Why choosing a processor is essential while purchasing a laptop? A processor commonly known as CPU is the brain of a computer. The performance of your laptop is directly proportional to the CPU used.

Before purchasing a laptop it is essential to know about the processor that fits perfect as per your needs. Moreover, a CPU in a laptop matters more than a desktop because you can upgrade the processor of your desktop anytime, but this is generally not possible with a laptop. In laptops, mostly the processors are soldered into the motherboards. Thus, we have come up with a detailed explanation on “How to choose a processor for laptop.” This guide will surely help you choose the best processor for laptop according to your requirements.

Deciphering the Core difference

Before choosing a processor for your laptop, it is important to decipher the difference between processors. There are two major manufacturers i.e., Intel and AMD, ruling the market of the processors. Their different models have different clock speed, cores, cache, and other specifications. The decision making process becomes a lot more easier once you get a clear picture of what you are looking for. AMD is the perfect choice for entry-level users with medium work requirements, whereas Intel manufactures premium processors for pro users with heavy work demand.

In the past decade, Intel had the authority in the CPU market and always dominated AMD. But AMD came back in the race after the launch of Ryzen 7 series. This series was specifically manufactured to compete with the features of Intel Core-i7 processor and Ryzen 7 series did ace the race. After the success of Ryzen 7 series, without any delay, AMD launched Ryzen 3 and 5 series which are pretty much similar to the 7 series with a few changes and modifications. Currently, the latest offering of AMD is Ryzen 9 which is an 8-core and 16-thread (hyperthreading) processor designed for heavy work purpose. To compete with Ryzen 9 series, Intel launched Core-i9 which is an 8-core and 16-thread (hyperthreading) processor.

Basic criteria for choosing a processor

Processor performance depends on number of factors. Here we discuss all the important factors that affect the performance of the processor.

Clock Speed

In the past decades, processors were identified by their clock speed. A processor with a higher clock speed would  be faster than a processor with lower clock speed. But this is not the scene anymore. Many other factors decide the speed of a processor like the number of cores, cache, optimizations, etc. This is the reason, sometimes, you will find high-end laptops with lower clock speed than entry-level ones. Fastest core speed doesn’t indicate the best performance of a processor.

Number of cores

When you go to purchase a smart-phone or a laptop, you see this term thrown around everywhere. But what is the significance of the number of cores? The computing speed of your CPU is directly proportional to the number of cores. A 4 core CPU is equivalent to 2 CPUs having 2 cores each. It permits multi threading software to operate faster. The number of cores usually depends on the series of processor. For example, Intel Core i3 processor comes with 2-core configuration whereas 4-core and 6-core processors can be found in Intel Core i7 and i9 processors.

Hyperthreading / Simultaneous Multi-threading

Hyperthreading or simultaneous multi-threading is a feature that you will find in high-end processors. It basically means that one core of the processor can simultaneously work on two different software programs or threads. This feature is not available in all processors, but you will definitely experience a noticeable difference in the performance of processors that come with this feature.

Turbo Boost

Turbo Boost is another ad on feature available in premium processors. It increases the processor clock speed depending upon the work demand. If the performance demand is more, the turbo boost feature senses it and increases the speed of the processor beyond the rated speed for a short span of time to achieve high performance.

Features of Intel Processors

Processor name	Clock speed	Number of Cores	Battery life	Hyperthreading	Turbo Boost	Cache Memory
Intel core i3	3.4 – 4.8 GHz	2 or more	5-6 Hrs.	Yes	No	4 – 6 MB
Intel Core i5	2.4 – 3.8 GHz	4 or more	7-9 Hrs.	Yes	Yes	8 – 12 MB
Intel Core i7	2.9 – 4.2 GHz	4 or more	8-10 Hrs.	Yes	Yes	8 – 12 MB
Intel Core i9	2.3 – 5.3 GHz	8 or more	11 Hrs.	Yes	Yes	16 – 20 MB

Features of AMD Processors

Processor name	Clock speed	Number of Cores	Battery life	Hyperthreading	Turbo Boost	Cache Memory
AMD Ryzen5	3.0 – 4.0 GHz	6	10 Hrs.	Yes	Yes	3 MB
AMD Ryzen7	2.9 – 4.2 GHz	8	11 – 13 Hrs.	Yes	Yes	4 MB
AMD Ryzen9	3.0 – 4.3 GHz	8	8 – 10 Hrs.	Yes	Yes	4 MB

A Quick Guide to choose a processor according to the activity

Activity	Processor
Web Browsing, email and typing work	Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium, Intel Core i3, AMD A6, AMD Ryzen 3
Streaming and watching videos	Intel Core i3, AMD A8, AMD A9, Ryzen 3
Office work	Intel i3, Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 3, AMD Ryzen 5
Programming, Coding	Intel i5, Intel i7, AMD Ryzen 5, AMD Ryzen 7
Heavy Gaming	Intel i5, Intel i7, AMD Ryzen 5, AMD Ryzen 7
3D modeling, Designing	Intel i7, Intel i9, AMD Ryzen 7

AMD or Intel Processors: Which one to choose?

When it comes to choosing between AMD and Intel processor, the decision-making totally depends on your work requirement. For example, if you are looking for low-end work then, AMD is a great choice, whereas Intel is perfect for pro users. On the other hand, Intel processors are more expensive than AMD processors. Following is a detailed difference between both processors depending on user requirement.

Best Speed – Intel

A processor with higher clock speed will perform better than a lower one. For entry level laptops AMD Ryzen 3 is similar in performance to Intel Core i3. But you can see a noticeable difference in the mid-level and high-end processors. If you are looking for greater speed then Intel should be your choice.

Best Overclocking – AMD

This feature allows increasing the performance of the processor beyond its rated speed. You can find this feature even in entry-level models of AMD whereas, in Intel, only the models ending with “K” come with this feature.

Most Cores – AMD

Higher the number of cores better is the performance of a CPU. This is the main selling point of AMD. The number of cores has always been an important factor for AMD. Both manufacturers have 2-4 cores in their entry level processors, but AMD has more number of cores in mid-range processors like Ryzen 5 and 7 chipset.

Best Performance -Tie

Both AMD and Intel processors are great at multitasking. The high-end chipset of Intel like Core-i9, and Core X have better performance, but likewise, their price is too high.

Finally, choosing the right processor for your laptop depends on your requirements and preferences. However, you can follow a thumb rule to choose AMD processors for entry-level as well as mid-range laptops, and Intel processors for high end models.