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Want to go down a tech rabbit hole that’ll leave you utterly confused? Try understanding what processor you’re getting in a Windows laptop.
In their eagerness to promote AI as a promotional point, Intel and AMD are renaming their computer processors and abandoning the naming schemes we’ve come to know over the years. This new logo clashes with the previous logo that already exists on older computers still around today, as well as an entirely new generation of computer chips from Qualcomm.
There’s a lot to understand, but I’ve done my best to fix everything, if not for your benefit, at least for mine. I’m tired of feeling lost in the face of what these corporations offer and all the explanations I give them. I’ve noticed that the Internet gets too bogged down in technical complexity.
Whether you’re interested in a computer or just curious about what those corporations do, here’s my own attempt to simplify everything and make it all understandable in the form of a cheat sheet.
This column first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s weekly newsletter of technical recommendations. Sign up for tech tips like this every Tuesday.
If you just want a regular Windows laptop with the best possible processor, here’s what to seek out right now:
These 3 processors aim to better compete with the M series processors in Apple MacBooks, both in terms of functionality and battery life. Still, there’s a lot more to look for in a computer than just the processor, and chances are you’ll find other processor features that are possibly worth considering as well. Continue reading for a more complete overview.
Intel processors fall into several categories:
With Core and Core Ultra, Intel further separates its processors into levels of functionality, counted as numbers 3 through 9. Higher numbers (i. e. Core Ultra 9) sometimes mean more cores, which can speed up things like video exports and symbol processing, but the Core five and Core Ultra five chips are fantastic for browsing the internet and using them in the workplace.
The last letter of the style call is also important, as it indicates how the processor is optimized. Intel has a long list of those suffixes, but the main ones to look out for are “U” (which prioritizes battery life) and “H. ” ” (which prioritizes performance). The processors I mentioned above use a “V” suffix, which corresponds to the Core Ultra product line.
Older options: If you see a processor with an “i” or a “generation” in the name, such as the Intel 12th-generation Core i5 1235U, that’s an older chip. After reaching the 14th generation, Intel reset everything and is now counting from “Series 1” onward. If you’re looking at model names, the Series number is the first digit (as in “155U”), which means newer Intel chips have shorter names than older ones. Older models can still be worth considering, but only if the price is right.
AMD is not as far along in its logo makeover as Intel. While it has the aforementioned 300 AI series chips to compete with Apple and Qualcomm, the rest of its processors stick to a longer and more naming scheme. chaotic that was implemented in 2023.
Take the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS as an example:
The chips that follow this naming scheme use AMD’s older Zen 4 architecture, while newer AI 300 Series chips are built on Zen 5. As AMD moves more of its processor line to the newer architecture, I suspect we’ll see some new branding to match.
Qualcomm joined the PC CPU wars earlier this year with a big emphasis on power efficiency. Its Snapdragon X chips use the same Arm-based architecture found in phones, tablets, and Apple’s M-series processors, and they offer both solid PC performance and long battery life.
But the real breath of fresh air could be its undeniable brand: Snapdragon X Elite represents the best of Qualcomm, with Snapdragon X Plus a notch below. I spent a few weeks with Microsoft’s Snapdragon X Plus-powered Surface Laptop over the summer and it’s snappy enough while still providing all-day battery life.
The trade-off is that a lot of Windows software isn’t built for Arm-based processors, and compatibility issues can arise even with Microsoft’s emulation engine that runs non-Arm apps on Snapdragon PCs. The situation is gradually improving, both with emulation improvements and more developers releasing Arm versions of their software, but it’s still a potential headache that Intel and AMD laptops don’t have to deal with.
While those features can be infuriating to sift through and the AI is a bit over the top, I’m pleased to see a three-way fest between PC processors.
Apple has spent the last 4 years outperforming Windows chip makers, specifically in power efficiency, and this new wave of processors puts them at least somewhere in the same situation. If the trade-off is a more confusing brand era, I’ll settle for it.
This column first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s weekly tech advice newsletter. Sign up to get tech advice like this every Tuesday.
Jared has been a freelance journalist for over 15 years and is a regular contributor to PCWorld, Fast Company, and TechHive, where he has written a weekly column on cord-cutting since 2014. Their newsletter Cord Cutter Weekly has more than 30,000 subscribers. and its Advisorator technology recommendations newsletter is read by approximately 10,000 people per week. Jared holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and specializes in understanding generational issues. from streaming and cord-cutting to nifty apps and helpful tech tips. It is founded in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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