【CPU Recommendation 2022】CPU Buying Guide | Intel and AMD Comparison | Notes | FAQ 2022-11-22 Central Processing Unit is the full name of CPU, is the most important part of a computer. It is equivalent to the human brain, responsible for reading instructions and computing operations of the core components. Since the execution of any instructions and software have to go through the CPU, its performance also determines the performance of the computer. If the performance is not enough, it will not only reduce the speed of computing, but also will not be able to maximize the performance of other components. The CPUs on the market today are dominated by Intel and AMD, what is the difference between the two? What should I pay attention to when choosing a CPU? CPU Model Identification Intel AMD Comparison of Intel and AMD Points to note when choosing a CPU Usage Clock (Frequency) Number of Cores Structure Frequently Asked Questions Should I choose intel or AMD? Is it better to have more cores or a higher frequency? Are more cores bring better efficiency? 1. CPU model identification 1.1 Intel 1.1.1 Series The series names arranged from low to high are: Celeron, Pentium, Core i3, i5, i7, i9 series. i9 has the highest level of performance and is suitable for high-end games and professional graphics, while i3 is the lower level of the Core series and is suitable for general using. 1.1.2 Generations The first number after the series means the generation of the CPU, and the larger the number, the newer the generation. For example, i7-10700 means the 10th generation and I7-12700 measn the 12th generation. 1.1.3 Performance The second set of numbers represents the performance of the CPU and is a set of 3 digits, the larger the number the stronger it is. For example, the 11th generation i5 has three models: "i5-11400", "i5-11500" and "i5-11600", followed by various performance numbers, and "i5-11600" is the most powerful one in this series. 1.1.4 End-code Each letter represents a different meaning and is used to distinguish the function of each CPU, the following are the common end-code letters： H：For laptop computers F：without built-in display core G：Equipped with a better internal display K：Can be overclocked X：The most powerful CPU in its generation 1.2. AMD 1.2.1 Series The series names, in ascending order, are: APU / Althlon / Ryzen series R3 / R5 / R7 / R9. 1.2.2 Generations The first number represents the generation, and the larger the number, the newer the generation. For example, there are three CPUs: R7-3700X, R7-4750G, and R7-5800X. 1st one is the 3rd generation, 2nd one is the 4th generation, and 3rd one is the 5th generation. 1.2.3 Performance The 2nd - 3rd number means performance, the bigger the number the better the performance, for example, among R7-3700X and R7-3800X, R7-3800X will have better performance. 1.2.4 End-Code Like Intel, it also gives different meanings to the letters, and the following are the commonly used tail codes： H：For laptops X：Can be overclocked G：With internal display WX：The most powerful CPU in the same generation 2. Comparison of Intel and AMD As seen above, Intel and AMD have similar standards and can be more easily differentiated by their series: 3 is low end, 5 is mid-range, and 7 and 9 are high end. Currently, the Intel platform has an advantage over AMD in terms of performance, plus it has a high market share, easy maintenance, and is also more stable and durable, but at a higher price. AMD, on the other hand, is not only high CP value, more suitable for overclocking, but also has made significant progress in performance in recent years. 3. Points to note when choosing a CPU 3.1 Usage Computers can be roughly divided into several uses: general working, gaming, graphics, and video editing. If the computer is only used for basic daily needs such as Internet access and data entry, Intel's i3 series or AMD's R3 will be sufficient. If you want to play high-end games, or need to cut film, graphics, and need a higher performance computer, it is recommended to start with i5, R5; if you have enough budget, i7, R7 will be a better choice; if you want to have higher performance and do not care about the budget, then i9, R9 is definitely your best choice! Intel： Low-end: I3 for data entry/browsing internet Mid-range: I5 gaming/graphics/video editing High-end: I7 gaming/graphics/video editing High-end: I9 gaming/graphics/video editing AMD： Low-level: R3 data entry / browsing internet Mid-level: R5 Game/Graphics/Video Clip Advanced: R7, R9 game/graphics/video clips 3.2 Clock (frequency) The clock refers to the frequency of the processor, usually marked by the unit of GHz next to the CPU number, the clock is related to the execution speed of the core, representing the number of times the CPU can be executed in one cycle, with the same level of CPU such as: i7 8400 2.8GHz / i7 8500 3.0GHz, the latter will have better performance due to the higher clock. Although the difference between these two CPUs is 0.2GHz, the difference in performance is not too big and it is hard to feel the difference in speed in general use. In addition, the clock to compare performance can only be used for the same core number, the same process, the same architecture is valid, so Intel and AMD cannot use this method to compare. 3.3 Number of cores Multi-core refers to a processor has a number of processing cores, the more cores, the faster the speed will be. But not every software supports multi-core. Even if there is a 12-core processor, if the software only supports 2 cores, the remaining 10 cores are useless. At present, only games will support more than 8 cores, most of the clerical software will not support so many cores to execute, so if you are forming a clerical computer, you don't need to buy a CPU with many cores. 3.4 Structure Structure refers to the design structure used in each generation of processors, usually updated every two years, such as the Zen3 structure. Because of the different structures, it may happen that the processor of structure A obviously has higher cores and frequency than the processor of structure B, but the processor of structure B is better than the processor of structure A. Therefore, it is not suitable to compare the processors of different structures in terms of frequency and cores. 4. Frequently Asked Questions 4.1 Should I choose intel or AMD? In terms of the two major CPU brands, Intel and AMD, Intel is the leading brand and has a higher market share. In terms of price, Intel is more expensive at the same level, so if we consider the CP value, AMD may be higher. If you don't know much about computers and want to keep it simple, then Intel may be more suitable; if you are looking for the maximum CP value, then AMD, the CP value of the same level of products AMD will be higher. 4.2 Is it better to have more cores or a higher frequency? If you run a lot of different programs at the same time, it is certainly better to have more cores, if you usually run a single program, it is better to have a high clock. 4.3 Are more cores bring better efficiency? More core doesn't necessarily mean that the performance on gaming is better. Sometimes, the single-core clock is even better, because not all games support such a high number of cores, so it is a waste, so just pick a CPU with the right price that meets your needs.
