i3 processor comparison

Tim Deegan · 29-12-2011, 11:28

My daughter is buying a laptop, and we are trying to compare different specifications. Now I used to know which were the best procesors, but I'm a bit out of date with it all now.

A laptop she has found has a Intel® Core™ i3-370M, but the one I have found has an Intel® Core™ i3-2330M. Now I've always gone by the rule with computers, that the higher the number the better. Is this true? And is there really much difference between them?

SnoopZ · 29-12-2011, 11:45

The i3-2330M is the latest sandybridge processor and that is the 1 to go for and i believe the older none sandybridge models are being discontinued in 2012.

The i3 sandybridge is a fantastic cpu for the money even though it is entry level.

You can compare their performance here http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

Intel Core i3-2330M @ 2.20GHz Pass Mark 2772(higher is better) Rank 288(lower is better) <----- Best CPU to buy
Intel Core i3 370M @ 2.40GHz Pass Mark 2220(higher is better) Rank 363(lower is better)

Tim Deegan · 29-12-2011, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

The i3-2330M is the latest sandybridge processor and that is the 1 to go for and i believe the older none sandybridge models are being discontinued in 2012.

The i3 sandybridge is a fantastic cpu for the money even though it is entry level.

You can compare their performance here http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

Intel Core i3-2330M @ 2.20GHz Pass Mark 2772(higher is better) Rank 288(lower is better)
Intel Core i3 370M @ 2.40GHz Pass Mark 2220(higher is better) Rank 363(lower is better)

Many thanks. That all adds up as the 370 is in the sale, which usually means that it is reduced to clear as a discontinued model. But the 2330 is a brand new model direct from the manufacturer.

**Chris** · 29-12-2011, 14:34

Just to broaden the discussion a little, if Intel is distinguishing between processors with the string of numbers after the i3, firstly what do those numbers mean, and secondly what's the distinction between i3, i5 and i7? It was so much easier when there was an easy-to-compare clock speed in the processor's name!

SnoopZ · 29-12-2011, 14:53

Yes it is complicated now.

i3 (sandybridge) has 2 cores and 4 threads and can't be overclocked.
i5 (sandybridge) has 4 cores and 4 threads and can be easily overclocked.
i7 (sandybridge) has 4 cores and 8 threads and can be easily overclocked.

http://lanoc.org/review/pc-hardware/...dge-comparison

**Rob** · 29-12-2011, 16:03

The easily overclocked bit is usually denoted by a letter "K" after the processor number i.e i7 2600K. If there is no K the chip is locked.

For many years the clock speed has only been suited to comparing CPUs in the same range.

SnoopZ · 29-12-2011, 16:30

Yes that's true, also there isn't a K version of the i3 processor. I recently upgraded from a AMD 3200 64bit cpu to a i3 2100 and it is a very good entry level cpu indeed, although if i was a gamer the 2500K is the cpu to go for.

Tim Deegan · 29-12-2011, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Yes it is complicated now.

i3 (sandybridge) has 2 cores and 4 threads and can't be overclocked.
i5 (sandybridge) has 4 cores and 4 threads and can be easily overclocked.
i7 (sandybridge) has 4 cores and 8 threads and can be easily overclocked.

http://lanoc.org/review/pc-hardware/...dge-comparison

What are tye pros and cons of overclocking, and how do you do it?

SnoopZ · 29-12-2011, 17:31

I have never overclocked before but i have heard that anyone can easily overclock an i5K or i7K desktop cpu just by changing the settings in the bios giving quite a good speed increase with very little effort.

Overclocking increases the heat of the cpu and stability of the computer so it is important to get the balance right, but the i5K and i7K cpus make for very good overclocks.

I am sure there are people on this site experienced in overclocking 1 of these processors and know what they're talking about.