Desktop or laptop - which one to purchase? When a buyer reaches a conclusion between the two, he ends up meeting another confusion - i3, i5 or i7? Many of us hover between i3 and i5, as i7 is quite an expensive processor. But there are a few who want to choose between i3 and second-hand i7 processor.

Are you one among them? If yes, then this blog will be the perfect one for you.

However, if you are not interested in purchasing i7, that doesn’t mean you should skip reading this blog. Who knows, maybe the second buyer will be you!

So, are you ready to explore which processor turns out to be the best for your desktop? Take your seats!

While purchasing your Desktop CPU, you must have come across these three abbreviations - i3, i5, and i7. But have you ever Googled it, what they are?

I3, i5, and i7 are the three different processors on which the performance of your CPU depends.

Intel Core i3 = Entry level dual-core processor, used by almost every individual for their personal workflow.

Intel Core i5 = Mainstream level four-core processor, used by the individuals with a moderate workload.

Intel Core i7 = High-end level four-core processor, used by only a few individuals who have installed gaming software in their PCs.

Are you about to purchase i3 desktop All In One PC? Or want to look for a second-hand i7 CPU? Or maybe i5? Whatever it may be, learning about these processors should be your primary target.

Apart from their level of performance, there are few other features that make them different from each other. Let’s have a look.

3 Features of Intel Processors that are responsible for creating a difference between i3, i5, and i7

1. Hyperthreading: This is an exclusive Intel’s property of handling more than two number of threads simultaneously. Well, it seems you are finding difficult to understand. Let us explain this in our own way.

Do you know, what is thread? Threads are some programmed instructions used by the CPUs to run a process. And this depends on the number of cores a CPU possessed.

For i3 dual-core processor, hyper-threading is processed over four threads, two threads per core.

i5 four-core processor does not support hyper-threading.

Whereas, i7 four-core processor does support hyper-threading and the process is run over eight threads simultaneously.

Confusing! But that’s how they work.

2. Cache Size: Cache memory is again a part of CPU’s performance dashboard. The more the memory size, the fast will be the performance. All the data that are frequently scrolled are loaded in the cache, ensuring better user experience.

i3 core processors have 3-4 MB of cache memory.

i5 core processors have 6MB memory.

i7 core processors have total 8MB memory, providing faster CPU performance.

Are you looking for a desktop that excels in performance and can be purchased at a pocket-friendly rate? In that case, used i7 desktop PC proves to be the best.

3. Turbo Boost: Turbo boost is the technology powered by Intel to boost up the clock speed whenever it is required. This, of course, depends on the number of cores a processor uses, the current consumption, power consumption, and the temperature of the processor.

i3 core processors don’t support Turbo boosting. It does not support any external booster to boost its speed. But i5 and i7 processors make use of Turbo boost to enhance their clock speed where more power is needed.

The Bottom Line

Today’s buzz is the All In One Desktops. They are dominating the market with its wonderful features and functionality. As the name suggests, these laptops provide all in one solution to the user. They come only with the monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse and can work better than the traditional branded desktops with CPUs.

If you are expecting something trendy for your normal workload then i3 desktop All In One PCs may solve your purpose. Or else, i5 is also the best option to choose.

However, even if you want to go with a used i7 desktop PC, comparing the price of the i3 processor with the used i7 processor is not a good idea. Both of them are distinct in their individual segment.

Hence, to make your choice, list down the tasks that you are about to perform using your PC. This is the perfect way to make the right decision about your processor.