Laptop
processors are very different from their desktop counterparts. The primary
reason for this is the limited amount of power they have to run on when the
laptop is not plugged into an outlet. The less power that the laptop uses, the
longer the system should be able to run for off the battery. To do this, the
manufacturers employ a large number of tricks such as CPU scaling where a
processor scales its power usage (and thus performance) to the tasks at hand.
This presents a
major challenge in balancing performance and power consumption.
There are four
distinct categories that I classify for laptop computers, each with its own
distinct purpose for those using them. To match these systems to the computing
tasks you also want to select the proper processor. Just remember, many people
don't need a high-end processor to match the programs they use these days. So
be sure to get an idea how you will be using your laptop so you can match the
processor to your needs.
Budget Laptops
Budget laptops
are those developed to provide a functional portable computer at low price
point. This would also include the Chromebook category of computer that often
uses the lower performance processors. It should be noted that some Chromebooks
do use processors typically found in tablets which are not fast but decent for
basic tasks. Budget laptops use a wide range of processors because often they
are based on older processors that use to be found in higher end laptops or the
newer low-cost processors.
All of the
processors listed here should be able to do all the basic computing tasks
including web browsing, email, word processing, and presentation. They are also
very capable of being used for digital playback as well. About the only thing
that value system processors will not be able to do well is gaming and high-end
graphics applications.
Here are some of
the processors to look for in this range:
AMD A6-7000 and
Higher
AMD A6-9210 and
Higher
AMD A8-7100 and
Higher
AMD A9-9410 and
Higher
AMD E1-7010 and
Higher
AMD E2-7110 and
Higher
AMD E2-9010 and
Higher
Intel Celeron
N3350 and Higher
Intel Core
i3-6100U and Higher
Intel Core
i3-7100U and Higher
Intel Core
i5-6200U and higher
Intel Pentium
4405U and Higher
Intel Pentium
4405Y and Higher
Intel Pentium
N4200 and Higher
Ultraportables
Ultraportables
are systems that are designed to be as light and compact as possible yet
powerful enough for most common business applications such as e-mail, word
processing, and presentation software. These systems are geared towards those
people who travel a lot who want a system that is not very cumbersome. They are
willing to sacrifice computing power and peripherals for portability.
Ultrabooks are a new subcategory of these systems that are built on a specific
platform defined by Intel. Below are the processors found in ultraportables:
AMD A6-9210 and
Higher
AMD A9-9410 and
Higher
AMD A10
Micro-6700T and Higher
AMD E1-7010 and
Higher
AMD E1
Micro-6200T and Higher
AMD E2-7110 and
Higher
AMD E2-9010 and
Higher
Intel Celeron
3205U and Higher
Intel Celeron
N2830 and Higher
Intel Core
i3-6100U and Higher
Intel Core
i3-7100U and Higher
Intel Core
i5-6200U and Higher
Intel Core
i5-7200U and Higher
Intel Core
i5-7Y54
Intel Core
i7-5500U and Higher
Intel Core
i7-7500U and Higher
Intel Core
i7-7Y75
Intel Core
M-5Y10 and Higher
Intel Core
m3-6Y30 and Higher
Intel Core
m5-6Y57 and Higher
Intel Core
m7-6Y75 and Higher
Intel Pentium
N3530 and Higher
Intel Pentium
4405U and Higher
Thin and Light
A thin and light
laptop is one that is able to perform pretty much any computing task at least
on some level. These systems can vary widely in terms of their price and
performance. They tend to perform better than those in the value category or
ultraportables but they are smaller and more portable than the large media-centric
desktop replacements.
Note that as
ultraportable processors used in Ultrabooks continue to get better, many
systems in this category are beginning to use processors found in the
ultraportable category for extended battery life. Here are some of the
processors that can be found in this category of laptops:
AMD A8-8600P and
Higher
AMD A9-9410 and
Higher
AMD A10-8700P
and Higher
AMD A10-9600P
and Higher
AMD A12-9700P
and Higher
Intel Core
i3-6100U and Higher
Intel Core
i3-7100U and Higher
Intel Core
i5-6200U and Higher
Intel Core
i5-6300HQ and Higher
Intel Core
i5-7200U and Higher
Intel Core
i7-6500U and Higher
Intel Core
i7-6700HQ and Higher
Intel Core
i7-7500U and Higher
Desktop Replacements
Desktop
replacement laptops are designed to be a complete system that has the
equivalent processing power and capabilities to a desktop system but in a
mobile package. They tend to be larger and bulkier to fit all the components
allowing it to perform at almost the same level as a desktop in all aspects of
computing. In general, a desktop replacement will perform exceptionally well.
Mobile gaming is getting close to desktop performance, but the cost is much
greater and still not the same as the top-end desktop graphics. Of course, the
mobile gaming performance will be determined by the graphics processor as well
as the CPU. Here are some of the processors that can be found in this category
of machine:
AMD A8-8600P and
Higher
AMD A9-9410 and
Higher
AMD A10-8700P
and Higher
AMD A10-9600P
and Higher
AMD A12-9700P
and Higher
AMD FX-8800P and
Higher
AMD FX-9800P and
Higher
Intel Core
i5-6300HQ and Higher
Intel Core
i7-4700MQ/HQ and Higher
Intel Core
i7-4930MX and Higher
Intel Core
i7-6700HQ and Higher
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