i3, i5, i7?

[NeoReloaded]

Hey guys this may sound like a retarded question, but what are the differences between an i3, i5 and i7 cpu?

Thanks

 

[Scon]

i3's are dual core's with HT, i5 6** are duals with HT, i5 7** are true quads, i7's are quads with HT.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Also, there are now next-generation i3, i5 and i7 CPUs out. These all have four digit model numbers to differentiate them.

As before, all the i3 CPUs are hyperthreaded dual core. All of the i5 CPUs (apart from the i5 2390T) are quad cores with hyperthreading disabled and again all the i7 CPUs are hyperthreaded quad cores.

Also, there are two CPU models with a "K" after the model number. These CPUs are the i5 2500K and i7 2600K and these models can be overclocked using an unlocked multiplier - all the other CPUs are severely limited with how far they can overclock.

 

[JonJ678]

Lovely naming scheme Intel have gone with here. I particularly like using two different sockets for i7 chips.

 

[setter]

Agreed, it is a bit of a mind **** to the uninitiated. But ill stick with my old 920 tbh. Sandybridge would actually be a slight downgrade in my case, as im running multiple gpu's, couldnt take the slight performance hit of dual x8 pcie as opposed to dual x16.

 

[Kaeo]

Aslong as they don't use the GPU system when they release Ivy Bridge, rename the 1st gen i8.25 and the second gen i8.5 or something

 

[hybrid572]

Agreed, it is a bit of a mind **** to the uninitiated. But ill stick with my old 920 tbh. Sandybridge would actually be a slight downgrade in my case, as im running multiple gpu's, couldnt take the slight performance hit of dual x8 pcie as opposed to dual x16.

According to tomshardware, you'd only take a 4% performance hit with ATI's CF at x8/x8, and all nVidia comparisons I can find claim a maximum of maybe 1-2%, if anything at all.

It's not really significant enough to be called a performance hit, but then again, your i7 920 is so much overkill for modern games anyway that a socket upgrade would be pointless.

 

[Brumboy]

According to tomshardware, you'd only take a 4% performance hit with ATI's CF at x8/x8, and all nVidia comparisons I can find claim a maximum of maybe 1-2%, if anything at all.

It's not really significant enough to be called a performance hit, but then again, your i7 920 is so much overkill for modern games anyway that a socket upgrade would be pointless.

This. The i7 920 is a very good processor still and is only a generation behind. I upgraded from a Q6600 so it was worth it for me. You might aswell wait a year and see what Ivy bridge and Bulldozer have to offer, that could possibly be a upgrade for you