The processor directly influences the performance of your PC, which is why, if you want to have a powerful PC system, you need to be careful how you choose it. Why do you consider more precisely when you choose a processor and what do you look at? Today we will talk about some important aspects to consider when you want to buy a new processor.
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How to choose a high -performance processor: Why do you consider when you want a new processor?
A processor plays an important role in both the performance for laptop gamingas well as in productivity and multitasking, 3D rendering, programming, video editing, Internet browsing, etc. It is important to choose a good processor to enjoy the desired performance. 5 features are extremely important and in the bottom lines we will tell you what they are and why they play such a big role.
- Processor brand: Intel or AMD?
Intel It comes with solutions for all budgets, but if you want a high-performance processor, do not resort to an entry-level processor in the Cearon family, but pay attention to the Core processor family.
Processors like Intel Core i5 are excellent for games, especially if you already have a dedicated video card. Intel Core i7 processors for intensive multimedia operations, and Intel Core i9 processors are designed for those who have a generous budget and want maximum performance on all levels.
In the case
AMD processorswe do not recommend the Athlon series processors, but the AMD Ryzen series processors. Ryzen 5 processors offer good performance, Ryzen 7 processors are comparable to the Intel Core i7 family and we recommend them for professional PCs. Ryzen 9 processors offer the best operating frequency and are designed for users who want maximum performance. They are, of course, extremely expensive.
- Motherboard compatibility: Is the motherboard processor compatible?
Each PC processor guarantees a certain compatibility with the motherboard. In fact, on the bottom, it has some pins that serve to communicate with the motherboard socket. Usually, Intel processors of the same generation are compatible with the same socket, as well as those at AMD.
The most modern sockets are:
- LGA 1700
-Socket compatible with Intel Alder Lake processors (12th generation), Raptor Lake (13th and 14th generation) Intel Core, in versions I3, I5, I7 or I9. Compatible with the processors of the Intel Core Ultra 3, 5, 7 and 9 meteor Lake processors - LGA 1200
-Designed for Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9 processors of the 10th generation. Will also be used for future 11th generation models - LGA 1151
-dedicated to the CPUs in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth generation with Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9 families - Am4 – Dedicated to the latest AMD processors from families Ryzen, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9
- Am5 – Dedicated to AMD Ryzen 3 processors, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 of the seventh generation and above
- Processor frequency (expressed in GHz)
A higher frequency means a faster processor. If we talk about gaming, the higher frequencies are very important. For example, an Intel I7 or AMD Ryzen 5 with 4.5 GHz frequency or more will record a very good performance in games.
If we are talking about professional tasks, if you perform complex tasks such as video editing, 3D rancids, etc., a higher frequency processor and more cores will be more efficient.
- Number of nuclei: How many cores should have a performance processor?
Modern processors can have up to 16 or 32 coresbut the standard practice is four, six or at most eight cores for the most popular market processors. Then, when we talk about nuclei, we need to talk about the execution wires.
These represent the number of independent processes that each nucleus can calculate at a given time. In most ordinary processors, each nucleus can perform a single load, while in the most advanced, due to the multi-threading support, they can process two or more tasks.
In Intel processors this technology is called hyper-threading, and at AMD processors it is called SMT (simultaneous multithreading). Multi-threading is very effective in some tasks, but obviously the benefits are not comparable to those of physical nuclei.
- Memory Cache and Thermal Design Profile/Power
Cache It is the internal memory of a processor. It is difficult to understand, however, from this data how quickly a processor is, given that there are so many variables in the game and often much more decisive. It usually has three types of cache:
- Cache L1 – the fastest but also the smallest in size
- Cache L2 – slightly larger but slower
- Cache L3 – is even larger in size but also slower in performance
Thermal Design Profile/Power or TDP represents the maximum heat that a CIP measured in watts generates. This value is also useful for identifying the consumption of one CPU to another, as well as for choosing the right radiator, if it is not included in the package.
A radiator almost always comes with modern processors, but if you have to buy a separate one, make sure you can cool down the processor before making the purchase.
Of course, besides all this, when it comes to purchasing a processor, you can still take other things. For example, instructions per clock cycle or IPC, which indicates the general performance and efficiency of a processor under certain conditions.
Even if you know the frequency and the number of cores, it is impossible to evaluate the real performance of a processor, as the architecture of the PC itself is also in the game. Intel and AMD use different architectures for their processors, so you cannot determine the performance differences only by comparing the technical data.
IPC is a technical term used to evaluate the performance in the real world of a processor, but most often it is not declared by producers and can only be measured by tests called benchmarks.