How to choose the right processor for your laptop?

Do you need more speed and power? Here’s what you need to know before you go shopping for a laptop

A CPU, or central processing unit, is the brain of your computer. Determines how quickly the computer can receive and process information. If you want to observe the way your laptop “thinks”, you can open the task manager to take a real-time snapshot of what is happening.

In the world of processing, the demand for work on laptops and gaming setups that don’t skimp on power has increased. Today, almost all of us depend on our laptops to navigate, stay productive, create content, and play games. However, when you add portability to the equation, the sweet spot is a high-performance processor that doesn’t drain your battery.

Let’s understand the differences between nuclei

With the influx of available processing options and 10th Gen Intel® Core™ technology systems hitting the market, deciphering the differences between processors is actually easier than it might seem. In principle, Intel Core processors have brand-level designations — Core i3 , Core i5 , Core i7 and Core i9— to facilitate their identification. The Intel® Core™ i9 is generally more powerful than the others, with higher frequencies and memory speeds, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the right choice for you. Intel’s naming convention reveals too much about each processor to spot the differences, but that’s not all there is to know, either.

l® that uses processor resources more efficiently, allowing multiple threads to run on each of its cores. It is essentially a multitasking capability that allows a single core to act as two virtual cores, without consuming more power than is required to power a physical core.

Intel Core Processors

When all Intel Core processors are compared, a processor that consumes less power makes it ideal for laptops. Fortunately, Intel processors are designed to last all day and maximize performance. As shown in the chart below, the architecture can be so efficient that the Intel Core i3-8145U processor has generally outperformed competing alternatives [1] [2] [3] —such as a Ryzen 7 3700U—for everyday tasks, such as content creation and productivity at work, as measured by SYSmark 2018, MobileMark 2014, TouchXPRT, and Adobe Photoshop.

[1] Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations, and functions. Any change in any of these factors could cause a change in the results. You should consult other information and performance tests to help you fully evaluate your intended purchase, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information, visit www.intel.com/benchmarks .

[2] TouchXPRT* 2016 is published by Principled Technologies (PT); Intel is a sponsor and member of the BenchmarkXPRT Development Community and was the primary developer of the XPRT benchmark family. Principled Technologies is the publisher of the XPRT performance analysis family. You should consult further information and other performance tests to help you fully evaluate your intended purchases. TouchXPRT tests the performance of Windows* in light media editing in real-world scenarios: beautify photos, combine photos, convert videos for sharing, create podcasts, and create slideshows from photos. Each scenario produces individual metrics that roll up into an overall score. For Windows, TouchXPRT 2016 supports UWP-x86,

[3] Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 filter settings: 36.3 megapixel JPG photo, 19.70 MB, taken with a DSLR camera. The Colored Pencil art filter is applied, the width and brightness of the effect are adjusted, and a preview is generated.

Ba3 Intel Graphics
As a recent example, going from a Ryzen 7 3700U processor to a Core i3-8145U , according to SYSmark 2018 (an analysis that measures the performance of Windows platforms), results in an 8.5 percent increase in overall system performance [ 1] .

[1] Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations, and functions. Any change in any of these factors could cause a change in the results. You should consult other information and performance tests to help you fully evaluate your intended purchase, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information, visit www.intel.com/benchmarks .

How to customize your CPU

When you go shopping, the goal is to strike a balance between what a specific processor was designed for and how you will actually use it in your computer. The most demanding uses often require a processor that can handle a multitude of demanding tasks. However, in the same way that a professional race car driver needs a million-dollar vehicle designed to grip corners at 200 mph, in contrast, the average consumer commuting to work might benefit more from a fuel-efficient hybrid…or, in this case, a processor that prioritizes efficiency over sheer processing power.

Ba5 Intel Xataka
Determining the applications you use the most is a good start to analyze which type of processor best suits your lifestyle. From there, you can scale features up or down based on specs like frequency, memory speed, and battery usage. If you edit video content or design video games, your processing needs will be vastly different from someone who spends most of their time working on spreadsheets and Word documents—or, for that matter, surfing social media. Not all processors and workloads are created equal or represent real-world characteristics, regardless of the brand level “number” being compared(eg, R7 vs. i3 is a more accurate comparison than R7 vs. i7, based on SYSmark’s Overall System Performance Score) [1] .

Let’s increase the power

However, if your laptop needs more performance, Intel Core i5, i7 and i9 processors offer a variety of options, from dual-core to octa-core. The addition of multi-core processing and advances in frequency gains have been very important steps in improving the performance of laptops. In recent years, many mobile computers have used dual-core processors that can keep up with browsing and productivity, but using a quad-core improves the smoothness of running more high-demand applications at the same time. Having additional cores is essentially akin to having more workers available to assign tasks and get work done faster. With advances in the latest generations of Intel Core processors,

[1] Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations, and functions. Any change in any of these factors could cause a change in the results. You should consult other information and performance tests to help you fully evaluate your intended purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information, visit www.intel.com/benchmarks .

Improving games and content creation

In recent years, Intel has already made high-end gaming on the go a reality for even the most valuable esports gamers with its blazing-fast “H-Series” processors, and it continues to push the limits of what processors can do. on laptops. One such example, the 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-9980HK processor , is the first unlocked mobile processor to reach 5GHz with Intel Thermal Velocity Boost Technology , offering an 8x core and 16 threads. When paired with Intel® Optane™ memory, you can speed up the load and launch times of applications and games; In addition, it offers a higher level of content creation with faster 4K video editing and faster multimedia content accessibility, from large data HDD units.

Most importantly, once you determine your specific usage and power needs, it will be easier for you to go shopping for a new laptop. Find out more about which Intel processor is right for you.

Explanatory notes

Workloads and software used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance on Intel microprocessors only.

Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations, and functions. Any change in any of these factors could cause a change in the results. You should consult other information and performance tests to help you fully evaluate your intended purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information, visit www.intel.com/benchmarks .

Features and benefits of Intel technologies depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software, or service activation. Performance varies depending on system configuration. No product or component can provide absolute security. Check with your system manufacturer or retailer, or find more information at http://www.intel.com .

You should consult other information and performance tests to help you fully evaluate your intended purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products.

system settings

· Intel® Core 3 i3-8145U processor (2.1 GHz to 3.9 GHz base, 4T / 2C, 15 W TDP) measured on Lenovo IdeaPad S340 computer, 8 GB DRAM, 256 GB SSD, 1920 x 1080 display, 52.5 mWh battery size, Intel (R) UHD 620 graphics, OS: 10.0.17763.529

AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Processor (2.3GHz base up to 4GHz, 8T/4C, 15W TDP) measured on Lenovo IdeaPad S340 PC, 8GB DRAM, 256GB SSD, 1920 x 1080 display, 10GB battery size 52.5mWh, AMD Radeon Vega 8, OS: 10.0.17763.529

performance analysis

· SYSmark* 2018 is published by the Business Applications Performance Corporation (BAPCo), a performance analysis consortium. SYSmark analyzes the performance of Windows* desktop applications using real-world scenarios: productivity, creativity, and responsiveness tests. Mainstream applications used in the scenarios include Microsoft Office*, Adobe Creative Cloud*, and Google Chrome*. Each scenario produces individual metrics that roll up into an overall score. Also included is an energy consumption test that totals the energy consumed in each scenario in watt-hours (Wh), which is calculated with a compatible logging power meter. For Windows, SYSmark 2018 supports Win64.

· WebXPRT* 3 is published by Principled Technologies (PT), an open source software community and organizer of the BenchmarkXPRT* development forum. WebXPRT analyzes the performance of web applications in a specific browser using real-world scenarios: photo enhancement tests, AI album organization, stock option prices, note encryption and OCR scanning, sales charts, and homework in line. Each scenario produces individual metrics that roll up into an overall score. WebXPRT 3 is compatible with all modern and HTML5-enabled web browsers.

· MobileMark* 2014 is a performance benchmark from the BAPCo* consortium that measures performance-rated battery life on Windows*. MobileMark provides three usage scenarios during battery depletion: Office productivity, media creation and consumption, and Blu-ray* playback. MobileMark contains authentic applications from Independent Software Vendors such as Microsoft* and Adobe*. Reported Metrics (by individual scenario): MobileMark Battery Life Rating and MobileMark Performance Rated Battery Life Rating (the higher the better for both). OS Compatibility: Desktop Windows.

· TouchXPRT* 2016 is published by Principled Technologies (PT); Intel is a sponsor and member of the BenchmarkXPRT Development Community and was the primary developer of the XPRT benchmark family. Principled Technologies is the publisher of the XPRT performance analysis family. You should consult further information and other performance tests to help you fully evaluate your intended purchases. TouchXPRT tests the performance of Windows* in light media editing in real-world scenarios: tests of beautifying photos, combining photos, converting videos for sharing, creating music podcasts, and creating slideshows from photos. Each scenario produces individual metrics that roll up into an overall score. For Windows,

· Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 filter settings: 36.3 megapixel JPG photo, 19.70 MB, taken with a DSLR camera. The Colored Pencil art filter is applied, the width and brightness of the effect are adjusted, and a preview is generated.