Top 10 Intel Processors

The production of central processing units is a complex process. So complex that there are only two major players on the world stage: Intel and AMD. The largest manufacturer of mobile processors, Qualcomm, is trying to compete with them, but its share is almost zero.

Intel products, which will be discussed in this article, according to PassMark Software over the past three years, from 2015, occupies about 80% of the market. Such popularity is due to high performance (7 out of 10 most productive CPUs - models from Intel), a 20% large assortment and excellent optimization of programs and games. Let's consider the top ten most relevant, affordable and productive Intel processors. Go!

Top Intel Office Processors

The category includes low-cost processors from the Celeron and Pentium lines, which are excellent for working with office applications, surfing the web, watching videos. We also included a representative from the Intel Xeon server processor family.

3 Intel Xeon E3-1240V6

Let's start with the specific and unnecessary to most users processor. The model does not strike with technical characteristics. For far from the budget 23 thousand rubles, the user receives only 4 Kaby Lake cores operating at 3.7 GHz. But Xeon E3-1240V6 refers to server processors, and therefore has several features. The main one - high stability and reliability - is provided by higher requirements for the production and testing of the CPU before being sent to the stores. The processor can operate 24/7, maintaining constant high temperatures. Bronze medalist can be advised to create small servers. For example, a server that will run your personal blog or a small online store.

Of the interesting and useful technologies, we note the presence of Virtualization Technology, which allows you to run several operating systems simultaneously; support for DDR4-2400 memory up to 64 GB; hardware support for 4K video, due to which when playing high-definition video, the processor load is only 1-3% (against 20-25% in previous generations).

2 Intel Celeron G3930

The second line of the rating is taken by the budget processor of the more familiar Celeron series. G3930 - one of the most affordable models worth only 5 thousand rubles. This dual-core model is perfect not only for an office computer, but also, judging by the reviews, for HTPC or even mining farms. Performance is not dumbfounded, the processor shows itself perfectly when working with an office suite, browser, displays 4K video without delay. But in serious tasks the processor still saves - you will not play modern games, and the rendering / unarchiving / etc will last long enough. The main advantage of G3930 is the minimum heat generation. Even with a boxed cooler under load, temperatures stay at 40-45 degrees. When using a high-quality cooler, the temperature is even lower, and the overall system noise is minimal.

Finally, a little about the numbers. The model includes 2 Kaby Lake cores. The base clock frequency is 2.9 GHz. Used popular socket LGA1151. The processor supports DDR4-2400 RAM.

1 Intel Pentium G4620

The Pentium G4620 becomes the category leader. The model received 78 reviews on Yandex.Market (September 2018), which directly indicates high popularity. In Pentium, we again see only two Kaby Lake cores, but the frequency is noticeably higher - 3.7 GHz. The volume of L3 cache also increased - 3072 KB against 2048 KB in Celeron. These minimal changes made it possible to obtain an almost twofold increase in productivity in synthetic tests.

In real use, this means the following: the processor still does an excellent job with office tasks, but in addition to this it is capable of paired with the GTX 1050 / 1050ti to provide a comfortable level of fps in modern games with FullHD resolution. The model can be recommended not only for a home computer, but also for professional use. For example, photographers or programmers.

Increased productivity coexists with rising temperatures, but you cannot call them critical - under the load, the G4620 heats up only to 52-55 degrees. By the number of supported technologies, the model does not differ from the previous participant.

The best gaming processors

By gaming processors can safely include all models of the line of Intel Core. However, one should not think that models from this category are suitable only for gamers. High performance is useful to video monitors, photo editors, 3D-designers, and just those who prefer high speed.

4 Intel Core i9-7920X

Let's start the category as an unexpected member. As of September 2018, the model ranks 6th in the PassMark performance rating with a score of 23,243 points, and in our rating it is the most powerful CPU. Why is the i9-7920X not in the first place? The reason for the extremely high cost - Almost 90 thousand rubles. Affordable enthusiasts or people whose work requires a powerful PC can afford it. For video editors, 3D designers, the acquisition of this model will be an excellent investment, which will soon pay off and start making a profit.

High performance is ensured by twelve Skylake cores with a base clock frequency of 2.9 GHz. In TurboBoost mode, the frequency rises to 4.3 GHz. Supports work with a very fast RAM standard DDR4-2666. Pleases and cache - volume L3 16 MB! All this ensures extremely fast work both in games and in professional software, not to mention basic tasks.

The disadvantages include a rare socket LGA2066 and a high heat dissipation - 140 watts. These factors require additional large costs for a suitable motherboard and an efficient cooling system.

3 Intel Core i3-8350K

From one extreme, let's move to another - the most budget Intel Core processor. I3-8350K, as expected, gaining the lowest score in synthetic tests. But what can 4 cores of Coffee Lake? Judging by the reviews, enough. With a base clock frequency of 4000 MHz, the CPU easily accelerates to 4,900 MHz. Yes, the processor is capable of operating at 5,100 MHz, but then stability is lost. With moderate acceleration, only the temperature rises - in a stressful load, the numbers can reach 80 degrees. We advise you to immediately attend to the choice of high-quality cooler.

There is nothing new in the supported technologies: there is the UHD 630 graphics processor already familiar with the low-cost Pentium G4620, which supports 4K video playback; support for DDR4-2400 standard RAM. The cache volumes are L2 / L3 1024 and 8192Kb, respectively. The processor is perfect for playing in FullHD resolution. With a video card like Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, all modern games will run at medium-high settings. Good result for the processor of the average price segment.

2 Intel Core i7-8700K

The top Core i7 line now occupies the second place in the Intel processor hierarchy. But the lag in performance from the Core i9 is offset by a much more significant cost difference. The model that closes the TOP-20 of the most powerful processors in the world costs only 35 thousand rubles. Not surprising, given the presence of six cores of Coffee Lake, the base frequency of which is 3700 MHz.In TurboBoost mode, the frequency rises to 4.7 GHz, and some enthusiasts say in reviews about taking the 5 GHz bar. It should be borne in mind that during acceleration, temperatures under load can reach 90 degrees. Probably buying an i7-8700K is at the same time acquiring a water cooling system, from which temperatures do not rise above 50-55 degrees.

Like the previous participant, the silver medalist has a LGA1151 v2 socket. The list of technologies is similar, but it is worth noting a slightly higher supported frequency of RAM - 2666 MHz, large amounts of cache (L3 = 12288 KB). The processor reveals most fully in tandem with GeForce GTX 1070 and higher. This combination can provide a stable 100-120 fps at maximum settings in FullHD in almost any modern game.

1 Intel Core i5-8400

We conclude the category with the most optimal processor for most users. In short, the model has sufficient performance for everyday tasks, as well as for work demanding or modern games, without emptying the buyer's wallet. The price tag for this 6-core nuclear-powered grunt starts at 18.5 thousand. The base clock frequency is 2.8 GHz. Traditionally supported overclocking to 4.4 GHz. Performance in synthetic tests is 25-27% lower than that of the Core i7-8700K. Users note low temperatures even with air cooling - under a load of about 60-62 degrees.

According to the technologies used and the standards supported, something new cannot be said - everything is the same as the two previous participants. In games, the results are not staggering, but paired with the GTX 1070 on FullHD resolution you get the desired 60 fps.

Best Mobile Processors

Finally, consider the top three of the most interesting processors from Intel for laptops. It is impossible to purchase these models separately. The category will only help you choose a laptop, tablet or transformer with one of the best processors. A bit more complete list can be found. here. 

3 Intel Pentium N5000

The category will open with one of the most budget processors in the line. At first glance, 4 cores should provide high power, but the minimum frequency - 1100 MHz - does not allow to show good results. In TurboBoost mode, the performance is nicer - up to 2,700 MHz. The model uses inexpensive laptops without a discrete video card and with a small (4 GB) RAM. The scope of use is simple office work or study. Yes, the built-in video processor UHD Graphics 605 is capable of playing 4K video, but this is hardly relevant for a laptop buyer for 15-20 thousand rubles.

The advantages of the model include sufficient performance, low power consumption (4.8) watts and heat release (6 watts). Intel recommended cost - $ 161.

2 Intel Core M3 8100Y

All the above processor lines are on the market for more than one year. The Core M series is a newcomer that appeared in 2016. The most relevant is the model m3-8100Y, which should be the basis of the well-known Apple Macbook. According to official specifications, the model has 2 cores, each of which can work in 2 threads. The base clock frequency of 1.1 GHz, increased - 3.4 GHz. The speed of work is enough to use a laptop as a "typewriter", watching videos or other simple tasks.

But the main advantage is in the other - excellent energy efficiency. The processor consumes only 5 watts of power, which, coupled with a variety of energy-saving technologies, allows live laptops of the order of 10-14 hours in offline mode! At the same time, the processor does not require active cooling, which means that the devices are beautiful, light and compact.

There are also disadvantages. The main one is cost. Prices for laptops based on Intel Core m3 start from 50 thousand rubles.

1 Intel Core i5 8250U

Leading position give the most productive processor in the classroom. Of course, among mobile CPUs there are much more productive models, but the combination of cost, performance and power consumption, in our opinion, is better in i5-8250U.It includes 4 cores (8 streams) of Kaby Lake-R, which operate at 1.6 to 3.4 GHz. In synthetic tests, the results are similar to desktop Core i3. In real conditions, the CPU easily copes with a dozen tabs in the browser, streaming video and photoshop. At the same time. And in conjunction with a discrete graphics card of the GTX1050 / 1050ti level in FullHD resolution, it produces stable 30-40 fps in modern games.

Performance is accompanied by high heat dissipation, which means good cooling is required. However, i5-8250U based laptops are lightweight and compact enough to always be with the owner. Finally, about the cost. Prices range from 30 to 70 thousand rubles, depending on the configuration.

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Celeron

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Core m

Core i3

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Core i7

Core i9

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