stupid question about cpu's

[less_than_perfect]

what does that number mean on intel cpu's like intel i7, i3 and i5

 

[Xanikac]

Its the processor type. This is from the Intel I series
The I series ranges in three stages.
I3
I5
I7

 

[theonerm2]

All of the Core i series processors are high performance chips. They come in different varieties. You have the Core i3 which is always a dual core processor with Hyperthreading technology. They never have TurboBoost and generally have the least amount of cache.

Hyperthreading is intel's version of simultaneous multithreading (SMT) and it was first introduced to the desktop market in 2002 with the 3.06GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor. Hyperthreading tricks the operating system into thinking that there are extra cores on the processor when in reality there are no extra cores. Hyperthreading enables each core to be able to do two things at once some of the time but not always. It's not quite as good as having extra 'real' cores but it does make better use of each core providing up to an extra 30% performance advantage.

The Intel Core i5 is a bit different than the Core i3. Sometimes the Core i5 is a dual core CPU with hyperthreading and sometimes it is a quad core CPU without hyperthreading. The one thing that is always the same about Core i5 processors is that they always have TurboBoost. TurboBoost is a feature that gives your clock speed a boost under the right conditions to allow your programs to run a bit more smoothly. Let's say you have a Core i5 processor that runs at 3.0GHz normally. Under the right conditions it might boost up to 3.6GHz.

Lastly we have the Intel Core i7 processor. Like the Core i5 these can be either quad core or dual core processors. Where these differ from Core i5 is mostly in the feature set. These processors always have Hyperthreading and they always have TurboBoost. But that's not the only way they differ from the Core i5 processors. They almost always have more cache on the chip and they can have 6 or more cores. There are actually plans for an 8 core Core i7 processor.

Also we have what I call Intel's classic series of processors which includes the Pentium and Celeron.

We have the Celeron which is intel's most budget oriented CPU and is cut down as far as possible while still allowing a decent computing experience. These can be either single core or dual core chips. They generally have half the cache that the Pentium CPU has. They have none of the features that the core i series has but they are usually based off of the same design as those high performance Core i series chips so decent performance can be expected.

The Pentium processor is next. This one used to be Intel's top of the line desktop processor brand.. Not anymore. This processor is just a notch below the Core i3 processor. It's always dual core and never has any of the features enabled from the Core i series processors but they are based off of the same design so decent performance can be expected.

There is also the Intel Atom processor. This is usually found in netbooks and ultra low power desktops. They are either single core with hyperthreading or dual core CPU's. They are generally the weakest processors of all but they allow super high battery life in netbooks and some can be cooled without a fan in desktops which allows for a super small design with low heat output.

I hope you enjoyed my explanation of intel's CPU lineup.