How to choose a CPU
Greetings! What is the central processing unit of a personal computer (PC’s CPU)? Now we will try to find out everything about processors and find out how to choose a CPU. From the name it became clear that this is some kind of CENTRAL DETAIL of the PC, which means a very important part of ony computer . And before we get started, let me remind you about other articles about topic “How to built a PC by yourself for beginners”:
CPU (bottom view)
- How to build a computer for beginners (overall)
- How to choose a PC case
- How to choose power supply for PC
- How to choose a motherboard
- How to choose a CPU [you are here now]
- What is RAM?
- How to choose a graphics card for PC
Intel or AMD: which CPU should you choose
Intel and AMD are the two main competitors in the CPU market. And they really take the lead. Intel, of course, wins this battle. But the price of Intel processors is much higher than AMD. So… which CPU should you choose?
Intel CPU families
- Celeron – for office tasks (2 cores)
- Pentium – for entry-level multimedia (2-4 cores)
- Core i3 – for multimedia and entry-level gaming PCs of the middle class (2 cores, 4 threads)
- Core i5 – for powerful and gaming PCs (2-4 cores, 4-8 threads)
- Core i7 – for professional PCs (4-10 cores, 8-20 threads)
- Core i9 – for heavy duty workstations (10-18 cores, 20-36 threads)
AMD CPU families
- Sempron – for office tasks (2 cores)
- Athlon – for entry-level multimedia and gaming PCs (2 cores)
- Phenom – for multimedia and gaming PCs of the middle class (2-4 cores)
- A4, A6 – for office tasks (2 cores)
- A8, A10 – for office tasks and undemanding games (4 cores)
- FX – for mid-range gaming PCs (4-8 cores)
- Ryzen 3, 5, 7, 9 – next generation processors (4-16 cores, 8-32 threads)
Main characteristics of central processors
I suggest you familiarize yourself with the main characteristics of central processors. Knowing all the specifications will help you choose a processor, so get into it.
Sockets
We have already talked about sockets in the article about the motherboard. You already know that in order for the processor to be inserted into the motherboard, it is necessary that their sockets match. This is a necessary condition. Sockets of modern Intel processors are LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA2011, LGA2011-3, LGA 2066 . Sockets of modern AMD processors – AM3+, FM2+, AM 4, SP3, TR4.
Number of CPU cores
Intel Xeon E5 v4
As I noted a little higher, CPUs can consist of several cores. Their number can vary from 1 to 16 pieces, and in server processors such as Intel Xeon – up to 64 cores. Processor power is not always directly related to the number of cores. So, for example, a 2-core Intel core i3 will be much more powerful than a 4-core Intel Pentium. Other characteristics of the processor should be taken into account.
CPU Clock Speed
Here the situation is similar with the number of cores – not always more means more powerful. Although, of course, you need to focus on these figures. The frequency of a modern CPU can range from 1700 megahertz to 4000 megahertz, and sometimes even higher. Plus, the frequency can be increased by overclocking the processor, but if you raise the performance of your computer in this way, do not forget to take care of more efficient cooling system of the overclocked processor.
Cache memory of the central processor
This parameter is less important than the previous ones, but in the aggregate it also matters. On different processors, the cache memory can be 2-, 3- and 4-level.
Cache L1 – has the smallest amount of memory, at the same time it is the fastest. However, you can generally ignore it when choosing a processor.
Cache L2 – has a larger volume of memory, but it is slightly slower. The second level cache is more important. But if the processor has a cache of levels 3 and 4, then the second level cache becomes less important.
Cache L3 – not available on all processors.
Cache L4 is rare. Its presence indicates the modernity of the processor. And it’s good if it exists, but if it doesn’t exist, don’t be upset, this is not the most important parameter. Take a closer look at cache levels 2 and 3.
CPU graphics core (definitely not about how to choose a CPU for gaming)
Many modern processors have a built-in graphics core. Let’s say if you need a computer not for games, but for office work or Internet surfing, then this graphics core will be enough for you. In this case, you can save money on the discrete graphics card.
Manufacturing Tech
Refers to the semiconductor fabrication technology used to manufacture the processor. Depicted in nanometers (nm).
This parameter will depend not on the processor’s performance, but on its power consumption and heat dissipation. The lower the value of this parameter, the more energy efficient the processor is and the less it heats up. The manufacturing process of modern processors is in the range from 7 to 130 nm (nanometers).
How to choose a CPU if you still don’t understand the main specifications
If you still haven’t figured out the basic characteristics of processors, then you can just use online benchmarks. They will show which processor is more powerful. Some of them are PassMark, CPU Benchmark, User Benchmark.
Using these benchmarks, you will understand exactly how to choose the PCU that suits you. Good luck!
