This is the best of the best when it comes to Intel's processor offerings, sporting the most cache, the largest number of physical and virtual cores, and the most advanced integrated graphics. We recommend the Core i7 series of processors for enthusiasts or for users who will be handling extreme applications, such as video and photo editing. They won't destroy a budget and will be more capable of handling intense tasks than Core i3s. The Core i5 family of processors is considered optimal for gaming and productivity. This paves the way for four physical cores to handle everything Windows can throw at the component. The Core i5 takes a quad-core processor and strips out hyper-threading. This line of CPU is best suited for PCs that will be used for email, word processing, light gaming, communications and web browsing. These processors are more affordable, and they have hyper-threading for improved performance under load but aren't powerful enough for advanced gaming or intensive applications. Intel's Core i3 is ideal for people who don't require much power. Cache is an important specification that helps the processor perform specific tasks more efficiently. The Core i3 processors don't support Intel's Turbo Boost technology, for example, and they also sport less cache than their Core i5 and Core i7 counterparts. There are a number of differences between these product lines.

Core i7: Quad-core processors with hyper-threading.

Core i5: Quad-core processors without hyper-threading.

Core i3: Dual-core processors with hyper-threading.

Now that we have the more complex processor codenames out of the way, here's a brief overview of the three processor families: This should solve the mystery of the codenames, but we always recommend double-checking processor features and specifications on store listings and Intel's Ark platform.

U - Ultra low power, usually found on laptop processors (slower than desktop chips).

T - Optimized for efficient desktop computing.

What about the K located at the end of the Core i5-7600K? That is a suffix Intel uses to show specific features the processors sport.

It's worth noting if you're considering Intel's 7th-gen processors that they only support Windows 10. If you wish to go for the more capable CPUs, be sure to check the higher model numbers within a product line. The Core i5-7 600K is more advanced than the i5-7 500, for example. The latter three digits determine the SKU and just how powerful the processor is within its immediate product line. Simply look at the first digit in a model number, and you'll be able to tell if it's a newer or older processor.

Taking the examples above, the Core i5- 6400 is sixth generation, while the i5- 7600K is part of the most recent, seventh-gen. It's actually really easy to determine the generation a particular processor belongs to.

Is intel core i5 2400 good for gaming