Comparing Intel Core i5 vs. i7

For many consumers who are on the hunt for a new desktop or laptop PC, one of the biggest considerations is the type of processor. Two of the processors most often in contention are the Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7. Discounting Core i3 (mainly found in budget systems) and AMD processors (another story entirely), the difference between Intel Core i5 and Core i7 can seem daunting, especially when the prices seem so close together once they're in completed systems. We break down the differences for you.

Price and Marketing

Simply put, Core i5-equipped systems will be less expensive than Core i7-equipped PCs. Intel has moved away from the star ratings it used with previous-generation Core processors in favor of a capability-driven marketing message. Essentially, the Core i7 processors have more capabilities than Core i5 CPUs. Core i7 will be better for multitasking, multimedia tasks, high-end gaming, and scientific work. Core i7 processors are certainly aimed at people who complain that their current system is "too slow." Spot-checking a system like the midrange Lenovo ThinkPad T440s ultrabook, you'll find the Core i5 to be about $170 less expensive than a similarly equipped Core i7 system.

Core Confusion

For the most part, you'll get faster CPU performance from Core i7 than Core i5. The majority of Core i7 desktop CPUs are quad-core processors, while many mobile Core i5 processors are dual core. This is not always the case, as there are dual-core mobile Core i7 processors and several quad-core desktop Core i5 CPUs. You might also see the rare six-core Core i7, but that's usually found with the desktop-only, top-of-the-line Extreme Edition models.
The Core nomenclature has been used for several generations of CPUs. Nehalem and Westmere use three-digit model names (i.e., Intel Core i7-920), while Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, and Haswell CPUs use four-digit model names (such as the Intel Core i7-4600). Thankfully, unless you're shopping the used PC market, you'll find Ivy Bridge processors in closeout systems and budget PCs, while you'll find Haswell processors in most new PCs. Older-generation Nehalem, Westmere, and Sandy Bridge cores are found in older PCs and generally have lower performance. The essential takeaway is that to get better performance in each generation, buy a processor with a higher model number. For instance, an Intel Core i7-4770 generally has better performance than an Intel Core i5-4200.