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.


 AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5955WX 4.0GHz 16 Core 280WAMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5965WX 3.8GHz 24 Core 280WAMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5975WX 3.6GHz 32 Core 280WAMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5995WX 2.7GHz 64 Core 280WIntel Xeon W-3335 3.4GHz 16 Core 24MB 250WIntel Xeon W-3345 3.0GHz 24 Core 36MB 250WIntel Xeon W-3365 2.7GHz 32 Core 48MB 270WIntel Xeon W-3375 2.5GHz 38 Core 57MB 270WAMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5GHz 8 Core 105WAMD Ryzen 9 7900X 4.7GHz 12 Core 170WAMD Ryzen 9 7950X 4.5GHz 16 Core 170WIntel Core i7 13700K 3.4GHz 16 Core 30MB 125WIntel Core i9 13900K 3.0GHz 24 Core 36MB 125W
Product LineThreadripper ProThreadripper ProThreadripper ProThreadripper ProXeon WXeon WXeon WXeon WRyzenRyzenRyzenCore i7Core i9
Code NameChagallChagallChagallChagallIce Lake-64LIce Lake-64LIce Lake-64LIce Lake-64LRaphaelRaphaelRaphaelRaptor LakeRaptor Lake
SocketsWRX8sWRX8sWRX8sWRX84189418941894189AM5AM5AM517001700
Process7 nm7 nm7 nm7 nm10 nm10 nm10 nm10 nm5 nm5 nm5 nm10 nm10 nm
Total Number of Cores1624326416243238812161624
Number of Efficient Cores           816
Base Clock Speed4.00 GHz3.80 GHz3.60 GHz2.70 GHz3.40 GHz3.00 GHz2.70 GHz2.50 GHz4.5 GHz4.7 GHz4.5 GHz3.4 GHz3.0 GHz
Hyperthreading    YesYesYesYes   YesYes
Simultaneous Multi-ThreadingYesYesYesYes    YesYesYes  
Turbo BoostYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Max. Turbo Boost4.50 GHz4.50 GHz4.50 GHz4.50 GHz4.00 GHz4.00 GHz4.00 GHz4.00 GHz5.4 GHz5.6 GHz5.7 GHz5.4 GHz5.8 GHz
Efficient Core Max Turbo Boost           4.2 GHz4.3 GHz
All-Core Turbo Boost    3.70 GHz3.70 GHz3.50 GHz3.30 GHz   5.3 GHz5.5 GHz
Long Duration Power Limit           125 W125 W
Short Duration Power Limit           253 W253 W
Thermal Output280 W280 W280 W280 W250 W250 W270 W270 W105 W170 W170 W  
Bus TypeInfinity FabricInfinity FabricInfinity FabricInfinity Fabric         
PCI-E Lanes128128128128646464642424242424
Max Temperature95 C95 C95 C95 C100 C100 C100 C100 C95 C95 C95 C100 C100 C
Cache
L28MB12MB16MB32MB    8MB12MB16MB  
L364MB128MB128MB256MB    32MB64MB64MB  
Smart Cache    24MB36MB48MB48MB   30MB36MB
Onboard Graphics
Processor Type        Radeon GraphicsRadeon GraphicsRadeon GraphicsUHD Graphics 770UHD Graphics 770
Core Speed        2,200 MHz2,200 MHz2,200 MHz1.60 MHz1.65 MHz
DirectX Version        1212121212
Cores on Die        2223232
# of Displays Supported        33333
Memory Specification
Memory TypeDDR4DDR4DDR4DDR4DDR4DDR4DDR4DDR4DDR5DDR5DDR5DDR5DDR5
Maximum Frequency3200320032003200320032003200320052005200520056005600
ECC SupportYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes     
Registered SupportYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
Advanced Technologies
vPro    NoNoNoNo   YesYes
Virtualization Technology (VT-x)    YesYesYesYes     
Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)    YesYesYesYes     
Trusted Execution Technology           YesYes