Comparison Impression CoolPlay I2216 vs Everest Home 80105204

The model of the chipset used in the standard configuration of the PC.

A chipset can be described as a set of chips that provides the combined operation of the central processor, RAM, I / O devices, etc. It is this chipset that underlies any motherboard. Knowing the chipset model, you can find and evaluate its detailed characteristics; most users do not need such information, but for specialists it can be very useful.

The specific model of the processor installed in the PC, or rather, its index within its series (see "Processor"). The full model name consists of the series name and this index — for example, Intel Core i3 3220; knowing this name, you can find detailed information about the processor (characteristics, reviews, etc.) and determine how suitable it is for your purposes.

Clock speed of the CPU installed in the PC.

In theory, higher clock speeds have a positive effect on performance because they allow the CPU to perform more operations per unit of time. However, this indicator is rather weakly related to real productivity. The fact is that the actual capabilities of the CPU strongly depend on a number of other factors - the overall architecture, cache size, number of cores, support for special instructions, etc. As a result, you can compare by this indicator only chips from the same or similar series (see “CPU”), and ideally, also from the same generation. And that's pretty approximate.

Processor clock speed when running in TurboBoost or TurboCore mode.

Turbo Boost technology is used in Intel processors, Turbo Core — AMD. The essence of this technology is the same both there and there: if some of the cores work under high load, and some are idle, then some tasks are transferred from more loaded cores to less loaded ones, which improves performance. This usually increases the clock frequency of the processor; this value is indicated in this paragraph. See above for more information on clock speed in general.

The type of RAM used in the computer. This indicator describes both the general level of "RAM" and the possibilities for replacing and upgrading it: different types of RAM are not compatible with each other.

Here are the types of memory that are relevant for modern PCs:

— DDR3. The third generation of RAM with the so-called double data transfer. Some time ago, this standard was the most popular in computer technology, but now it is increasingly losing ground to newer and more advanced standards, primarily DDR4. In compact computers, there is a "mobile", energy-saving version of this memory standard — LPDDR3.

— DDR3L. A modification of DDR3 memory that supports operation at a reduced voltage — 1.35 V instead of 1.5 V (Low Voltage — hence the index L). Lower voltage improves performance. These modules are compatible with classic DDR3 slots.

— DDR4. Further, after DDR3, the development of the DDR standard, released in 2014. It features both increased performance and increased volumes — the capacity of one bar can be from 2 to 128 GB. Thus, the maximum amount of RAM in most PCs is limited more by the capabilities of the motherboard than by the characteristics of existing brackets. DDR4 is very popular in modern computer technology, including desktop PCs.

The clock speed of the RAM that comes with the PC. This is one of the parameters that determine the capabilities of RAM: with the same amount and type of memory (see above), a higher clock frequency will mean faster performance. However such details are rarely required by an ordinary user, but they are important for enthusiasts and professionals.

Also note that this indicator can be used to determine the possibilities for upgrading the system: the motherboard will be able to work normally with brackets that have the same or lower clock frequency, but compatibility with faster memory should be specified separately.

The type of video card used in a PC. Modern computers can be equipped with either integrated modules (such as products from Apple and Intel — HD Graphics, UHD Graphics, and Iris), or discrete video cards (including professional level ones), which can be installed in multiple units using SLI or CrossFire technology. Additionally, configurations without any graphic adapters can also be found on the market. Here is a more detailed description of each option:

— Integrated. Video cards built directly into the processor (less commonly into the motherboard) and lacking their own dedicated memory: memory for video processing is taken from the general RAM. The main advantages of such modules are low cost, low power consumption, minimal heat generation (not requiring special cooling systems), and extremely compact size. On the other hand, the performance of this type of graphics is low: it is sufficient for simple everyday tasks like web surfing, video viewing, and undemanding games, but for more serious purposes, it is advisable to have a discrete video adapter in the system. Moreover, the fact that integrated systems use part of the system RAM during operation does not cont...ribute to performance.

— Discrete. Video cards in the form of separate modules with a specialized processor and their own memory. They are noticeably more expensive than integrated ones, take up more space, and consume more energy, but all these drawbacks are compensated by the key advantage — high performance. This allows working even with "heavy" graphic content like modern games, 3D rendering, video editing in high resolutions, etc. (although the specific characteristics of discrete graphics can, of course, vary). Additionally, graphics processing in such systems does not use the main RAM, which is also an important advantage. For additional performance enhancement, discrete video adapters can be combined into SLI / CrossFire systems, this option is specified separately (see below). Also, note that in most modern PCs, such graphics are combined with a processor that has a built-in graphics core and often work in a hybrid mode: the integrated module is used for simple tasks, and when the load increases, the system switches to the discrete video card.

— SLI / CrossFire. Several discrete video cards (see above), combined into a bundle using SLI technology (used by NVIDIA) or CrossFire (used by AMD). From the perspective of an ordinary user, there are no fundamental differences between these technologies: both allow combining the computing power of several video cards, thereby increasing graphic performance. However, such graphics are not cheap, and therefore they are used exclusively in high-performance PCs with a focus on graphic capabilities — particularly gaming ones.

— Purchased separately. The absence of any video card in the initial PC configuration. A rather rare option found in certain high-end workstations: such configurations are equipped with professional processors without a built-in graphics core and do not have discrete graphics — it is assumed that it is more convenient for the user to purchase such an adapter separately.

The main manufacturers of video cards nowadays are AMD, NVIDIA and Intel, and each has its own specifics. NVIDIA produces primarily discrete solutions; Among the most common are the GeForce MX1xx, GeForce MX3xx, GeForce GTX 10xx series (in particular GTX 1050, GTX 1050 Ti and GTX 1060), GeForce GTX 16xx, GeForce RTX 20xx, GeForce RTX 30xx( GeForce RTX 3060, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, GeForce RTX 3070, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, GeForce RTX 3080, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, GeForce RTX 3090, GeForce RTX 3090 Ti), GeForce RTX 4060 , GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, GeForce RTX 4070, GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, Ge Force RTX 4080, GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, GeForce RTX 4090 and separate Quadro series. AMD offers both discrete and integrated graphics - including the popular Radeon RX 500, Radeon RX 5000, Radeon RX 6000, Radeon RX 7000 and AMD Radeon Pro series. And Intel deals exclusively with modules integrated into processors of its own production - these can be HD Graphics, UHD Graphics and Iris.

Note that many configurations with discrete graphics also have an integrated graphics module; in such cases, the name of the discrete video card is indicated as more advanced.

The amount of native memory provided by the discrete graphics card (see "Graphics card type").

The larger this volume, the more powerful and advanced the video adapter is, the better it handles with complex tasks and, accordingly, the more expensive it is. Nowadays, 2 GB and 3 GB are considered quite modest, 4 GB are not bad, 6 GB and 8 GB are very solid, and more than 8 GB means that we have a specialized PC built for maximum graphics performance.