Cpu buyer guide: CPU Buyer’s Guide — PC Guide

CPU Buyer Guide | Fierce PC

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Here at Fierce PC, we know that the prospect of choosing the right PC to buy can be a daunting task. One of the most important aspects of a PC is the selection of graphics cards.

Getting the best graphics card to match your needs is an important decision. The graphics card can be even more important than any other choice you make about what components to have in your PC.

A graphics card (also known as a GPU) is a gamer’s best friend and a crucial part of a quality gaming experience. If you’re not clued up on what exactly a graphics card does then don’t worry, they aren’t intensely complicated. A graphics card is the component in a PC which is responsible for the graphics.

There are various different types and generations of graphics card, each with different specifications and specialities. Finding the right one to suit you can be quite a task. So to break it down, we’re going to look at graphics cards in more depth.

A graphics card is essential to gaming, and a good one will be necessary to play the latest gaming titles. With newer games being more advanced in terms of graphics and visuals, they need graphics cards that can keep up. Most newer games have a minimum and recommended requirement for what graphics cards to use.

The recommended requirements aren’t essential, but they will provide you with the best experience when playing the game.

If you want to play the latest demanding game but don’t have a good enough graphics card, your system will be unlikely to handle it and you won’t be able to play.

If you (or whomever you are buying for) is serious about gaming, you’ll realise the recommended requirements are there for a reason. They have the ability to dramatically improve your overall gaming experience.

Make sure you consider what you will be using your PC for before selecting a graphics card. If you are using your PC for gaming and you want to play the latest games, this is an important factor when selecting the right graphics card.

Although many graphics cards are marketed (and even specifically designed) primarily for gaming, their capabilities extend further. Those who use their PC’s for more complex tasks such as video editing, game development, illustration and design, or even 3D rendering will understand the benefit provided by faster graphics cards. Some software used in these professions use the graphics card to speed up processing, which make for more efficient workflows and faster production times.

Professional grade graphics cards can be intensely powerful, and also more expensive than high-end gaming GPU’s. They aren’t designed for gaming workloads, meaning they should not be your first choice if you aim to use your PC for gaming. This fact highlights the importance of picking a GPU based on how you plan to use it, not exclusively on price.

If you’re looking for a graphics card to run professional applications, you’ll likely be looking outside of the standard consumer-level range for the best options. Though professional-grade GPUs are designed for a different purpose, many of the same concepts still apply.

If you’re not gaming or running demanding applications which can use a GPU to speed things up, you won’t need to break the bank to bag a graphics card. If you’re mainly running productivity apps, browsing the web, managing email, and performing other low-resource tasks, then picking out the right RAM, CPU, and storage should be a higher priority.

You have probably never heard of all the different types of graphics cards available as the differences are generally not that relevant. However, it is important to know what they are in order to decide what graphics card will be best for you.

The different types we’re going to cover here are ‘integrated’ and ‘discrete’.

An integrated graphics card is built into the motherboard and doesn’t require one to be added. You’ll find these built into most ‘standard’ laptops and computers, they are a cost-effective model but cannot easily be upgraded. These may be the best options if you are running low resource tasks and are not using your PC for gaming.

Graphics cards are being improved at an exceptional rate, meaning you need to be extra mindful when choosing your PC as the GPU may soon become outdated, especially if you intend to use your PC for gaming.

If you’re branching out into gaming or video editing, a discrete graphics card is usually needed to speed up the image processing time. The other type is a discrete graphics card which is added to the motherboard as an extra component. This is ideal for those who want to modify their system by upgrading the graphics cards.

Without this, you may find your game lagging or jittering at crucial points or you may find that you are completely unable to play the game at all due to your graphics not meeting the minimum requirements of the game.

Discrete GPU’s are the most common types you’ll see. These are the types of cards the likes of NVIDIA and AMD are known for, two of the most prominent brands in this area.

There are hundreds of graphics cards from dozens of manufacturers, but only two companies actually make the GPUs that power these components: Nvidia and AMD.

Nvidia, in recent years, has come out somewhat on top in terms of Ray Tracing (RTX), a prominent feature of newer and more intensive game releases. AMD stepped into this game in a big way in 2020 with its RX 6000 cards, bringing them up to speed, so either brand could be suitable for your PC.

Still, the rollout of games that make use of (and specifically good use of) ray tracing has been slow. There’s no doubt that more games are adding RayTracing support—and many more will in the future as ray tracing is also supported by the recent Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Series X consoles. So you should weigh the importance of ray tracing performance with how interested you are in these games, how important the best possible visuals are to your enjoyment, and how much future-proofing you want baked into your GPU.

Also, don’t forget DLSS, Nvidia’s AI-assisted resolution upscaling. It can deliver improved performance with less of a hit on frame rates than is typical from maxing out your monitor’s resolution the traditional way. This is something else to consider when choosing a graphics card for your PC.

Both brands cater toward all price points, from low-end to intensely high-end gaming GPUs. Price is an important factor in GPU selection.

The price of graphics cards can vary greatly, with very low-end cards starting under £100 and higher end models potentially going for more than £1000. As is often the case, the highest-end cards may not be the best for the price, unless you are intensely eager to have the best performance and experience possible. You can usually drop a tier or two down and get the most performance for a good price. This will depend again on your personal budget, preferences and desired uses of your PC.

Here’s a breakdown of the major current GPUs and where they stand, grouped roughly by price and performance. We’ve also included “recommended” uses to give you an idea of which would be best for certain activities. Remember that not all cards within a given GPU subset will perform exactly the same.

Certain graphics card specifications are highly important to consider when choosing a graphics card. Below are some of the more significant specifications to consider:

Memory amount:

GPU memory is crucial to consider. Ensure you get a card with at least 6GB of space (even if you are not intending to use your PC for gaming), and preferably 8GB or more for gaming at 1080p. You’ll need more memory if you want to play with all the settings turned up, or if you are intending to use lots of high-performance applications. If you’re going to be playing at resolutions like 4k, more than 8GB is ideal.

Form factor:

Form factor is very important. You’ll need to make sure you have room in your PC case for the graphics card you select. Make sure that you look at the length, height, and thickness. GPUs can come in many different sizes. Most gaming-focused cards will be full-height and occupy two or more expansion slots, with newer graphics cards being larger than previous models.

If you are building a PC yourself, the form factor will be intensely important. However, if you are getting a prebuilt system, this will be less important (as the system will be listed with compatible cases and other components), and if you plan to use a PC system customiser, there will usually be compatibility notices to guide you along the way if you pick a graphics card that is too big for a case.

If you are intending to purchase a pre-build here at Fierce PC, you won’t have to worry about the above, as this will be picked up by our PC configurator and will offer you better options for power supply and case size if you customise your system.

Thermal Design Power:

Important. Thermal Design Power or TDP is a measurement of heat dissipation, but it also gives you an estimate of how many watts you’ll need to run your card at stock settings. You will usually need a higher watt power supply if your graphics card is higher-end, for example, 3090’s will need 750w or higher power supply to run efficiently.

Power Connectors:

Power connectors are important. All serious gaming cards draw more than the standard maximum of 75W that the x16 PCIe slot provides. These cards require connecting supplemental PCIe power connectors that come in 6- and 8-pin varieties. Some cards have one of these connectors, some two or even three, and 6- and 8-pin ports can exist on the same card. If your power supply doesn’t have the supplemental connectors you need, you’ll want to upgrade.

— Ensure you opt for a CPU that is in a similar league to your GPU. If you spend all your money on your graphics card and don’t opt for a similarly compatible CPU, your system might score well on synthetic benchmarks but won’t be able to do as well in real game play due to lower minimum frame rates.

— Check your monitor resolution and match it to your GPU selection. Many mainstream graphics cards are compatible with and for gaming at 1080p resolutions between 30 — 60 FPS (frames per second), but you will need a high-end card for resolutions at or near 4K. Be sure to pair your GPU with the best possible gaming monitor to fit your needs.

— With monitors you will also need to consider your refresh rate. If your monitor has a triple refresh rate, you’ll need a more powerful graphics card and processor (CPU) for it to reach its full potential. On the flip side, if your monitor tops out at 60Hz, there’s no need to pay extra for a more powerful card that pushes pixels faster than your monitor can keep up with.

— Do you have enough power and space? Make sure the case you are choosing has enough room for the card you want to get. The power supply is also important. You need to ensure that the power supply has enough watts to spare, along with the correct type of power connectors (up to three 9-pin PCIe, depending on the card). If you are intending to purchase a pre-build here at Fierce PC, you won’t have to worry about the above, as this will be picked up by our PC configurator and will offer you better options for power supply and case size.

— Don’t count on overclocking for serious performance boosts. If you need better performance, select a more powerful card.

— Consider what you will be using your PC for. Will you be playing the latest games? If so you may want to consider a more powerful card that can hold up better for newer game releases. However, if you are looking to buy a PC solely for working from home, you won’t need a graphics card that is incredibly high-end or powerful.

Here at Fierce PC, we know that the prospect of choosing the right PC to buy can be a daunting task. One of the most important aspects of a PC is the selection of CPU.

The CPU is an important component in a PC, and so getting the best CPU to match your needs is an important decision.

One of the most important parts of your computer is the central processing unit (the CPU). It is the primary hub (the “brain”), and it processes the instructions that come from other parts of the PC, the programs you use (e. g: Microsoft Word), and the operating system (e.g: windows).

The CPU is a wonder of engineering, and thanks to more powerful processors, we’ve jumped from barely being able to display an image on a computer to video chat, streaming, netflix and increasingly lifelike video games.

CPU manufacturing is complicated. The important point is that each CPU has silicon (either one piece or several) that houses billions of microscopic transistors.

These transistors use a series of electrical signals to instruct the rest of the system to complete tasks. Because there are so many of these transistors, CPUs can do increasingly complex tasks at faster speeds than before.

A CPU takes instructions from a program or application and performs a calculation. At its most basic level, the process is broken down into three stages: Fetch, decode and execute. A CPU fetches the instruction from RAM, decodes what the instruction actually is, and then executes the instruction using relevant parts of the CPU.

On modern PC’s the CPU doesn’t do everything, but it still needs to feed the other components the numbers they need to function. For example, it still needs to tell the graphics card to show an explosion in the game you are playing, or tell the hard drive to move an office document to the system’s RAM for quicker access.

Although the CPU isn’t as important for overall system performance as it once was, it still plays a major role in running a device. Since it is solely responsible for executing commands within programs, the faster your CPU, the faster many applications run.

A fast CPU isn’t always the best in performance and won’t always create advanced graphics. If you need to render advanced graphics, a fast CPU itself won’t do the job. Remember, CPUs also don’t store information; they only access it. You need to rely on the graphics card, hard drive, and RAM to store system information and handle other tasks.

The CPU is vital in performance, as it can make a big difference with other high-end components. A faster processor means more speed as it can process information more quickly.

Choosing the best CPU matters a lot, whether you’re upgrading your existing system or building a new PC. Higher clock speeds and core counts can make a major difference in performance, providing a snappier system, smoother gameplay and faster completion of intensive tasks such as video editing.

Whether you’re building or upgrading a PC, the processor matters a lot. We’ll help you choose the right one for your needs.

When choosing a CPU, consider the following:

You can’t lose with either AMD or Intel: so long as you are considering current-generation (the newest) parts, the performance will be similar on either brand.

For gaming, clock speed is more important than core number: Higher CPU clock speeds translate to quicker performance in simple, common tasks, like gaming. More cores will help you get through time-consuming workloads faster.

Budget for a full system: Don’t pair a strong CPU with weak storage, RAM and graphics.

It might be tempting to just spend as much as you can on a CPU, but you might be better off saving some of your budget for other components. Determine your processor type and budget based on what you want your PC to do.

£50 — £100 range. If you are only after a PC to watch videos, browse the web, and do basic tasks like spreadsheet work or using Microsoft Word, for example, then a cheaper, entry level CPU with two or four cores will suit you well. If you often find yourself doing more than one of those tasks at the same time, it would be better to go a model up or two. For example, a Ryzen 3, like an AMD Ryzen 3 2200G would be well suited for your needs.

£200 — £300 range. If you are primarily interested in high-end gaming performance, you should consider a mid-range Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU. Considering a graphics card is primarily more important for gaming than the CPU, you can save money going a few levels down than the current generation.

£300 — £400 range. If you intend to do video editing or extra overhead computing tasks, get yourself something a bit more expensive, like a Ryzen 7 CPU.

£400+. If you are dealing with massive databases, extreme multitasking (rendering a video, whilst gaming and streaming at the same time), or even time consuming computing tasks, you’ll need to fork out a bit more to get what you need. Intel Core X or an AMD Threadripper CPU would be the better choice for intense multitasking.

The jumble of brands and numbers that make a CPU product name can be confusing. Intel and AMD both break down most of their chips into “good, better, best” categories, starting with Core i3/Ryzen 3, stepping up to Core i5/Ryzen 5, Core i7/Ryzen 7, and Core i9/Ryzen 9.

Each year or so, Intel and AMD upgrade their CPU ranges with a new architecture. At present, the latest from Intel is the 12th Gen Series, with the Core i9 12900k at the top end. AMD’s latest CPUs are the Ryzen 5000 line. When looking at the model number, you can see the generation as the first digit of the four numbers. For example the 8 in Core i7-8400.

The rest of the numbers just mark various models in the line, with higher generally being better (with more cores and/or faster speeds), while a “K” at the end of an Intel chip means it’s unlocked for overclocking.

If you’re looking at a spec sheet for a given CPU, you’ll see a lot of numbers. Here’s what to look out for.

Clock speeds: Measured in gigahertz (GHz), this is the speed at which the chip operates, so higher is faster. Most modern CPUs adjust their clock speeds up or down based on the task and their temperature, so you’ll see a base (minimum) clock speed and a turbo (maximum) speed listed.
Cores: These are the processors within the CPU. Modern CPUs have between two and 64 cores, with most CPUs containing four to eight. Each one is capable of handling its own tasks. In most cases these days, you’ll want at least four cores—or at least four threads (see below).

Threads: This is the number of independent processes a chip can handle at once, which in theory would be the same as the number of cores. However, many processors have multithreading capability, which allows a single core to create two threads. More threads means better multitasking and enhanced performance on heavily-threaded apps such as video editors.

TDP: The Thermal Design Profile/Power. This is the maximum amount of heat the CPU generates. By knowing what your CPU Thermal Design Profile is, you can make sure you have a CPU cooler that can handle that amount of heat, as well as the correct power equipment to support your CPU.

Cache: A CPUs on-board cache is used to speed up access to data and instructions between your CPU and RAM. There are three types: L1 is the fastest, but small, L2 is bigger but slower, and L3 is spacious but also quite slow. When the data a CPU needs isn’t available in any of those places, it uses the RAM, which is much, much slower.

You shouldn’t pay too much attention to cache size, because it’s hard to equate real-world performance, and there are more important factors to consider.

IPC: Instructions per clock cycle. The IPC is heavily dependent on the CPU’s architecture and design, so newer generations will be generally better than older ones.

Different processors require different socket types. If you already own a motherboard and don’t want to replace it, you’ll need to purchase a CPU that matches your board’s socket. Alternatively, you need to make sure that the motherboard you buy is compatible with your new processor.

When choosing a CPU, first decide what you are going to do with it, then decide how much you can budget for it afterwards. Ensure you are also budgeting for other components to match your needs. While CPUs are important, there’s no point pairing a high-speed, new generation CPU with weak graphics for gaming. Although considering the individual aspects of a CPU are important for deciding which to buy, looking at reviews can also be incredibly helpful as well any older ones.

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How to choose the best desktop processor (CPU)

The brains behind most electronic devices, central processing units (CPUs) carry out the essential instructions needed to make a computer properly function. Desktop PCs, tablets and even smartphones need a processor to truly be called a computer.

Currently on Newegg, the types of processors you can purchase have been separated into desktop (PC), mobile (laptops, tablets and smartphones) and server categories.

Prices and availability of products discussed were accurate at time of publication, but are subject to change.

What Is a CPU?

Whatever the environment may be, CPUs share the same universal trait of performing sequenced calculations. From the moment everything’s powered up, computer processors follow a specific instruction cycle until the system is turned off. Whenever you insert a command (for example, logging into your operating system during startup) your computer’s CPU first fetches the instructions that have been requested, which in this case is anything the operating system needs to boot up before bringing you to your login screen. Once the resources for the instruction are fetched, they must then be decoded before being ultimately executed—and the process repeats.

Now that we’ve got a basic understanding of how CPUs function, we can start peeling away the complex layers that have formed around this crucial, ever-evolving component.

Desktop-Processor Tiers

Just like the desktop PCs they power, desktop CPUs can be tiered into separate performance classes depending on how well they perform in both low and high-end tasks. From least to most-demanding, here are the four categories of desktop processors.

Basic Use & Business

For the most part, you don’t need an expensive or mega-stacked desktop processor to stream movies or YouTube videos one at a time. Business applications like the programs found within the Microsoft Office Suite do not require faster-than-average clock speeds or a high amount of cores. Basically, if you’re looking to have a dedicated entertainment rig or a fleet of business desktop PCs that run light-load processes, you won’t need to cough out a lot of money for a higher-end CPU.

Gaming

If you’re looking to have a machine that’s strictly for gaming, you’ll need a processor that meets at least the minimum-requirement specifications of the main game(s) you’re trying to play. Of course your safest bet is to go with the latest and greatest, but most wallets can’t handle that kind of early-adopter investment. The major manufacturers Intel and AMD release revisions (referred to as generations) for their current line processors on a consistent basis or until they release the next series.

Unfortunately, outside of rumors, there’s no clear way to determine when the next processor model’s price and availability hit the market. That’s why it’s best to look into your main game’s minimum and recommended specs. The battle royale game Apex Legends has a minimum CPU requirement of an Intel i3-6300 or AMD FX-4350—processors released between 2013 and 2015. At the same time, the highly popular MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) League of Legends just needs at least a 2GHz (clock speed) processor that supports SSE2, a processor instruction-set first made available in the year 2000.

Content Creation and Live Streaming

While gaming-build processors focus on great single-core performance to run gaming applications one at a time, content creators (or those interested in live streaming) should be looking for CPUs that can properly multitask. While performing photo and video editing, any given workflow can feature multiple applications alongside the main media-editing software—which means you’ll need more cores carrying workloads from your desktop processor.

Effective multitasking is especially relevant to live streamers. Whether they’re using a single- or dual-desktop-PC setup, having a CPU that rates well in executing multiple computations is essential in providing a smooth, distraction-free experience for viewers.

Workstation

If you’re looking to get started in the world of 3D modeling, it’s time for you to get acquainted with CPUs that meet workstation-processing ideals. It’s easy to say “just get more cores and the highest clock speed available”, but let’s expand a bit more on the processes.

Similar to gaming, the act of working on computer-generated 3D models within a given software application relies on strong single-core performance. When it comes time to share your work by way of rendering that’s when having more cores comes into play, as the program will use every core at 100% of their power to efficiently complete the process.

Features to Consider

What makes a processor tick? More specifically, what do you need to know about the most important component in your next desktop/laptop purchase or build? Whether you’re going DIY or pre-built, understanding all the internal workings of a computer’s CPU is ultimately beneficial in properly optimizing what you want to get done on your next system.

Series, Generations & Socket Types

As mentioned in the previous Gaming section, the two sole manufactures of desktop-computer processors are Intel and AMD. Ever since their first 4-bit processors released in the 1970s (Intel 4004 and AMD Am2501), both companies release and categorize their products by a series brand name: i. e. Intel “Core” and AMD “Ryzen”. From there, Intel and AMD manufacture successive (sometimes yearly) revisions, better known as generations. Of course, these changes introduce product updates such as improved micro-architecture—which in turn can potentially change a CPU’s socket type.

CPU sockets are the areas on the motherboard where your processor lives. If you’re going DIY, you need to know: One size DOES NOT fit all. In order for your processor to make the proper mechanical and electronic connections, you must ensure the processor you’re buying fits your motherboard’s socket type. Of course AMD and Intel have their own socket types, but that’s not where the differences end. For example, Intel’s 1151 socket type fits processors from their 6^th to 8^th generation of processors. If you try to add any other processor, it just won’t fit, let alone work.

As of writing, the most recent AMD processor series and generation is the 3rd generation of Ryzen, while Intel has released the 9th generation of their flagship Core desktop-CPU series of processors. Each series has different levels that are distinguished by power (in terms of computing) and relative price (more power = higher cost).

From top to bottom, here are the current levels of AMD and Intel processors:

^{3^rd} Generation AMD Ryzen: Ryzen 9, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3

9^th Generation Intel Core: Intel Core i9, Intel Core i7 and Intel Core i5

Now, what’s the difference between the separate levels of these products? And what’s the point of differentiating this computer hardware that essentially serves the same end? The simple answer is cores and the clock speed of those cores. Simply put, something like the Ryzen 3, that comes with four cores, is best for entry-level users running simple operations, while the Ryzen Threadripper with its twelve cores and higher clock speeds can be properly utilized by advanced users who need all the power they can get to complete their professional-level, high-compute tasks efficiently.

Integrated Graphics

If you pick the right processor, you can drastically cut your budget by not having to buy a graphics card. CPUs with integrated graphics let you display video so long as your motherboard has a good, compatible video port (usually HDMI or DisplayPort) on its chipset. Of course, the quality you’re getting from the integrated GPU (graphics processing unit) on these desktop processors will never be on the same level as a decent dedicated graphics card.

If you’re looking to play modern games like Total War: Three Kingdoms or even Fortnite without a graphics card, you’ll have to run lower resolutions up to 720p and select low graphical settings in order to maybe approach an average of 30fps performance. These numbers aren’t the best, especially in relation to any new computer monitor you may end up using.

Ultimately if you just want to watch videos or just need to see the Microsoft Office applications you’re running, going with a CPU that has integrated graphics can save you a decent amount towards your next PC build or pre-built desktop purchase.

Cores

A CPU’s core is responsible for carrying out the instructions that the user initiates. From completing actions such as starting up programs to completing calculations, the core is what gives these components the name “processing unit.” At their inception, desktop processors came with one core and were restricted in how well they could compute—more specifically, they could only efficiently run one process at a time.

As mentioned in the previous section, we’re currently in a market of CPUs that come with multiple cores. Multi-core processing is essential for users who need to multitask. As of writing, you should at least be looking to purchase and utilize a processor with four cores or six cores. The reason for this is to ensure your machine can keep up with the constant coding updates that software engineers implement to your favorite programs and operating systems. If you’re not worried about using the latest update, you can of course get by with an older CPU.

Threads

Nowadays, some of the latest CPUs have cores that go beyond the amount of physical cores. For this discussion, let’s use AMD’s 2nd generation Ryzen Threadripper, a powerhouse multi-core processor, as a point of reference. Looking at the specifications, this product comes with 16 cores and 32 threads. Threads are the result of the modern-day CPU’s multithreading function—a process that essentially splits an execution command and anything needed to complete it into multiple subsets (hence 32 threads for 16 cores on the Ryzen Threadripper). Though threads share the same resources as the cores that they are supporting, the process becomes more efficient due to more hands being on deck.

Whereas Intel has branded their multithreading feature as Hyper-Threading Technology, the process for both AMD and Intel processors falls under the SMT (simultaneous multithreading) system.

Operating Frequency, Clock Cycles and Speed Factors

Sometimes referred to as clock rate or clock speed, a computer processor’s operating frequency refers to how many cycles per second can be executed in a clock cycle. So… What does that mean? Whenever you “command” your computer to do something, such as start a program or fetch a file, the CPU will process data by pulsing to move individual bits. This physical pulsing is measured in hertz (1 cycle) and today’s market of processors produce gigahertz speeds (1 billion cycles per second).

So the higher the clock speed, the better the processor? Not entirely. As you’re going through different generations of desktop CPUs, you may notice that current generations may have a lower operating frequency than an older one—what gives?

There are two reasons for this:

AMD and Intel are always improving their processing architecture, specifically the instructions per cycle (IPC) needed to complete a process.
CPU efficiency is determined by other factors, including: motherboard bus speed, the processor’s cache size, RAM specifications and storage-device quality.

Let’s compare an Intel Core i9-9900K (9^th generation) with an Intel Core i7-6700 (6^th generation). Besides their difference in amount of cores, the base clock speeds of these processors are essentially neck and neck (3.6GHz and 3.4GHz respectively). Though these speeds are generally the same, Intel (and AMD with their different generational options) aren’t just sitting around when it comes to improving their CPU architecture. The main goal isn’t to have the most cycles per second—it’s to have fewer cycles needed to complete any given task. Testing and documenting IPC is usually regulated to benchmark tests but roughly speaking, an older processor may take six cycles to complete a task, while a newer one takes four cycles— so in these cases, less is more.

While shopping for your next desktop-PC processor, you must always keep the following in mind: Though a CPU does a lot of the heavy-lifting, it cannot single-handedly determine your computer’s efficiency. Your motherboard’s bus speed refers to how much data its circuits can handle at one time. This quantification ultimately allows information and commands to travel faster. These commands and processes need somewhere to be stored as well as quickly accessed in the proper order. This means a sizable on-board CPU cache along with fast + sizable desktop RAM is needed to get the most out of the processor’s features.

On top of all that, where your operating system and programs are stored will also determine how quickly they can be started up and accessed—with SSDs being faster than HDDs.

Boosting vs. Overclocking

In the majority of cases, today’s desktop-CPU base operating speeds can and most likely will change. There are two ways this is done, via an internal + autonomous operating-frequency boost (sometimes called dynamic overclocking), or by way of overclocking.

Intel calls their version of clock-speed boosting Turbo Boost while AMD has branded their tech Turbo Core (clear lines in the sand, people). Both internally integrated technologies do the exact same thing. Similar to how you push the gas pedal on your car to go faster, CPUs with built-in dynamic overclocking scale up their clock speed when needed.

For example, your computer may run at 2.8GHz if you’re playing a video in a browser and have some light-load programs open (Microsoft Office applications, for example). Now, if you decide it’s time to game at ultra settings, your processor may go up to 4.1GHz—or whatever the maximum Turbo Core (AMD) or Turbo Boost (Intel) speed is for your respective CPU. This is all done in order to efficiently run all necessary commands. If you take a look at their specs, the new Intel Core i7-9700K has a base speed of 3.6GHz and a Turbo Boost push of 4.9GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X has a base speed of 3.7GHz and Max Boost speed of 4.3GHz.

Before we get into the more DIY-centric world of overclocking, we need to establish an understanding of a desktop processor’s Thermal Design Power (TDP). TDP, sometimes called thermal-design point, refers to the maximum amount of heat generated by the CPU while working at its top manufactured operating frequency (Turbo or Max Boost included). Similar to light bulbs, a desktop CPU’s generated heat is measured in watts. Taking a look at the specs, processors like the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G have a TDP of 65W. So how does this relate to overclocking?

On paper, if and when you decide to overclock your processor, you’ll basically be applying more voltage to your product with the intent of increasing its operating-frequency performance. Doing this raises the TDP past what the manufacturer (Intel or AMD) have set in place—thus instantly voiding your product warranty as the risk of the CPU malfunctioning is now increased. Because of this, overclocking is an intermediate to advanced-user process. In this buying guide, we’ll only provide the introductory basics while stressing that you must take the time to further research everything in relation to the CPU you end up purchasing and even consider using software to properly monitor your system.

If you go Intel, you must first ensure that your processor is “unlocked”, Intel’s way of informing you that the processor’s clock multiplier can be increased in the right hands—and though it’s not enough to keep your warranty, is safer to overclock. If you indeed have an unlocked Intel Core processor, you can download the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel XTU) to start tweaking. Attempting to overclock a locked CPU excludes you from the XTU software and leaves you to hunt for adjustment options in your PC’s BIOS—if it even has them.

As of writing, AMD processors made since the AM3+ socket update can be overclocked. If you have a processor from AM3, FM2+ or sockets below, you’ll have to check to see if AMD’s proprietary overclocking software, AMD OverDrive, will work with your device. Like XTU, OverDrive has a stress-test function to see the limits of your processor. This feature alone can give you a great starting point for what to tweak and how far you can and should push.

All in all, it’s best (but not the only way) to go with the manufacturer’s overclocking software after ensuring your desktop CPU has the capability to extend its performance limits. It must be noted that some processors are better for overclocking than others. The best way to check is to look at a processor’s TDP, for example, the aforementioned Ryzen 5 2400G with a 65W TDP is quite limited compared to the 2nd Gen Ryzen Threadripper 2990W that works at an ample TDP of 250W.

CPU-Cooling Solutions

Even without overclocking, CPUs get hot—really hot. Because of this, desktop processors need cooling devices to keep them from shutting down or, in worst-case scenarios, becoming permanently damaged. When you’re shopping for your next CPU, make sure to check if a cooling device is included. For example, certain products like the Intel Core i7-8700K do not package a CPU cooler—so you’ll have to implement one of the following cooling solutions.

CPU Fans & Heatsinks

A prerequisite for most processors, CPU fans with heatsinks are the standard solution for keeping your desktop CPU cool. After placing your new processor into its compatible socket, your next step is to install the hefty block (heatsink) with a fan on it—also known as a CPU cooler. Most high-end CPU coolers come with the following:

Contact base – The surface that touches the top heat shield on your processor.
Heatsink – The metal block with lots of fins.
Heat pipes – Hollow tubes connected to the heatsink.
Up to a 140mm bladed fan

How a CPU cooler works

All together, the aforementioned components move heat in a flow cycle. To start, your CPU’s generated heat hits the contact plate that’s connected to the hollow, porous-walled heat pipes. Inside these heat pipes is a liquid that turns to gas when heated. The gas moves up to the heatsink then evaporates back down, starting its simultaneous process over. The initial heated gas goes through the heatsink, and its many fins that effectively help dissipate the heat. Meanwhile, at the top of the chain, the main 120mm or 140mm fan blows air through the heatsink. This lets out the traveled heat and keeps the processor operating at a safe temperature.

As mentioned earlier, it’s best to double check whether or not the desktop CPU you’re looking to purchase comes packaged with a stock CPU cooler and heatsink. If there’s not one or you just want to upgrade and replace the stock cooler you get, check out Newegg’s subcategory page for CPU fans and heatsinks. Make sure to filter by your processor’s specific socket for either AMD or Intel motherboards.

Thermal Compound & Pads

Sometimes an added bonus that comes with your stock CPU cooler, thermal compound (also called paste or grease) is a cooling solution that is applied between the CPU cooler’s contact plate and the top of the processor. Thermal compounds are essential in guaranteeing your cooler’s contact plate and heatsink have all their bases covered in relation to perfectly gathering and transferring heat. If your stock CPU cooler has thermal paste or grease already applied, make sure not to touch or spread the compound. It is more than likely that the manufacturer has applied the right amount of paste for your needs.

Going with stock options is rarely OK for DIY enthusiasts and the needs of high-performance system builds. Thermal compounds come in three forms: metal-based, ceramic-based and silicon-based. Silicon-based compounds are what you find on stock coolers (the cooling device that comes packaged with certain CPUs) and are not as effective as ceramic- and metal-based compounds. Up next in efficiency are ceramic-based thermal pastes because they don’t need a curing time as compared to their silicon counterparts. Metal-based compounds do the best job, but at an added risk. Because metal-based compounds have metal particles, these solutions are electrically conductive and may cause a short on your motherboard if applied incorrectly.

Staying on the topic of risks, applying too much thermal paste is not a good thing for a couple of reasons:

Thermal compounds are not as good at conducting heat as the copper-based components on your CPU cooler. Applying too much paste will restrict the copper’s effectiveness, making your system have a higher-than-optimal operating temperature.
Applying too much grease or paste can cause the compound to spill over the sides of your processor, potentially causing fatal damage to your entire system.

Serving the exact same function, thermal pads are a mess-free alternative to thermal-compound solutions. Similar to metal-based pastes and grease, the majority of thermal pads are electrically conductive so you’ll have to be careful not to place it anywhere else on your motherboard besides the top of your CPU. This includes ensuring that the size of the pad you get is not larger than your desktop processor—if it is, you can safely use scissors to make the pad smaller.

Water/Liquid Cooling

A favorite among DIY enthusiasts, water- and liquid-cooling solutions make your system run and look quite cool. As Insider has previously covered, going with liquid cooling can be a bit daunting at first because you’re dealing with water, the age-old enemy of electronic circuitry. Fortunately, Newegg has plenty of pre-assembled, all-in-one water-cooling kits that are easy to mount and do not require you to add any coolant.

Now, if you’re willing to put in the proper time and effort to research and execute DIY cooling, you can find the right variety of liquid-cooling pieces at Newegg. DIY cooling gives you more flexibility in terms of customizing the look of your setup as well as the exact components you want cooled.

The King of Components

Your system is an ecosystem of components that rely on each other to thrive—and at the head of it all is your CPU. Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to get started on a proper hunt for the right CPU to fit both your needs and budget.

Newegg’s home for processors houses more relevant guides and product reviews to further support you before deciding on a final purchase. Computer components, especially CPUs, constantly get updated, so make sure to check back here for any new information that will help your shopping experience.

Laptop Processor Buying Guide — gadgetshelp.com

One of the most important things when buying a new laptop is the processor or processor. Laptop processors vary greatly in performance, so you should make sure your processor is powerful enough for your purposes.

The information in this article applies to a wide range of notebooks and processors. Check individual product features before purchasing.

Notebook processor types

Notebook processors differ from their desktop counterparts in that they are forced to work when the notebook is not plugged into an outlet. The less power a laptop uses, the longer the system can run on battery power. Therefore, laptop processors rely on techniques such as processor scaling to adjust power consumption (and therefore performance) based on the tasks at hand.

Most laptop users don’t need high-performance processors to run high-end software, but for PC gaming and video editing, you’ll need a powerful processor in addition to ample RAM and a dedicated graphics card. Laptops and laptop processors can be divided into four categories; which type you should buy depends on your computer needs.

Budget laptops for basic computers

Budget laptops usually have older processors that were used in more expensive laptops or newer low-cost processors. All of the processors listed below are sufficient for basic computing tasks, including web browsing, word processing, sending email, and creating presentations. They are also excellent at playing videos. The only thing a budget processor isn’t good for is running high-end graphical applications like PC games.

Here are some of the processors to look for in this range:

AMD A6-7000 and above
AMD A6-9210 and up
AMD A8-7100 and above
AMD A9-9410 and above
AMD E1-7010 and above
AMD E2-7110 and above
AMD E2-9010 and above
Intel Celeron N3350 and above
Intel Core i3-6100U or higher
Intel Core i3-7100U or higher
Intel Core i5 -6200U or higher
Intel Pentium 4405U and above
Intel Pentium 4405Y and above
Intel Pentium N4200 and higher

Some Chromebooks use processors commonly found in tablets, but they’re not as fast as most laptop processors, but they’re decent enough for basic tasks like web browsing.

Ultraportable processors for users on the go

Ultraportable computers are systems designed to be as light and compact as possible, yet powerful enough for common business applications such as email, word processing and presentation software. These systems are aimed at people who travel a lot and are willing to sacrifice processing power and peripherals for portability. Ultrabooks are a subcategory of these systems built on a specific platform defined by Intel.

Here are the processors found in ultraportables:

AMD A6-9210 and higher
AMD A9-9410 and above
AMD A10 Micro-6700T and above
AMD E1-7010 and above
AMD E1 Micro-6200T and above
AMD E2-7110 and above
AMD E2-9010 and above
Intel Celeron 3205U and higher
Intel Celeron N2830 and above
Intel Core i3-6100U or higher
Intel Core i3-7100U or higher
Intel Core i5-6200U and above
Intel Core i5-7200U or higher
Intel Core i5-7Y54
Intel Core i7-5500U or higher
Intel Core i7-7500U or higher
Intel Core i7-7Y75
Intel Core M-5Y10 or higher
Intel Core m3-6Y30 or higher
Intel Core m5-6Y57 or higher
Intel Core m7-6Y75 or higher
Intel Pentium N3530 and higher
Intel Pentium 4405U and above

Thin and light notebook processors

A thin and light laptop capable of doing pretty much any computing task, at least on some level. These systems can vary widely in terms of their price and performance. They tend to perform better than the cost category or ultraportable laptops, but they’re smaller and more portable than larger desktop replacements.

Here are some of the processors that can be found in this notebook category:

AMD A8-8600P and above
AMD A9-9410 and above
AMD A10-8700P and above
AMD A10-9600P and above
AMD A12-9700P and above
Intel Core i3-6100U or higher
Intel Core i3-7100U or higher
Intel Core i5-6200U or higher
Intel Core i5-6300HQ or higher
Intel Core i5-7200U or higher
Intel Core i7-6500U or higher
Intel Core i7-6700HQ or higher
Intel Core i7-7500U or higher

As ultraportable processors continue to improve, many systems in this category are starting to use processors in the ultraportable category to improve battery life.

Replacement desktop processors for raw computing

Replacement desktop laptops have the same processing power and capabilities as desktop systems. They tend to be bigger and bulkier than other laptops, but they’re still designed for portability. While these laptops can’t match the graphics of high-end gaming PCs, they can run any type of software supported by the operating system. They also usually have high quality displays that are perfect for watching Blu-ray movies and 4K videos.

Here are some of the processors that can be found in this category of machines:

AMD A8-8600P and above
AMD A9-9410 and above
AMD A10-8700P and above
AMD A10-9600P and above
AMD A12-9700P and above
AMD FX-8800P and above
AMD FX-9800P and above
Intel Core i5-6300HQ or higher
Intel Core i7-4700MQ / HQ and above
Intel Core i7-4930MX or higher
Intel Core i7-6700HQ or higher

Video Card Buyer’s Guide 2023: What to Look for When Buying a GPU

If you want to build or buy a powerful gaming machine, you will need to pay special attention to the graphics card. The graphics card is one of the most important computer components for playing games efficiently. But Buying a GPU can be a daunting task as there is so much more to consider, from the type of screen you are using to the size of the case and more.

But it doesn’t have to be that strict. If you know your budget, computer requirements, and performance targets, you’re really close to finding the perfect graphics card for your needs. Our Buyer’s Guide will explain GPU Graphics Cards Ambient picture quality and key features to look out for when making a purchase decision.

GPU Buyer’s Guide: AMD or Nvidia?

The GPU market today is saturated with hundreds of graphics cards from different manufacturers, but only two companies dominate the GPUs that run these components: Nvidia and AMD. So what should you buy, Nvidia or AMD? Everything will depend on your personal preferences.

If you’re on a budget, choose AMD. Nothing beats AMD for the price. For example, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, which is currently the most powerful graphics card in the AMD family, is available for around $500. AMD offers competitively priced yet powerful budget, mid-range, and high-end GPUs. However, compared to Nvidia’s latest offerings, AMD cards are less power efficient.

If you want great performance, Nvidia is the one to go for. AMD can’t beat Nvidia’s top RTX cards today. However, they come at a high price. Nvidia says You must pay to play . «He meant it! One of the high-end graphics cards, the RTX 2080 Ti, costs around $1,700.

AMD Radeon RX graphics cards seem to be making more money by trying to offer the chip at a lower price. Nvidia, on the other hand, is driving the high end GPU market with more powerful and more expensive cards. Another factor that should determine whether you want to buy NVidia or go for Team Red is the screen requirements. Does your monitor support Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync?

G-Sync and FreeSync are technologies developed by Nvidia and AMD, respectively. Purchasing a monitor that supports one of these features will help keep the display in sync with the connected graphics cards, which will help reduce screen tearing and input lag. Again, AMD technology (FreeSync) is cheaper than Nvidia’s G-Sync.

Performance for different budgets

Price creates performance, especially when it comes to GPUs. A good GPU will allow you to play modern games at smooth frame rates. However, the impressive GPU will allow you to play these games at higher resolutions as well as perform advanced creative work such as 4K video editing without any bugs. You will find these GPUs at a higher price point. Here’s a guide to the GPU performance hierarchy.

If you’re an avid gamer looking for total immersion, compelling 4K gaming and ready to go, the Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti is the best GPU out there. The RTX 2080 Ti currently reigns supreme in the high-end gaming market.

What you need to be sure when buying a video card

As mentioned earlier, there are many manufacturers on the market today, such as Asus, EVGA, Gigabyte and others, who produce their own brands of video cards. All of these cards run on Nvidia or AMD GPUs.

However, they differ from each other in the type of memory used by the heatsink, speed, bandwidth, and more. Knowing how each of these components work can help you choose the perfect card for you. Here’s what to look for when buying a graphics card.

1. Compatibility

Nothing is more frustrating than describing your excitement about installing a new graphics card only to find it an inch longer. Before you make a purchase, do your homework and figure out how much physical space an offer can give you.

Also check the power supply. How many amps can you provide on 12V rails? How many watts are they rated for and how many 10- or 10-pin PCIe connectors? Provide this information about the video card you wish to purchase. If your computer can’t handle it, you need to find a graphics card that requires less power, or consider a power upgrade.

Finally, check the ports. Some monitors use DisplayPort, others use HDMI, and some older devices only use DVI. Make sure the card you want to buy has the connectors you need for your screens. If you purchased a card with ports other than the display port, you may need to purchase an adapter at an additional cost.

2. Platform

Your system determines which type of graphics card you should buy. Knowing the limitations of your system can save you money and headaches. For example, if you’re using an older dual-core processor like a Pentium or Celeron, it won’t keep up with advanced graphics cards. In such cases, choose mid-range cards and save your hard-earned money.

And your screen is also an important factor to consider. You won’t need high-end graphics hardware if you’re using a 1280 x 1024 screen. Conversely, if you’re going for three 1080p displays in an environment, a mid-range card won’t bring you respectability. frames in modern 3D games.

3. Memory and Bandwidth

Many will tell you that the more memory a video card has, the better the performance. Well, that’s not always the case. Unless you’re running it at a higher resolution like 4K or with multiple monitors on the periphery, the amount of RAM won’t matter much. Also, most if not all high-end graphics cards have a high amount of memory by default.

You need to pay more attention to bandwidth. Data ready to be processed by the GPU is typically stored in dedicated card memory called GDDR3 and GDDR5. Note that GDDR5 memory provides twice the bandwidth of GDDR3 at the same speed.

Since memory bandwidth is an important factor in determining performance, you should always choose GDDR5 for best performance. In fact, 1GB GDDR5 is superior to 4GB GDDR3 in terms of performance.

4. CUDA cores (NVIDIA) or stream processors (AMD)

While CUDA cores don’t say much about performance, they are very important, especially in games. CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) is Nvidia’s proprietary parallel computing language that uses the GPU in a specific way to perform tasks more precisely.