Within the same generation of CPUs, unless your i5 is on the bottom end, it's probably not worth it. The difference between an i5 and an i7 is not as significant as the difference between CPUs of various generations, and considerations like clock speed, etc etc.
If the upgrade processor requires socket that is currently in your motherboard then you can buy i7 6700k and upgrade to it without changing motherboard. So, just check the socket type which is currently in your motherboard with i5 Processor. And then check which Socket type your i7 6700k New upgrade processor requires.
After running both processors (the 4.5GHz i7-7700K and the 4.2GHz i5-7600K) through the ringer in a computer that was otherwise the exact same, we can say, without a doubt, that you should save your money. For most people the i7 just isn't worth it.
The best Intel processors for 2020
- Intel Core i5-10600K. This chip provides the best bang for your buck, especially if you intend to overclock.
- Intel Core i3-10100. While it can't be overclocked, this chip is ideal for building the perfect entry-level gaming PC.
- Intel Core i7-10700K.
- Intel Core i9-10900K.
On the performance front, the 10thgen Intel Core i5 chip equals the 8thgen Intel Core i7 processor on almost all fronts. The 10thgen CPUs have better smart cache memory. The cores and threading performances are equal for both these CPUs. On the overclocking front, the Intel Core i7 CPUs are better.
The base clock speeds on the i7 are faster than the i5 (meaning it's faster), and you can bump up to a higher clock speed on the i7 with Turbo Boost than the i5. So it's basically a naming convention, putting the i5 in the mainstream tier and the i7 in the enthusiast tier.
A clock speed of 3.5 GHz to 4.0 GHz is generally considered a good clock speed for gaming but it's more important to have good single-thread performance. This means that your CPU does a good job of understanding and completing single tasks.
Intel CPUs are typically the favorite choice for performance and overclocking enthusiasts. Intel's top CPUs cost more than their AMD counterparts, especially once you add in a decent cooler, but they're often a bit faster in games. AMD meanwhile is able to trounce Intel when it comes to multithreaded applications.
i7s naturally are very good at video editing due to the hyperthreading feature which could result up to a 30% performance boost, but they're usually more expensive than the i5 peers. the i7 processor I have in mind is the i7 8700K(link to amazon). The i7 8700K has 6 cores and 12 threads clocked in at 3.70Ghz.
The i7 wpuld be better for graphics intensive work, like having, or computational processing that leverages raw CPU or Open-CL due to the faster CPU, and more capable GPU. The i5 is better for memory intensive processes, like photo editing. The i5 is better for memory intensive processes, like photo editing.
Benchmarks of the Core i5-1035G1 show a decent performance bump over the older i5-8265U and i5-8250U. Interestingly, the 15-Watt i5-1035G1 is slightly faster than the comparable i5-9300H from the current 9th Gen Core H high-performance lineup with much greater 45-Watt power consumption.
With the i5's, they may handle editing however with anything higher such as rendering, they may struggle slightly unless you have either the highest level i5 or step up to an i7. With the current generation i5 processors, editing will work but to a limit. They will do the job.
Core-i5 definitionsA family of dual and quad core, 64-bit, x86 CPUs from Intel, introduced in 2009. The Core i5 chips are the midrange CPUs in the Core "i" line between the entry-level i3 and the high-performance i7 series. Certain models of the i5 family include the Turbo Boost feature (see Turbo Boost).
Intel® processor generations are identified in the processor number in all Intel® Core™ processor brands. In a four-digit processor number, the first digit typically represents the generation. For example, a processor with the digits 9800 is a 9th gen processor, while one labeled 8800 is 8th gen technology.
If you're primarily interested in high-end gaming performance, you should opt for a mid-range Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU. Considering that the graphics card is more important for gaming than the processor, you can save money by not getting a more powerful Core i7 or Ryzen 7 chip.
Single-core performance shows Intel's i7-7700K scoring higher than the Ryzen 7 1800X, but with multi-core performance, the Ryzen 7 1800X outdoes the i7-7700K. If you are a consumer who is heavily focused on 3D rendering, video encoding, gaming or heightened overclocking, then the Ryzen is the way to go.
The Quad-Core i7, which was once used in the 15in MacBook Pro offered some features that the Quad-Core i5 didn't, one of which was Hyper threading, which we discuss below. Thanks to these features, i7 processors were better for multitasking, multimedia, high-end gaming, and scientific work.
If your priority is gaming, something in the Core i5 - though the i7 does prevail - or Ryzen 5 range will be sufficient, but if you're working with a high-end system or you do a significant amount of extra, demanding work, you're probably going to need a high-end chip like one of Intel's 9th gen Core i9s.
A Core i3 with Hyper-Threading can process two threads per core which means a total of four threads can run simultaneously. i7 processors do have it, so can process eight threads at once. Combine that with 8MB of cache and Turbo Boost (below), and you can see why Core i7 chips are more powerful than an i5 or i3.
Expect smooth gameplay on popular PC gaming titles with 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 laptop processors. GHz for great gameplay experiences. Cores to support the latest games. Threads for light multi-tasking while gaming.
Best Laptops with Intel 8th-gen Processor
- ASUS S510UN-BQ217T. User Rating: 5/5
- Acer A515-51G. Acer A515-51G falls in the same price range as HP NOTEBOOK 15-BS146TU.
- HP PAVILION 15-CC129TX.
- Dell Inspiron 5570.
- HP NOTEBOOK 15-BS146TU.
- Dell Inspiron 15 7570.
Speaking generally, i9s are simply faster processors than are i7s – more cores, higher clock, more cache. The big differentiator is when it comes to Hyperthreading, the feature that creates two processing threads for every physical core. For 9th Gen Core processors, Intel has restricted Hyperthreading to i9 only.
The Core i5-6500 is a 3.2GHz base-clock CPU that starts around $200. While I don't generally recommend trying to “future proof” a system–it's often not worth the premium you pay–CPUs now last long enough to make buying a core with an eye towards the future a reasonable decision.
