Picking the right processor for your computer is a challenging task since it’s the heart of the device and plays a vital role in accelerating its performance. This is the place where most tasks, from the simple to high-end ones, are carried out.
From lazy web browsing to playing hyper-active resource-intensive video games, the processor is responsible for handling them all. That’s why it’s essential to spend some time selecting a processor that meets your particular needs and fits your budget.
What Are Processors?
You must have heard the tech geeks discussing CPUs in numbers such as the processor cores, megahertz, cache, clock time, to name a few. The discussion seems interesting even though it’s difficult for users with average skills to understand and digest it completely.
A processor is an integrated circuit that performs arithmetic and logical calculations to enable your computer to run a program. Often, the terms CPU and processor are used interchangeably; they are different, though. The processor is a part of the CPU with dedicated functions.
When buying a processor, it’s important to understand its specifications in detail and the type of tasks it can perform. Well, before that, you need to make up your mind about what brand you would want to buy.
The simple rule for selecting the processor for your computer is to check the launch date. Whether you select AMD or Intel, anything that has been launched in the last two years will give you optimal performance for all the tasks you perform on the computer.
If you are finding performance issues on your device, it’s not always the slow processor that is at fault. It can be the low storage, insufficient RAM, or other possible reasons described that might be causing the problem.
At present, the two giant manufacturers in the computer processor domain are Intel and AMD, available in different generations. With Intel, you get i3, i5, i7, and i9 processors, with i9 being the latest available in the market while AMD is available as AMD S8, AMD A9, AMD A10, and AMD Ryzen 3/5/7/9.
How to Select the Processor for Your Computer?
Well, a few aspects can help you choose the right processor. However, a little research is important before you make the final purchase decision.
- Decide between Intel and AMD
- Select the labels and generation
- Choose the cores and threads
- Find about integrated graphics
- Know about clocks and IPC
- Check for power and thermal specifications
Step 1: Decide Between Intel and AMD
With a wide variety of options available for Intel or AMD processors, the decision over which one to buy becomes difficult. Both these brands give you the best performance, and both are available within budget. Here, you need to explore more about the ones that are introduced within the last 24 months and what each generation has to offer in terms of performance.
Step 2: Check Labels and Generations
Both Intel and AMD processors use the same technology in different generations they offer. A generation is the group of processors that falls under the same category and have been launched in the same year. Each new generation comes with significant improvements to deliver better performance than the previous one.
Step 3: Choose the Cores and Threads
The tiny processors integrated together to make a processor chip are called cores. Each core handles one task, so multiple cores are required for multitasking. The tasks that the processor can perform at any given time are known as a thread. Dual-core is sufficient to check emails and typing documents, whereas gaming requires a quad-core or higher processor, especially if we are talking about high-end games.
Step 4: Find About Integrated Graphics
Integrated graphics is another processor that a CPU contains for processing graphics. Most AMD processors lack the graphics processor, and the user needs to buy it separately. Find a processor that integrates a graphics processor, and do not forget to check out the compatibility and performance parameters for maximum output.
Step 5: Know About Clock and IPC
The clock is the speed, measured as gigahertz (GHz) or megahertz (MHz), at which the processor cores complete all given tasks. On the other hand, the IPC (Instructions Per Clock) is the measurement of the number of instructions that the processor handles in one clock cycle, which is usually 1 second.
Step 6: Check for Power & Thermal Specs
When buying a processor, you expect it to work faster than the previous one, though neither Intel or AMD mentions the power consumption rate on its processors. The Thermal Design Power rating mentioned on processors expresses the power consumption in the Wattage unit. If you are looking to buy a silent and high-performance processor, go for a 100 W TDP.
