the generation number the better the performance. 

Currently, the size of transistor used in CPU is of  14 nm. 

How to find the Generation of CPU?

The very first number after the i3, i5 or whatever the processor is it, is called its generation.

In the above image, the processor is of i5 3rd generation.

Intel Core i3

Intel Core i3 comes with a single variant for both laptop and desktop. Core i3 is dual core processor which means there are 2 cores inside the CPU. But in a core i3, hyperthreading is enabled due to which logically it becomes quad core.

What is hyperthreading?
Simply we can understand that hyperthreading is a technique by which the number of cores will be doubled virtually. For example, dual core will be treated as quad-core but physically it has only 2 cores. 

Intel Core i5

Intel Core i5 is slightly better than i3 and it comes with the better cache memory and operating frequency as compared to i3 and it comes with 2 variant. 

• laptop  --> Dual Core --> hyperthreading --> Quad Core (logically).
• Desktop --> Quad Core      (hyperthreading is not enabled).

Intel Core i7

Intel Core i7 is more powerful than i5 and i3 it has better cache memory and operating frequency but the power consumption is more. It also comes with the different variant for laptop and desktop.

• laptop --> Dual Core/Quad Core (with hyperthreading)
• Desktop --> Quad Core/Octa Core (with hyperthreading)

In a very slim laptop, Core i7 comes with Dual Core variant.

A quick guide:

1. In a Core i3, all the basic work like ms office, tally, low-end gaming and photo editing all the things can be done very easily even you can play high-end games also if you have dedicated graphics.
2. If you work like video editing, photo editing, poster making, graphics designing and very high-end gaming then you can go for i5.
3. If you are doing very high-end work, very high definition video editing, 3D graphics making, animation and very high-end 3D gaming then only you can purchase i7 otherwise no need to invest in it.