Are you in a phase where you want to buy a new laptop? A new desktop computer? Or do you just want to change the PC processor In any case, you say to yourself that an Intel i5 processor is a good alternative between the power of an i3 processor and that of the i7 . But did you know that there are several types of i5 processor?
Yes, differing by their generation, their number of cores, and their frequency , Intel releases several ranges of Intel Core i5 so that all users find what they are looking for.
But how do we know which CPU is right for us? This is what we invite you to see in this comparison and 2021 buying guide to choose your Intel i5 processor.
Know before you buy!
- Contrary to what one might think, there are several categories of Intel Core i5 processor. An i7 is not always superior to an i5, you have to look at the generation of the processor, the number of cores and other specificities of the computer hardware.
- If you are a gamer and it is gaming that interests you, you will need to be very careful to balance the power of your i5 with that of your graphics card (frequency in MHz), to be sure that you can play without problems!
- Intel i5 processors are currently in their 8th generation called Coffee Lake. These new Intel processors are equipped with dedicated technologies such as Turbo Boost which temporarily increases the power of the processor (sometimes up to 2 times).
Comparison of the best Core i5 processors of the moment!
Intel's Core i5 version is known for its high performance to support different programs and heavy software. This CPU has several versions, which are adapted to the needs and budgets of users. Here are the best models:
1. Intel Core i5 11600K: The latest version of the 11th generation CPU
Features and Reviews
The Intel Core i5 11600K is the most expensive CPU of the brand available on the market. Its price is justified, because it is the latest CPU version of the 11th generation. For €388.00, this processor has 6 cores and 12 threads. With Turbo Boost 3.0 technology, it pushes the clock frequency from 3.9 GHz to 4.9 GHz, which will allow you to run simple software and games without problems. These characteristics of this CPU ensure good performance of your PC and avoid crashes.
With an Intel FLCGA 1200 socket, you can launch several tasks at the same time. Thanks to the advanced tools, overlocking is available thanks to the unlocked multiplier coefficient and allows the increase in the clock frequency according to your use. Designed and specially dedicated for gamers, this i5 processor offers stable performance for video games and allows you to boost your productivity.
In terms of compatibility, this i5 CPU is suitable for Intel 500 Series and Intel 400 Series motherboards. It supports the latest PCIe 4.0 dedicated graphics cards and other PCIe devices. For connectivity, the CPU 11600K features Thunderbolt 4 technology to connect to displays and other peripherals. With the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 750 video chip, enjoy 4K resolution and specific games.
2. Intel Core i5 9400F: the lower cost Intel CPU
Features and Reviews
The 9400F is the 9th generation of Intel i5 processors. Whatever your use, for gaming or for office automation, this CPU will meet your performance expectations. Sold at €149.00, the brand provides you with ultra-modern architecture and improved power. With a dual-channel DDR4 frequency of 2666 MHz, the base clock frequency is 2.90 GHz. With Turbo Boost 3.0 technology, the latter can go up to 4.1 GHz.
With its 6 cores and 6 threads, this processor offers users better value for money. You can run multiple apps and games at the same time. To take better advantage of it, you must install a dedicated graphics card, because this F-model does not have integrated graphics. This processor relies on socket 1151 for better power and more stability. With wide compatibility, the 9th generation is suitable for 300 series and Z390 series motherboard controllers. Its cache memory is 9 MB.
Regarding connectivity, this processor is compatible with PCI-Express 3.0, SATA-3, M.2, USB 3.1, Dysplayport and HDMI to connect your devices. Thanks to 14 nm engraving and a power consumption of 65 W, heat dissipation is significantly improved for this Intel i5 model to improve and optimize the potential of your computer.
3. Intel Core i5 9600K: an ideal processor for video game fans
Features and Reviews
Another model of the 9th generation i5 from the Intel brand, this 9600 K processor offers incomparable performance for both gaming enthusiasts and office users. For a price of €179.99, it turns out to be the best CPU and is based on socket 1151. With its 6 physical cores and a base frequency clocked at 3.70 GHz, you can launch your most popular games. sophisticated to test the capacity of this CPU and even run several simultaneous tasks.
It is equipped with Turbo Boost 3.0 technology, and thanks to overlocking due to the unlocked multiplier, the frequency can go up to 4.60 GHz. Supporting dual-channel DDR4-SDRAM memory type, a graphics memory supported by the processor can be up to 64 GB. As for the clock speed, the base frequency is 2666 MHz. In terms of compatibility, this processor is suitable for Intel Z 390, B360, H310, H370, Q370 and Z370 chipsets.
The Intel UHD Graphics 630 chip will allow you to enjoy very high quality image resolution. Regarding connections, this 9600K model supports PCI-Express, SATA-3, M.2, USB 3.1, Displayport and HDMI, wide compatibility for connecting your devices. Thanks to 14 nm engraving, heat dissipation is improved, and you benefit from stable, bug-free power even during intense use.
4. INTEL Core i5 10600K: enjoy the best performance of the 10th generation
Features and Reviews
Intel offers us the 10th generation of its Core i5 processor, which is also based on socket 1200. For a price of €215.44, this CPU seduces users with an upgrade in frequency and also in the number of cores. . With its 6 cores and 12 threads, the Intel Core i5 10600K reassures gamers with its incredible performance with the return of Hyper-Threading, you can run your games and multitask simultaneously which it will easily devour.
This Intel CPU model is perfectly compatible for intense games and image editing applications, the power will be adapted to your use. Compatible only with dedicated Comet Lake 400 series chipsets, it is the improved version of the Intel Core i5 9600 K. With a base frequency clocked at 4.10 GHz, thanks to Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, the frequency of The clock can be pushed up to 4.80 GHz. The latter requires a power consumption of 125 W.
Equipped with an Intel UHD Graphics 630 chipset, enjoy graphics quality with 4K resolution. The memory controller supports dual-channel DDR4-2666 RAM. As for the cache memory, it is 12 MB. On the connection side, this processor supports: PIC-Express 3.0, support for Wi-Fi 6, SATA-3, M.2, USB 3.1, Displayport and HDMI, you have plenty of choice to connect your devices and have the configurations that meet your needs.
5. Intel Core i5 10400F: this processor achieves the best sales
Features and Reviews
A version of the 10th generation of Intel Core i5, the 10400F processor achieves the best sales on the market to allow your PC to have the optimal configurations according to your needs. Sold on Amazon.fr for a price of €166.08, it is based on the same architecture as the previous generation, but differs by the number of cores and also by the frequency.
On Socket 1200, this Intel i5 processor has 6 cores and 12 threads, you can launch multimedia software or your game simultaneously without any bugs, your PC configuration is compatible to support this type of execution thanks to Hyper-Threading . The base clock frequency is 2.90 GHz, which can be boosted up to 4.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 technology. This results in a power consumption of 65 W.
This processor supports dual-channel DDR4-2666 RAM while the cache memory is 12MB. Compared to other models, this CPU requires a dedicated graphics card to better enjoy good graphics resolution, it does not have no integrated graphics chipset. Compatible only with dedicated Comet Lake 400 series chipsets, this 10400F model offers several connections to connect your devices and have the configurations that meet your needs, namely PCI-Express 3.0, support for Wi-Fi 6, SATA-3, M .2, USB 3.1; Displayport and HDMI.
What are the differences between Intel i5, i3 and i7?
For hardware neophytes, there is something to be lost in all these barbaric names given to the Intel processor. In reality, these names follow an operating logic that your computer will immediately sense within it. We suggest you quickly explain the differences between Intel i5, Intel i3 and Intel i7, without going into too much technical detail.
Intel i3 processor
An Intel i3 processor is a CPU containing 2 cores (Dual-core) and equipped with a technology called Hyper-Threading (another name for SMT “Simultaneous Multi Threading”). These physical cores coupled with this technology make it possible to free up 4 cores in total, improving the computing power of the processor and therefore its power.
Intel i5 processor
An Intel i5 processor is a CPU with 4 physical cores (Quad-core) and equipped with Turbo Boost technology (without hypertheading) which allows you to temporarily boost the frequency (in GHz) of the cores because there is a risk of overheating. Nowadays, the number of cores perceived by the machine can be increased in addition to boost mode.
Intel i7 processor
An Intel i7 processor is a clever mix of the two previous CPUs. Thus, this 4-core PC processor is equipped with the 2 previous technologies: Turbo Boost and Hyper Threading . Hence the fact that an i5 processor can be as powerful as an i7.
How to read a processor label?
When you want to buy an Intel processor and you find yourself in front of the box, the name of the CPU means nothing to you. However, it gives you a lot of information about the hardware component you have in front of you. Let's take an example with an older generation Intel i5-7500U.
- I5 is the processor model
- 7 is the processor generation
- 500 is the processor power
- U is a suffix indicating low TPT consumption
So we can see that the full PC CPU name gives us a lot of information.
Why is it important to choose the right i5 processor?
Choosing the right Intel i5 processor is of paramount importance when you want to acquire a new laptop, desktop computer or simply assemble your machine piece by piece. Indeed, the Core i5s are a good compromise between the high performances of the i7 and those of an i3 allowing this range of processors to perform as well in office automation as in video, photos, music, graphics and video games. Therefore, going for an i5 means first understanding the use you want to make of it so as not to end up with something too powerful and too expensive, or quite the opposite.
How to use an Intel i5 processor?
As we have just mentioned, Intel i5 CPUs are known for their high performance in addition to great mobility and reliability . This is why we find them both in small ultrabooks and in large gaming machines. This is why users find them very mobile, because they can allow you to manage office tasks, such as photos or video games. All this, without doing anything worse than anyone else, which is appreciable.
First of all, we would like to warn gamers when purchasing their CPU. This must be balanced with your GPU, it is mandatory. Besides, you can see our article on this subject here! (LINK)
Secondly, everyday users must ensure that their processor includes at least Intel HD Graphics, to invest in a graphics card.
In any case, so that you can choose your Intel i5 processor, we offer you a complete buying guide which will allow you to make the right choice.
Intel i5 Processor Buying Guide
In this buying guide we will look in detail at all the technical characteristics of an Intel Core i5, so that you are familiar with choosing the best powerful processor suited to your needs. Rest assured, we won't lose you with overly technical hardware details. Helping you is our goal, this one is not to lose you.
Determining CPU Power
Whether we are interested in the CPU or a graphics card, the only legitimate question that comes to mind is: what is the power of this component?
Obviously, that's not the only thing that matters, but we won't lie to you and tell you that that's the whole point of buying an i5 processor . The power of your processor is its computing power. It is this component that allows your PC to be what it is, that is to say a giant data processing machine. In any case, a powerful processor is categorized into 2 main axes:
- Frequency
- The number of hearts
The frequency of the i5 processor
CPU frequency is a representation of how your CPU is running It's simple, the higher the frequency, the greater the computing power of your i5, the more you will be able to process a large amount of data and therefore carry out complex tasks such as video editing or gaming.
Remember, Intel i5 processors are equipped with Turbo Boost . This processor will allow you to overclock your processor, that is to say, unblock it so that it reaches high frequencies (overclocking). Certainly your power will be higher but you risk overheating at any time, which could make your motherboard and your CPU obsolete. Pay attention to why you are using turbo boost.
The frequency of your Intel Core i5 will be between 1.2 Ghz and 3 Ghz in general. 1.2 Ghz is a low frequency useful for PC use, while 3 Ghz will be useful for gaming.
Anyway, the number of cores is also an indicator of power.
The number of cores
This is probably the number one indicator to determine the power of your i5 processor. Imagine that a core is a kind of microprocessor inside your CPU so that it can process different tasks by delegating them to its different cores. You therefore understand that a processor with 4 cores (Quad-core) at 1.2 GHz will be more efficient than a processor with 2 cores (Dual-core) at 2.5 GHz, because it will be able to process more data at the same time. time.
For Intel i5 processors, the number of cores varies depending on the model and generation. Basically, these are 4 physical cores . From now on, Intel CPUs can have up to 6 physical cores.
While it is presented as a mid-range , the i5 demonstrates high performance in the same way as a high-end processor like the i7.
However, power is not the only indicator to consider when purchasing a processor. These are the details that will avoid unpleasant surprises.
The cache memory of the i5 processor
Just like us, your computer has long-term memory and short-term memory. For long-term memory, it has the hard disk, allowing data to be stored, for short-term memory it has RAM (random access memory) and processor cache memory.
What is this cache memory for?
Just like the frequency and number of cores, it is an indicator of the execution speed of your i5 processor . Indeed, when your CPU processes data, some of it is constant and it would be much faster if it stored it directly rather than processing it each time. This is exactly the purpose of cache memory, to allow your Intel Core i5 to store frequently used data without needing to communicate with your hard drive to get it. Thus, you gain enormously in execution speed.
For an i5 processor, we advise you to start with a minimum of 6MB , this will allow your CPU to express its power and boost with a large amount of memory.
System bus speed
Even if it's a secondary detail, knowing it will allow you to avoid unpleasant surprises for your processor, especially hardware fans who care about the smallest detail.
The system bus speed is expressed in GigaTransfer per second and represents the data transmission speed between your RAM and your i5 processor , because the latter needs the information collected by the former to carry out its various tasks. So, the higher the system bus speed, the higher the execution speed of your Intel Core i5. It is therefore a power indicator that should not be overlooked. But then why is no one talking about it? Simply because it has never happened that Intel gives you poor system bus speed. In general, this is 5GT/s, which is more than sufficient for gaming and office work on your PC.
However, you will now be able to know if your Intel CPU is healthy.
TPT consumption
Along with the system bus speed, you don't have to worry about the TPT consumption of your processor, especially if you are purchasing an all-in-one laptop or desktop computer. However, for those who assemble the components of their PC one by one, this is an interesting indicator.
In fact, the TPT consumption of your i5 is simply its energy consumption. The more powerful your CPU is, the more electricity it consumes.
Hardware fans will therefore understand that if your battery does not hold up, and neither does your cooling system, you risk having serious problems with your computer.
As we said, buying a complete PC is not a problem because it has been studied. But if you assemble it yourself, the TPT consumption is something to take into account to avoid overheating in the event of a faulty fan or wallet .
Intel i5 Processor FAQ
We are coming to the end of our buying guide to the best Intel i5 processors. We have seen all the characteristics to take into account when choosing the right CPU , such as the GHz frequency, the number of cores or the cache memory. However, we understand that many questions remain unanswered, especially since becoming a computer scientist is not for everyone. That's why we're going to answer all the questions you may have about Intel i5 processors.
How do I install my Intel i5 processor?
It's a legitimate question. You will agree that it would be a shame to have bought your i5, to leave the store and return home with a smile on your face, before realizing that we cannot install it because we do not have the right socket .
The latter is the receptacle in which your CPU fits. If your socket does not fit your Intel Core i5, you will not be able to install it. So make sure that the location is correct on your motherboard.
Intel sockets all start with LGA, the most common on the market are LGA1155 , LGA1150 and LGA1151.
To see which socket you have on your motherboard, simply access it by disassembling your PC, a small engraving shows the model. This reference is also on the box of the Intel i5 processor when purchased.
How do I know if my i5 processor meets my needs?
We understand that you have no money to waste and that it would be a shame to invest in a powerful Intel Core i5 while all you are looking for is word processing on your ultrabook. Conversely, although rarer, you will be extremely disappointed to find yourself with a Intel i5 processor when you wanted a component for gaming or video editing.
There are several ways to analyze your CPU needs and we have answered them in our buying guide.
To sum up :
The i5 is efficient and has great mobility allowing PC use as well as gaming use. The minimum you can look for is a 1.2 Ghz . With this, you will only do internet research and word processing. cheap CPU but you might as well go for an Intel Core i3 which will give you as much power for even less money.
For high-performance use such as gaming or photo editing, a frequency of 2.5 GHz is the minimum that we recommend to be comfortable. Of course, this may be a little more expensive, especially since you must pay attention to an important aspect : the balance between your graphics card (Mhz) and your processor (Ghz) whose frequency must be around.
For mixed use (but therefore less good performance on gaming), we advise you to go for a minimum of 1.8 Ghz, which will allow you to touch everything without asking too many questions.
The frequencies we have just given you are for blocked CPUs . These can be unlocked processors (overclocking) but be careful of overheating.
What budget for an Intel i5 processor?
The budget for your Intel i5 processor will obviously depend on the range in which you wish to invest. If you want a 4K processor for top-notch gaming, you won't have to count on less than €200 per CPU. Here you will be using a high-end processor and not an entry-level one.
In any case, whether for office automation or gaming , you won't need to spend less than €100 for an i5 processor worthy of the name. In which case, you're getting a great deal, or you're buying a very old Intel Core i5.
Are there different types of Intel i5 processor?
This is what individuals who have little knowledge of hardware may think, is that there are 3 types of processors: i3 , i5 and i7 and that they are all similar in their models. In addition to this, we can think that i3 is below i5 itself below i7. The latter way of looking at things is not totally wrong, but the first one is.
Yes, there are different Intel i5 processors which do not all have the same frequency or the same cache memory. Not to mention the fact that Intel is creating new generations of these processors. Currently, we are in the 8th generation of the i5 processor while these lines are written using a 7th generation .
As we have seen, the Core i5, i3 and i7 are only PC processor ranges in which there are several CPU models.
There are therefore several types of i5, entry-level, mid-range and high . This is why our buying guide is made so that you can choose the Intel i5 processor that suits you.
How do I know my current PC processor?
Do you want to change your processor and want to know what you currently have? Where does this article arouse your curiosity and you want to know what your computer has in its belly?
Besides the fact that you could go to websites that would analyze your PC to dissect its components, there are much simpler ways to find out about them.
When you have bought your processor , or you want to buy a laptop, everything is indicated on the box. However, if you no longer have all that, simply go to your computer's control panel, then to system. There you have all the PC voting components. So, do you have an Intel i5 processor?
Is it better to buy a built-in PC or build it yourself?
Many users are not fans of hardware and do not want to take the hassle when investing in a laptop or desktop computer equipped with an i5.
There is no real right answer to this question. The advantage of building your PC is that it will probably cost you less (except for large gaming PCs) but that some knowledge is necessary to avoid making mistakes by not taking into account the socket of your i5 processor for example . In addition, you will need to have knowledge of all the parts and take them into account ( battery, cooling system, RAM, etc.).
Whereas buying a built-in computer is much simpler. You won't have to worry, just enjoy your Intel i5 processor.
