Some questions about Computer Processors

[Archonaut]

I hope anyone can help me with this(these) question(s)...

I'm searching for a nice laptop or computer I've seen several nice ones.. but I keep coming across those Processors which have different names: Dual Core, Intel i3, Intel i5, I thought I've seen a few say i7.. Anyway I know mine is Dual Core which isn't really the most recent laptop out there..

My question to you guys is, can anyone tell me what kind of Processor I'm looking for? And what's the task of my processor.

Except for the i3 and i5 they all have numbers too, for example: i5 2430M 2.4GH or Intel Dual Core i3(second generation) processor...

I'm really clueless here..

[Mattdoesrock]

i7 2600k = generally the best, i7 990x = generally second best, benchmark wise (but MUCH more expensive than the first) , otherwise i5 2500k is second best, also VERY, very good.

In general, like a lot of things, the higher the numbers, the better.

For gaming you'll want at least an i5 these days; the order of quality goes (from worst to best) i3, i5, i7.

As for number of cores, these days you'll want (and need) a quad (4) core, it's mostly standard now. Obviously the more the better, but 4 is just fine.

I have an i7 2600k, a GTX 580 graphics card, and 8 GB of RAM and I run Battlefield 3 on Ultra with everything maxed, at 1080p at 55-60 FPS. (And Regnum @ 130 FPS )

If you need more help, feel free to PM me. I'm no expert, but I'm sure I can help.

[standistortion]

For gaming you'll want at least an i5 these days

I'd kind of disagree with that, hardware has exceeded software by a big margin and a good core duo is more than capable of running MOST games including RO. A lot of manufacturers are still playing the numbers game, big numbers for the basic stuff and cheap rubbish connecting it together.

Imho a good graphics chip, plenty of fast ram, fast hd (solid state for preference) and a good quality northbridge (I'm not up to date on whats good atm) make more difference for gaming than a fast cpu, especial if the cpu is upgradable as it becomes a cheap upgrade in the future.

EDIT: Oops, memory controller (northbridge) is integrated now so the cpu makes a big difference. As above, the best you can afford.

Would recommend a desktop over a laptop unless you absolutely need something portable, if you have good base hardware you can upgrade easily later, you could expect a good current system to last 5 years with a couple of graphics card changes.

[Psynocide]

i3, pentium, i5 - these are all just brands of the Intel processor range, i7 is the most recent.
However, I personally prefer AMD processors - specifically their Bulldozer range which includes their new 8 core 3.10 - 3.60 GHz.
As far as I am aware, Intel processors only reach quad core with 6 core being one of those limited stock, super special, exclusive deals and costing an arm and a leg because of this.
Generally though, Intel rule the processor market and AMD are a bit of a wild card so if you want to play it safe I suggest you stick with Intel and get an i7.

[_Nel_]

Here is the Gaming CPU Hierarchy Chart for october 2011 from Tom's Hardware :
> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ng,3052-5.html

Originally Posted by Tom's Hardware

You can use this hierarchy to compare the pricing between two processors, to see which one is a better deal, and also to determine if an upgrade is worthwhile. I don’t recommend upgrading your CPU unless the potential replacement is at least three tiers higher. Otherwise, the upgrade is somewhat parallel and you may not notice a worthwhile difference in game performance.

High-end processors can be very expensive compared to mid-range and won't provide any notable performance improvement in game.

Video cards are much more important than CPU for games.

Originally Posted by standistortion

Would recommend a desktop over a laptop unless you absolutely need something portable

I second standistortion. Desktops are way cheaper and easier to upgrade.

Laptops have also a castrated video card (cause of overheating in a cramped case), which is not the best for gaming.

[Psynocide]

Originally Posted by _Nel_

High-end processors can be very expensive compared to mid-range and won't provide any notable performance improvement in game.

Video cards are much more important than CPU for games.

This is true but I would advise buying the latest model anyway primarily because technology progresses so quickly these days that, for instance, if you were to settle for an i5 - as the difference between i5 and i7 isn't substantial - within perhaps 6 months Intel might release another range of processors superior to the i7 and now your processor is not one generation behind but two.
Thusly you'll end up having to upgrade your processor again to keep up with requirements set by newer software, which would cost money that you otherwise strove to save by not buying the newest model.

Basically, buying an i7 or - if you choose to try AMD - a Bulldozer model is more future safe.

[_Nel_]

I'm not a fashion victim and I don't really care about which kind of processor generation I'm using.
Personnaly I still use an Athlon 64 X2 5200+, which is pretty old (beginning of 2007) and was already a crappy CPU compared to high-end stuff when I got it (end of 2008).
I don't have any problem with it, run all what I want, RO at max and a new CPU won't improve anything I use, except probably for video encoding.

About future safe, upgrading 2 times with mid-range stuff is still cheaper than getting highest proc available, and you'll still have good performance.

Anyway, my vision of CPU is different than yours and we're only splitting hairs, all that really matters for games is a good GPU.
The rest requires only the minimum to be played smoothly, dual-core for CPU and 4GB of ram.

[Archonaut]

First of all, thank you very much, everybody.. I've learned alot about CPU's, I did some research with the cpu's you mentioned and I finally get where the i3 i5 and i7 stuff stands for. Though, most gaming laptops/desktops with a nice graphic card come close to 1000 euro's... Well, the ones in the stores I visited. Means I have to make a good decission cause 1000 euro aint nothin' hehe, anyway again thank you all very very much!

[Cuchulainn]

Originally Posted by _Nel_

[...]

Anyway, my vision of CPU is different than yours and we're only splitting hairs, all that really matters for games is a good GPU.
The rest requires only the minimum to be played smoothly, dual-core for CPU and 4GB of ram.

Intels Atom CPU or any AMD low power APU would struggle a lot with Regnum invasions or battles. But otherwise a new dual-core is probably good enough for most games if it's combined with a decent graphiccard.

[_Nel_]

Hehe probably, I didn't take this low-end hardware into consideration.

Sempron and Celeron have to be avoided at all costs as well. Don't know if this kind of stuff are still on sale.