Comparison Intel Core i3 Coffee Lake i3-8100 OEM vs Intel Core i3 Haswell i3-4150 BOX

This parameter characterizes, firstly, the technical process (see above), and secondly, some features of the internal structure of processors. A new (or at least updated) codename is introduced to the market with each new CPU generation; chips of the same architecture are "coevals", but may belong to different series (see above). At the same time, one generation can include both one and several code names.

Here are the most common Intel codenames today: Cascade Lake-X (10th gen), Comet Lake (10th gen), Comet Lake Refresh (10th generation), Rocket Lake (11th generation), Alder Lake (12th generation), Raptor Lake (13th generation), Raptor Lake Refresh (14th generation).

For AMD, this list includes Zen+ Picasso, Zen2 Matisse, Zen2 Renoir, Zen3 Vermeer, Zen3 Cezanne, Zen4 Raphael and Zen4 Phoenix.

The type of connector (socket) for installing the processor on the motherboard. For normal compatibility, it is necessary that the CPU and motherboard match the socket type; before buying one and the other, this point should be clarified separately

The following sockets are relevant for Intel processors today: 1150, 1155, 1356, 2011, 2011 v3, 2066, 1151, 1151 v2, 3647, 1200 and 1700.

In turn, AMD processors are equipped with the following types of connectors: <AM3/AM3+, FM2/FM2+, AM4, AM5, TR4/TRX4, WRX8.

The technical process by which the CPU is manufactured.

The parameter is usually specified by the size of the individual semiconductor elements (transistors) that make up the processor integrated circuit. The smaller their size, the more advanced the technical process is considered: miniaturization of individual elements allows you to reduce heat generation, reduce the overall size of the processor and at the same time increase its flow Rate. CPU manufacturers are trying to move towards reducing the technical process, and the newer the processor, the lower the numbers you can see at this point.

The technical process is measured in nanometers (nm). In the modern arena of central processors, solutions made using the 7 nm, 10 nm, 12 nm process technology predominate, high-end CPU models are manufactured using the 4 nm and 5 nm process technology, 14 nm and 22 nm solutions are still afloat, and are rapidly fading into the background, but 28 nm and 32 nm occur periodically.

This parameter does not so much indicate the difference in technical characteristics as it describes the packaging and computer Hardware.

- OEM. The tray package, or OEM, provides that the processor is supplied without a cooling system (CO) and without a branded box - the packaging is usually a simple antistatic bag. You need to select and install cooling for such a CPU separately. In addition, components in tray packaging often have a shorter warranty period than in the box version, and their additional equipment is more meager. On the other hand, such solutions are noticeably cheaper, and the absence of CO allows you to select it separately, without relying on the manufacturer’s choice.

— BOX (without cooler). Processors packed in branded boxes, but not equipped with cooling systems (CO). Such packaging is more expensive than OEM, but the warranty period for “boxed” chips is usually much longer (for example, three years instead of one). The absence of a cooler, on the one hand, requires additional efforts to find and install a coolant; on the other hand, cooling can be selected according to your own criteria, without relying on the manufacturer’s choice. However, it is worth considering that when installing a cooler yourself, it is difficult to achieve the same efficiency from it as with a factory installation; This is especially critical if the CPU is planned to be intensively overc...locked; for such modes it is better to choose a box package with a cooler.

— BOX (with cooler). Processors packed in branded boxes and equipped with cooling systems (CO). Box packaging itself is more expensive than OEM, but this is compensated by a number of advantages - in particular, more extensive packaging and a longer warranty period. As for the presence of a cooler in the kit, it further increases the overall cost of the CPU, but eliminates the need to bother with the selection and installation of a separate cooling system. It is worth noting that the factory installation of CO allows you to achieve higher efficiency than independent installation, so for high loads (including overclocking) this particular configuration option is best suited. On the other hand, before purchasing, you need to check whether there is enough space in the case for a cooler: complete coolers can be quite bulky, and removing them can be difficult.

— MPK (with cooler, without box). The multipack package, or MPK for short, implies the delivery of a processor with a standard boxed cooling cooler, but without a box and accompanying documentation. The processor is usually packaged in a simple antistatic bag. The MPK package is more expensive than OEM due to the presence of a cooling system, but cheaper than BOX (with cooler) due to the absence of a box. At the same time, the multipack kit usually has a shorter warranty period than the BOX delivery option (with a cooler).

The number of physical cores provided in the processor design. The core is the part of the processor that is responsible for executing the instruction stream. The presence of multiple cores allows the CPU to work simultaneously with several tasks, which has a positive effect on performance. Initially, each physical core was intended to operate with one thread of commands, and the number of threads corresponded to the number of cores. However, today there are many processors that support multi-threading technologies and are capable of executing two streams of commands on each core at once. For more information about this, see “Amount of threads”.

Desktop processors have 2 cores (2 threads), as a rule, typical for budget models. 2 cores (4 threads) and 4 cores are typical for inexpensive mid-class solutions. 4 cores (8 threads), 6 cores, 6 cores (12 threads), 8 cores - a strong mid-range. 8 cores (16 threads), 10 cores, 12 cores, 16 cores and more are characteristic features of advanced models, including processors for servers and workstations.

At the same ti...me, it is worth considering that the actual capabilities of the CPU are determined not only by this parameter, but also by other characteristics - primarily by series and generation / architecture (see the corresponding paragraphs). It is not uncommon for situations where a more advanced and/or new dual-core processor turns out to be more powerful than a quad-core chip from a more modest series or an earlier architecture. So it makes sense to compare CPUs by the number of cores within the same series and generation.

Processor support for Hyper-threading.

Hyper-threading is actually a variant of simultaneous multithreading (SMT) developed by Intel and used in its chips since 2002. This technology is used to optimize the load on each physical processor core. Its key principle (simplified) is that each such core is defined by the system as 2 logical cores — for example, the system “sees” a dual-core processor as a quad-core one. At the same time, each physical core constantly switches between two logical cores, in fact, between two threads of commands: when a delay occurs in one thread (for example, in case of an error or while waiting for the result of the previous instruction), the core does not idle, but starts executing the second thread commands. Thanks to this technology, the response time of the processor is reduced, and in server systems, stability is increased with numerous connected users.

In AMD processors, a similar function is used under the original name SMT (see below).

The number of cycles per second that the processor produces in its normal operating mode. A clock is a single electrical impulse used to process data and synchronize the processor with the rest of the computer system. Different operations may require fractions of a clock or several clocks, but anyway, the clock frequency is one of the main parameters characterizing the performance and speed of the processor — all other things being equal, a processor with a higher clock frequency will work faster and better cope with significant loads. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the actual performance of the chip is determined not only by the clock frequency, but also by a number of other characteristics — from the series and architecture (see the relevant paragraphs) to the number of cores and support for special instructions. So it makes sense to compare by clock frequency only chips with similar characteristics belonging to the same series and generation.

The amount of Level 1 (L1) cache provided by the processor.

Cache is an intermediate memory buffer into which the most frequently used data from RAM is written when the processor is running. This speeds up access to them and has a positive effect on system performance. The larger the cache, the more data can be stored in it for quick access and the higher the performance. Level 1 cache has the highest performance and the smallest volume — up to 128 KB. It is an integral part of any processor.

The amount of Level 2 (L2) cache provided by the processor.

Cache is an intermediate memory buffer into which the most frequently used data from RAM is written during processor operation. This speeds up access to them and has a positive effect on system performance. The larger the cache, the more data can be stored in it for quick access and the higher the performance. Level 2 cache volume can reach 12 MB, the vast majority of modern processors have such a cache.