Intel i3 vs i5: Which processor is right for you?

In the current computer processor market dominated by Intel, you don't have many choices when choosing a CPU that suits you. For consumers who want low power or have a limited budget, the Core i3 seems to be the most direct choice, but the Core i5 and its audience still have some overlap. So how do you choose between these two CPUs? A recent buying guide published by the technology website Digital Trends may help you.

Clock Speed

Clock speed used to be the most reliable way to understand CPU performance, but that has changed unless you are comparing two processors in the same series (same architecture). Fortunately, the underlying differences between Core i3 and i5 are not that big, so comparing clock speeds is still a valid method.

Core i5 processors generally have higher clock speeds than i3 processors, so they can handle heavy workloads faster. This is especially noticeable when performing complex single-threaded tasks, such as rendering a large Excel file or applying filters in Photoshop. In most cases, a Core i5 processor will be faster than an i3 processor.

Intel's Turbo Boost technology can increase the processor's clock speed under high workloads, allowing tasks to be processed faster. Since its introduction in 2010, some models in the Core i5 series have supported Turbo Boost, while almost all models in the Core i3 series have not had this feature until now. This means that the Core i5 series usually runs faster than the base clock speed.

Dual core vs quad core

Since the Core i3 is the low-power representative of Intel's processor series, the current fifth-generation i3 only has two processing cores, whether it is a desktop or laptop version. The Core i5 is more expensive and naturally has stronger performance. The desktop version of the i5 almost always has four cores, and for energy-saving considerations, the laptop version of the i5 is also dual-core.

While applications need to be coded to take advantage of multi-core processors, most software today already has this capability, so in general, large games and software will run faster on quad-core processors. This gives the Core i5 a big advantage.

Some Core processors also have Hyper-Threading, an Intel-exclusive technology that allows the CPU to schedule processing tasks more efficiently, especially for multi-core architectures. From a technical point of view, Hyper-Threading can indeed increase the overall running speed of the computer, and this is most obvious when running large programs (such as multimedia editing). Some Core i5 processors have supported Hyper-Threading since the second generation (Core i5-2XXX), and Core i3 has also welcomed this feature since the fourth generation (i3-4XXX). However, not every model in the two series supports Hyper-Threading, and you also need to confirm whether the motherboard you choose supports this feature when assembling a PC.

Power consumption

Core i5 processors generally offer higher performance than Core i3 processors, which means they use more power. Some Intel processors (with M, U, and UM designations) are optimized for power efficiency, but in general, an i5 processor will use more power than an i3 processor to perform the same task.

For desktops that don't rely on batteries, this isn't a big deal, but laptop users may want to opt for a lower-power processor to get more power savings and battery life. However, if you plan to use your laptop for intensive computing, an i3 may not be the right choice - because an i5 processor will provide a faster computing experience at a similar power usage.

fever

The higher the power consumption/clock speed of a processor, the hotter it will generate. So, just like the power consumption, the Core i3 will generate less heat than the i5 when running. This may not be a problem for desktop computers unless you want to build a high-performance gaming or multimedia PC, but a laptop with a lot of heat under high load may affect the user experience.

price

Core i5s cost more than i3s. For desktop processors, the exact price varies depending on the age and capabilities of the processor, but i5s are generally $50-100 more expensive than similar models in the i3 series. In addition, hyperthreading and L2 and L3 caches can also increase the price to a certain extent, but low-performance processors usually do not have performance optimization features.

Laptop processors are usually not user-replaceable, but you can usually choose to upgrade from an i3 to an i5 when you buy the laptop, and the price difference between the two is usually more than $100.

Summarize

Core i3 processors aren't as fast or powerful as i5 processors, but they're more than adequate for most everyday tasks. If you're only looking to build or buy a computer to browse the web, edit documents, or watch online videos, then spending the extra money on an i5 might not be worth it. If you're on a tight budget or need a more energy-efficient processor, then an i3 is a better choice.

But if you plan to use your computer for large-scale 3D gaming, multimedia editing, or 4K video playback, the extra performance that comes with the i5 will make it easier to meet your needs.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.