Comparing processors

People often ask me, “How do I pick a fast computer?” or “How do I make my computer faster?” These are very loaded questions and often have no simple answers. There are many things to consider when determining a computer’s speed. One of the more important areas is the processor also known as the CPU. 

You may have seen a little stick on your computer with things like Core-i5, i3, AMD, and so on. Those stickers are referring to the small little processing chip located deep within your computer. However, things are not that simple. For example, there are many versions of a Core-i5 chip. To determine the processor speed of your computer or any potential new one, we must first identify the chip model.

In most cases, this can be found by right clicking on My Computer (This PC in Windows 10), selecting Properties, and looking at the system information.

If it so happens that it’s not listed there, I use a handy tool called CPU-Z. This program is great for finding out everything you need to know about what’s under the hood of your computer. Download it here: http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Once we’ve identified our CPU, we can compare the speeds. There are many benchmarking websites out there. Personally, I like to use this one because of its simplicity: http://cpuboss.com/compare-cpus
 

Input your CPU and the one you wish to compare. Scroll down and look at the detailed results which will pick a winner between the two (Note: It is possible very new chips will not yet appear). Other benchmarking sites might give slightly different results, so make sure you get a second opinion.