Since 2006, Intel has used designations like Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 for their processors. But what’s the difference between these CPUs? This comprehensive guide will compare Intel Core processors side by side to help you accurately evaluate Core i3 vs. i5 vs. i7 vs. i9.
FYI: check out our CPU buying guide if you’re wondering what to look for in your next desktop processor.
Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Core i9: The Basics
Intel’s Core processors have helped Team Blue stay at the top of the Intel vs. AMD contest since the debut of the 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs. We now have Intel’s 14th Gen Raptor Lake processors, providing some of the best performing CPUs on the market.
| Core i3 | Core i5 | Core i7 | Core i9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores/Threads | 4/8 | Up to 14/20 | Up to 20/28 | 24/32 |
| Clock Speed (Base/Boost) | Up to 3.5 GHz/4.7 GHz | Up to 3.5 GHz/5.3 GHz | Up to 3.4 GHz/5.6 GHz | Up to 3.2 GHz/6.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB | Up to 24 MB | Up to 33 MB | Up to 36 MB |
| TDP (Base/Max) | Up to 60W/110W | Up to 125W/181W | Up to 125W/253W | Up to 150W/253W |
| Memory Support | Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s | Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s | Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s | Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s |
| PCIe Support | PCIe 5.0/PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0/PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0/PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0/PCIe 4.0 |
| Onboard Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 730 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Price Range | Budget | Mid-range | High-end | Premium |
| Best For | Light usage/budget gaming/office work | Mid-range gaming and decent productivity | High-end gaming and productivity | Professionals and enthusiast gamers |
The 14th Gen Core processors are part of the last generation of CPUs for Intel’s outgoing LGA 1700 socket. Intel is likely to release a whole new socket with its 15th Gen lineup around the end of 2024, which may change the Core i3 vs. i5 vs. i7 vs. i9 debate slightly.
Core i3 Processors
Intel’s Core i3 processors have always been its most affordable CPUs. They may be the lowest-specced parts in the lineup, but they’re great for entry-level gaming, home theater PCs (HTPCs), or PCs designated for light office work. You can make do with the included stock CPU cooler.
Cores
The 14th Gen Core i3 CPUs come with cut-down RAM speed support and onboard graphics, but Intel doesn’t take away hyperthreading, which helps the four physical cores transform into eight “threads” or logical processors. These threads allow each core to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Good to know: these CPUs punch above their weight and are some of the best budget CPUs for gaming.
Turbo Boost
In terms of the base clock speed, the Core i3 processors don’t look all that different from the higher-specced chips. At 3.5 GHz, they’ll perform and feel similarly during casual browsing, video consumption, and office work. The Turbo Boost frequency is where they lack – at 4.7 GHz, they aren’t terrible but are far behind their siblings.
Cache Size
Cache is a small amount of high-speed memory directly on the CPU die, resulting in near-instantaneous information retrieval. Talking about L3 cache, in particular, the Core i3 chips come with a decent 12 MB buffer, shared among the four cores. This is enough for day-to-day tasks and pretty much any non-compute-heavy workload.
Core i5 Processors
The Core i5 processors give plenty of choice to both budget and mid-range builders for building value-for-money PCs. Moreover, the Core i5 CPUs introduce “unlocked” multipliers, allowing CPU overclocking.
Cores
The Core i5 chips take advantage of Intel’s unique hybrid architecture, consisting of powerful “Performance-cores” (P-cores) and less powerful “Efficient-cores” (E-cores). You’ll find a maximum of six P-cores (dual-threaded) and eight E-cores (single-threaded) on the Core i5 CPUs, with the total maximum thread count being 20. These Efficient-cores are absent from the Core i3 lineup.
This hybrid architecture intelligently uses the two types of cores for optimum energy efficiency.
Tip: struggling with poor performance in an app? Assign specific cores to an application in Windows.
Turbo Boost
The Max Turbo frequency seen on the Core i5 chips is 5.3 GHz, which provides a significant uplift compared to the i3 CPUs. The base frequency on the P-cores is still 3.5 GHz, while the E-cores are clocked lower at 2.6 GHz. The Core i5 processors strike the best balance between price and performance.
Cache Size
The L3 cache also sees a big bump to 24 MB, with the L2 cache at 20 MB also being significantly higher than the 5 MB on the Core i3 chips.
Core i7 Processors
The Core i7 processors introduce a serious step-up in performance for those looking at high-end gaming rigs and serious productivity machines. If you want only the best PC parts for a high-end build and have the proper cooling setup, these chips are for you.
Cores
The Core i7 processors feature up to eight P-cores and 12 E-cores, totaling a maximum of 28 threads. The extra Efficient-cores provide a significant boost to non-gaming workloads, like video editing, rendering, and streaming.
Turbo Boost
The Max Turbo frequency you’ll see here is 5.6 GHz on the P-cores and 4.3 GHz on the E-cores, which is slightly higher than that on the Core i5 CPUs. Also, the base frequency on the P-cores and E-cores is 3.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz respectively.
Cache Size
The cache is where you see a solid increase: 33 MB of L3 and 28 MB of L2 cache, a big step up compared to the best the Core i5 CPUs have to offer. This uplift significantly boosts both your gaming and productivity applications.
Core i9 Processors
Since the 9th Gen Core lineup, the Core i9 processors have been the flagship CPUs of Intel’s entire lineup. They’re targeting enthusiasts who want a no-compromise experience and are willing to shell out the premium for it. They’re the most demanding consumer CPUs in the world, requiring the best CPU coolers to be able to perform at their fullest.
Cores
Keeping the pattern intact, the Core i9 CPUs see a maximum of eight P-cores and 16 E-cores, totaling a maximum of 32 threads. Professionals, framerate-chasers, and enthusiasts are the target for these 24-core monster processors.
Turbo Boost
The Core i9-14900KS is the only CPU in the world that’s able to achieve a boost clock (Max Turbo) of 6.2 GHz. The base frequencies on both the P-cores and E-cores are marginally lower than those on the Core i7 CPUs.
Cache Size
The Core i9 chips increase both the L3 and L2 cache buffers to a maximum of 36 MB and 32 MB respectively, benefitting compute-heavy workloads.
Beyond i3, i5, i7, and i9: Understanding Intel’s Model Lettering System
The lettering system Intel uses for its CPU models will help you understand more about particular models. The higher the number at the beginning of the name, the newer generation of CPUs it belongs to. The next number highlights the specific tier within a CPU family, i.e., within Core i3, i5, i7, or i9. Lastly, the suffix (or the lack thereof) at the end gives you more information about the model variant.
For instance, the Core i9-14900K is an i9 family CPU belonging to the latest 14th Gen CPUs with an unlocked multiplier. Similarly, the Core i5-14400 and Core i5-14600 are different Core i5 chips within the same 14th Gen processor family.
Desktop Models
- K suffix: unlocked multiplier for overclocking
- No suffix: cannot be overclocked
- F suffix: no integrated graphics
- KF suffix: unlocked chips without onboard graphics
- T suffix: intended for low-power desktops
Laptop Models
- HX suffix: highest performance with unlocked multipliers
- HK suffix: highest performance with unlocked multipliers
- H suffix: highest performance without unlocked multipliers
- P suffix: performance-optimized chips for thin and light laptops
- U suffix: ultra-low-power processors for ultrabooks
- Y suffix: extremely low-power chips
- G1, G4, or G7 suffix: indicate the graphics level for newer Intel mobile processors
Good to know: find out whether gaming laptops are worth it.
Core i3 vs. i5 vs. i7 vs. i9: Which Intel Processor Should I Buy?
Intel’s Core processor lineup has plenty of options for each kind of user: regular users, gamers, professionals, creators, and enthusiasts. Which CPU you should buy depends on your specific use case, your budget, and where you are in terms of the upgrade lifecycle of your PC.
- Core i3 CPUs are ideal for casual users looking for a decent day-to-day family computer, HTPC, or even a budget gaming system.
- Core i5 chips are the best bang-for-your-buck options for most users, providing enough performance for mid-range gaming, some productivity tasks, and the ability to overclock your CPU.
- Core i7 CPUs kick things up a notch and make sense for those who want a high-end, dual-purpose, gaming-cum-workstation powerhouse.
- Core i9 processors are overkill for most users and are meant only for enthusiasts who want nothing but the best.
Tip: facing high CPU temps when gaming? Learn the optimal CPU temp for gaming and how to cool it down.
Image credit: Unsplash
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