CPU Information

Choosing your processor consists of a couple of steps. First you need to determine what type of processor you want: Intel or AMD, and which of their respective product lines. Each motherboard only supports a single type of socket, which may have one or more CPU types that fit it, so if you aren't seeing the options you want you may need to adjust the motherboard first. Once you have taken care of that step, you need to decide the exact model you'd prefer. Within a single product line the differences between processors will be one or more of the following specifications:

Clock Speed: This is the easiest metric to see when looking at a processor, and when comparing models within the same product line can be very helpful. If all other specs are equal, then this will show a linear performance difference: if the clock speed of one chip is 10% higher than another then it will perform tasks ~10% faster. Be careful of using this when comparing different processor series or brands, though, as there are many other differences that can have a larger effect - some of which are listed below.

Number of Cores: Modern CPUs have multiple cores in them, each of which can independently work on processing something. If you tend to run multiple programs at the same time, or if you have very demanding software that can use multiple processor cores at the same time, then getting a chip with as many cores as possible will help. Some chips from Intel also support Hyper-threading technology, where each core can switch back and forth between two tasks very quickly. One Hyper-threaded core isn't as effective as actually having two real ones, but it can be a way to improve performance without adding additional real cores.

On-Chip Cache: This is super-fast and efficient memory integrated into the processor, which it uses to store short-term or frequently accessed data. This type of memory is so zippy because it runs at the full clock speed of the processor, meaning at the gigahertz level. Cache is the first place the CPU looks for instructions. If not found, then the CPU must rely on the much slower system RAM, which operates at the megahertz level. Most CPUs today have on-chip L1 (level 1) and L2 cache, and some also have on-chip L3 cache. The L2 cache size will often be one of the main differences between CPUs, and as a general rule of thumb the larger the L2 cache the better the performance will be.

Enough technical jargon, which is faster?!?

CPU technology changes so often that anything we write proclaiming one processor to be the best will quickly be outdated. If you want the latest info you can call or email our sales team - they keep up on these things so that you don't have to! If you are just looking for a decent performing computer, though, none of the processor options we list will be a bad choice. For the best value, look at the price differences between models in relation to the speed jumps - and select one where the next model up costs a lot more, but the model down doesn't save much.
 None - Included on motherboardIntel Core i5 8400 2.8GHz Six Core 9MB 65WIntel Xeon E-2124G 3.4Ghz Quad Core 8MB 71WIntel Xeon E-2126G 3.3Ghz Six Core 12MB 80WIntel Core i5 9600K 3.6GHz Six Core 9MB 95WAMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X 3.8GHz Eight Core 180WIntel Xeon E-2174G 3.8Ghz Quad Core 8MB 71WIntel Core i7 9700K 3.6GHz Eight Core 12MB 95WIntel Xeon Silver 4108 1.8GHz Eight Core 11MB 85WIntel Xeon E-2186G 3.8Ghz Six Core 12MB 95WIntel Xeon W-2125 4.0GHz 4 Core 8.25MB 120WIntel Core i9 9900K 3.6GHz Eight Core 16MB 95WIntel Core i7 9800X 3.8GHz Eight Core 16.5MB 165W SHORTAGEAMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X 3.5GHz 12 Core 180WIntel Xeon Silver 4114 2.2GHz Ten Core 13.75MB 85WIntel Xeon W-2135 3.7GHz 6 Core 8.25MB 140WIntel Core i9 9820X 3.3GHz Ten Core 16.5MB 165WAMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X 3.5GHz 16 Core 180WIntel Core i9 9900X 3.5GHz Ten Core 19.25MB 165WIntel Xeon W-2145 3.7GHz 8 Core 11MB 140WIntel Core i9 9920X 3.5GHz Twelve Core 19.25MB 165WIntel Xeon Gold 5122 3.6GHz Quad Core 16.5MB 105WAMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX 3.0GHz 24 Core 250WIntel Core i9 9940X 3.3GHz Fourteen Core 19.25MB 165WIntel Xeon W-2155 3.3GHz 10 Core 13.75MB 140WIntel Core i9 9960X 3.1GHz Sixteen Core 22MB 165WIntel Xeon Gold 6128 3.4GHz Six Core 19.25MB 115WAMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 3.0GHz 32 Core 250WIntel Core i9 9980XE 3.0GHz Eighteen Core 24.75MB 165WIntel Xeon W-2175 2.5GHz 14 Core 19.25MB 140WIntel Xeon Gold 6132 2.6GHz Fourteen Core 19.25MB 140WIntel Xeon Gold 6136 3.0GHz Twelve Core 24.75MB 150WIntel Xeon W-2195 2.3GHz 18 Core 24.75MB 140WIntel Xeon Gold 6148 2.4GHz Twenty Core 27.5MB 140WIntel Xeon Gold 6154 3.0GHz Eighteen Core 24.75MB 200WIntel Xeon Gold 6152 2.1GHz Twenty-Two Core 30.25MB 140WIntel Xeon Platinum 8168 2.7GHz Twenty-Four Core 33MB 205WIntel Xeon Platinum 8180 2.5GHz Twenty-Eight Core 38.5MB 205W
Product Line-Core i5 Xeon Xeon Core i5 Ryzen Xeon Core i7 Xeon Xeon Xeon Core i9 Core i7 Ryzen Xeon Xeon Core i9 Ryzen Core i9 Xeon Core i9 Xeon Ryzen Core i9 Xeon Core i9 Xeon Ryzen Core i9 Xeon Xeon Xeon Xeon Xeon Xeon Xeon Xeon Xeon
Code Name-Coffee Lake Coffee Lake Coffee Lake Coffee Lake Zen Coffee Lake Coffee Lake Purley Coffee Lake Skylake Coffee Lake Skylake-X Zen Purley Skylake Basin Falls Zen Basin Falls Skylake Basin Falls Purley Zen Basin Falls Skylake Basin Falls Purley Zen Basin Falls Skylake Purley Purley Skylake Purley Purley Purley Purley Purley
Socket-1151 1151 1151 1151 TR4 1151 1151 3647 1151 2066 1151 2066 TR4 3647 2066 2066 TR4 2066 2066 2066 3647 TR4 2066 2066 2066 3647 TR4 2066 2066 3647 3647 2066 3647 3647 3647 3647 3647
Process-14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm12 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm12 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm12 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm12 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm14 nm
Number of Cores-6 4 4 6 8 4 8 8 6 4 8 8 12 10 6 10 16 10 8 12 4 24 14 10 16 6 32 18 14 14 12 18 20 18 22 24 28
Clock Speed-2.80 GHz3.40 GHz3.30 GHz3.6 GHz3.80 GHz3.80 GHz3.6 GHz1.80 GHz3.80 GHz4.00 GHz3.6 GHz3.80 GHz3.50 GHz2.2 GHz3.70 GHz3.30 GHz3.50 GHz3.50 GHz3.70 GHz3.50 GHz3.60 GHz3.00 GHz3.30 GHz3.30 GHz3.10 GHz3.40 GHz3.00 GHz3.00 GHz2.50 GHz2.60 GHz3.00 GHz2.30 GHz2.40 GHz3.00 GHz2.10 GHz2.70 GHz2.50 GHz
Hyperthreading-No Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Turbo Boost-Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Max. Turbo Boost-4.00 GHz4.50 GHz4.50 GHz4.6 GHz-4.70 GHz4.9 GHz3.00 GHz4.70 GHz4.50 GHz5.0 GHz4.50 GHz-3.00 GHz4.50 GHz4.20 GHz-4.50 GHz4.50 GHz4.50 GHz3.70 GHz-4.50 GHz4.50 GHz4.50 GHz3.70 GHz-4.50 GHz4.30 GHz3.70 GHz3.70 GHz4.30 GHz3.70 GHz3.70 GHz3.70 GHz3.70 GHz3.80 GHz
Bus Type-DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 Infinity Fabric DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 Infinity Fabric DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 Infinity Fabric DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 Infinity Fabric DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 Infinity Fabric DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3 DMI3
Thermal Output-65 W71 W80 W95 W180 W71 W95 W85 W95 W120 W95 W165 W180 W85 W140 W165 W180 W165 W140 W165 W105 W250 W165 W140 W165 W115 W250 W165 W140 W140 W150 W140 W140 W200 W140 W205 W205 W
PCI-E Lanes-16 16 16 24 64 16 16 48 16 48 16 44 64 48 48 44 64 44 48 44 48 64 44 48 44 48 64 44 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48
All-Core Turbo Boost-4.10 GHz4.10 GHz4.3 GHz-4.30 GHz4.6 GHz2.10 GHz4.30 GHz4.40 GHz4.7 GHz4.10 GHz-2.50 GHz4.40 GHz4.00 GHz-4.10 GHz4.30 GHz4.20 GHz3.70 GHz-4.10 GHz4.00 GHz4.00 GHz3.70 GHz-3.80 GHz3.30 GHz3.30 GHz3.60 GHz3.20 GHz3.10 GHz3.70 GHz2.80 GHz3.40 GHz3.20 GHz
Simultaneous Multi-Threading----Yes -------Yes ---Yes ----Yes ----Yes ----------
Turbo Core-----Yes -------Yes ---Yes ----Yes ----Yes ----------
Max. Turbo Core-----4.0 GHz-------4.30 GHz---4.40 GHz----4.2 GHz----4.2 GHz----------
Cache
Smart Cache-9MB 8MB 12MB 9MB -8MB 12MB 11MB 12MB 8.25MB 16MB 16.5MB -13.75MB 8.25MB 16.5MB -19.25MB 11MB 19.25MB 16.5MB -19.25MB 13.75MB 22MB 19.25MB -24.75MB 19MB 19.25MB 24.75MB 24.75MB 27.5MB 24.75MB 30.25MB 33MB 38.5MB
L2-----4MB -------6MB ---8MB ----12MB ----16MB ----------
L3-----16MB -------32MB ---32MB ----64MB ----64MB ----------
Onboard Graphics
Processor Type-Intel UHD Graphics 630 Intel UHD Graphics P630 Intel UHD Graphics P630 Intel UHD Graphics 630 -Intel UHD Graphics P630 Intel UHD Graphics 630 -Intel UHD Graphics P630 -Intel UHD Graphics 630 --------------------------
Core Speed-1050 Mhz350 Mhz350 Mhz1150 Mhz-350 Mhz1200 Mhz-350 Mhz-1200 Mhz--------------------------
DirectX Version-12 12 12 12 -12 12 -12 -12 --------------------------
Cores on Die-23 ------------------------------------
# of Displays Supported3 3 3 3 -3 3 -3 -3 --------------------------
Memory Specification
Memory Type-DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4
Maximum Frequency-2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2400 2666 2666 2666 2666 2933 2400 2666 2666 2933 2666 2666 2666 2666 2933 2666 2666 2666 2666 2933 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666 2666
ECC Support-No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Advanced Technologies
vPro-No Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Virtualization Technology (VT-x)-Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)-Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Trusted Execution Technology-No Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
TSX-NINo Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes -Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes