i3 PC Or i5 PC?
If you are deciding between an i3 and an i5 core, there are a few things you need to know before making your investment. The biggest thing you will need to decide on is how fast you want your computers to run. The answer isn’t the same for every business. Maybe you are running a restaurant and only have one or two computers in the backroom for budgets and inventory. In that case, an i3 might be great. But, if you are running a business in which you have dozens or hundreds of computers, and rely on technology for your success, you might want to take the leap and invest in the faster i5.
What Does I3 Mean?
The Intel i3 is basically considered at the bottom of the spectrum in terms of quality, which also means you can save a little in price. The thing to remember about the i3 is that while it isn’t as fast as the i5, this doesn’t mean a PC with the i3 is bad. It’s still quite fast and will serve many people’s needs just fine.
An i3 machine isn’t exactly slow. In fact, it’s still going to be faster than a tablet or your average laptop. It’s just that a faster option exists in the i5. Are you the type who is constantly complaining that your PC is slow? If so, you’re going to want to consider the i5. If you are just happy to upgrade from a tablet and invest in a reliable computer, the i3 will serve your needs just fine.
What Does I5 Mean?
As far as the i5, this is higher in quality and is considered the entry point into the top tier of processors that are available. This is a good choice for your computer if you are running a lot of complicated programs concurrently and want to make sure everything runs efficiently without crashing.
Intel has advertised the i5 as the computer to buy if you care about performance, whereas the i3 is a good choice if you just want a solid computer that you can use reliably. You should have no problems with an i3, it just might not run as fast as an i5.
Sometimes, we can all get a little frustrated with the performance of our current computer. If that’s the case and you want to buy the latest and greatest machine to alleviate your headaches, the i5 is probably the right choice because it offers better performance when compared to an i3.
What Are The Biggest Differences Between The Two?
The i5 usually has two or more cores than the i3. While the i3 is strong and powerful, the i5 is a little like upgrading from a Toyota Prius to a big muscle car like a Ford Mustang. There’s nothing wrong with the Prius, but if you want more power and speed, you pay to make that upgrade to a stronger car.
Speed is the biggest difference you are going to see. How much downloading do you do? Do you need files downloaded and emailed constantly and instantly? If so, you might find the i3 is a little sluggish.
That said, speed is not the only reason to make your decision on which PC to buy. There are a lot of factors to consider: do you need something lightweight and easy to carry through airports and on travel? Will you be printing a lot of files? How much memory and storage do you need? Considering an i3 or an i5 is just one decision to make, and that part of your decision will largely be based on how fast you need your computer to go.
Price
Anytime you are paying for something faster or stronger, you should expect to pay a little more, and this is no different. Typically, an i5 computer is going to run you about $100 more than an i3 computer. Obviously, there are a lot of other variables that will go into the price of a computer. But, as a general rule of thumb, expect to pay an extra $100.
If you are just buying one computer, that might be worth the investment. But, if you are outfitting an entire business with dozens of computers, the extra cost can quickly add up, leaving you again to decide on the pros and cons of an i3 or an i5. Is the extra price worth it? It truly is a personal decision based on the needs of your business and your teams. There’s no wrong answer.
Which One Is Right For You?
How much speed and performance do you need? Depending on the size of your business and how many people are going to use your systems, it might be worth the investment with an i5. But, if you only have one or two employees and will not be constantly beating up your processors, you could probably save a few bucks and get the i3.
In reality, if you just use your computer for some email and spreadsheets, you probably won’t even notice the difference between an i3 and an i5. If you and your team have a lot of Zoom meetings where everyone is connected at the same time, or you produce a lot of video content, you might want the faster processor.
It really depends on what your business is and what your needs are.
Contact Us Today
Reach out and contact us today! The team at 4IT is here to help you with all your Microsoft support needs in South Florida. From on-site tech support to help your team work remotely, our team can do it all. Software and hardware upgrades and disaster recovery plans are also a part of what we can offer. We have helped a lot of businesses decide between i3 and i5, and we can help you decide which is best based on the specific needs of your business. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how 4IT can work with you to make sure your IT infrastructure is strong and efficient.
