The Core i5 3rd gen processor is a powerful processor that offers great performance for a variety of tasks. It has a decent base clock speed that is good enough for most tasks and can be overclocked for even better performance.
It also comes with a variety of features that make it a great choice for a variety of different needs.
- Is Core i5 3rd Gen Good for Gaming?
- Clock Speed
- Cache Size
- Thermal Design Power
- Socket Type
- What Is Its Lithography?
- What Is Its Turbo Boost Frequency?
- What Is The Processor's Maximum Memory Support?
- What Is The Processor's Maximum Memory Bandwidth?
- What is the Processor's Maximum Number of PCI Express Lanes?
- Does The Processor Support Overclocking? Any Extra Features?
- Price
- Is The Core I5 3rd Gen Processor Good For Gaming?
- Conclusion
Is Core i5 3rd Gen Good for Gaming?
The Core i5 3rd gen processor is a powerful processor that offers great performance for a variety of tasks. It has a decent base clock speed that will handle most games without issue.
However, if you are looking to play most latest games at the highest settings, you may want to consider a processor with a higher clock speed.
Here is what you need to know about the Intel Core i5 3rd Generation processors:
Clock Speed
The Core i5 3rd Gen processors mostly are with two cores with four threads. You can also find some with quad-core. The clock speed for the Core i5 3rd generation processors ranges from 3.2 GHz – 3.4GHz.
Cache Size
This is a phrase you come across every now and then. The cache size is the amount of main memory data a processor can hold. The cache size for the Core i5 3rd generation processors is 6 MB.
Thermal Design Power
The Thermal design power is the maximum amount of heat generated by a processor that the cooling system is designed to dissipate under any workload. And it is measured in Watts. The Core i5 3rd generation processors have a max thermal design power that ranges from 65 – 77 Watts.
Socket Type
The socket type is the distinct mount used only for the processor on the motherboard to ensure correct chip insertion. The socket helps facilitate access and prevent damage when a unit is inserted or removed. It also helps to prevent CPU movement and is designed to help secure heat sink placement above the processor.
All models of the third-generation Intel Core i5 processors use the LGA 1155 socket.
What Is Its Lithography?
Lithography refers to how tightly the transistors inside your processor are packed. The lower the distance between two transistors, the faster electrons can travel between them and the lesser energy that is wasted in transit.
The difference in speed and power consumption depends on the processor’s lithography and the lithography loosely correlates to the size of the transistors within the chip.
The Core i5 3rd generation processors have chip lithography of 22 nm manufacturing technology.
What Is Its Turbo Boost Frequency?
The Turbo frequency for the Core i5, 3rd generation processors, can maximum go up to 3.6 GHz. The turbo boost helps extend the processor’s frequency level above the rated frequency to achieve a higher processing power.
What Is The Processor’s Maximum Memory Support?
This is the short-term memory where data can be stored when the processor needs it. The Core i5 3rd Generation processors have maximum memory support that ranges from 16 GB – 32 GB; this is dependent on the memory type or model.
What Is The Processor’s Maximum Memory Bandwidth?
The maximum memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor. It is measured in GB/s.
The Core i5 3rd Generation processors have a maximum memory bandwidth that ranges from 25.6 GB/s.
What is the Processor’s Maximum Number of PCI Express Lanes?
The PCI Express lanes are the physical links between supported devices and the processor. The lanes consist of two pairs of copper wires known as traces that run through the motherboard printed circuit board (PCB). The traces connect enabled devices to either the processor or motherboard chipset.
The Core i5 3rd Generation processors use a PCI-Express Version 3 connection that consists of 16 lanes. You should also note that an average Intel Core processor can have 16 PCIe lanes.
Does The Processor Support Overclocking? Any Extra Features?
Overclocking simply means increasing the clock rate of your processor to make it run at a higher speed than it was designed for. Most of the Core i5 3rd Generation processors support overclocking.
They can be overclocked to 4 GHz on all cores with the ASRock Z77/Z75 motherboards and to 3.6 GHz on all cores on other motherboards. Do not be surprised if you find some that cannot be overclocked as they are locked CPUs.
The Core i5 3rd Generation processors are based on Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, with 1.4 billion transistors on a 160mm2 die area, and they offer improved graphics, power efficiency, wireless display, HD technology and a quick sync engine. The processors also deliver stunning graphic performance thanks to the Intel HD 4000 graphics processing unit. There is also the turbo boost technology, but hyper-threading technology is missing from the Core i5 3rd Generation processors.
Price
You can get a model of the Core i5 3rd Generation processors starting from $10, with the most expensive not more than $150.
Is The Core I5 3rd Gen Processor Good For Gaming?
With the great graphic performance that the Core i5 3rd Generation processors provide, they are a great fit for gamers, and they are also cost-friendly. If you cannot afford to get a device with better processors (i7 and i9); this is a great alternative.
Conclusion
The Core i5 3rd Generation processors are suitable for all purposes, offering solid performance for gaming, web browsing and for other basic functions. You can also multitask with the processors.
Gamers, this is a cheaper option on the basis of cost and performance.
