What is the difference between processors?

[Guest]

Intel Core i5 750 2.66GHz CPU and 8GB of DDR3
OR
Intel Core i5 650 3.2GHz CPU and 8GB of DDR3

 

[tkgclimb]

The i5 750 is a quad core processor, while the i5 650 has two cores (but these cores are multi threaded so to speak to give it 4 hypothetical cores).

Thats the main difference, others include cache size, and transistor size

 

[hunter315]

The 750 is a true quad core, while the 650 is a dual core with hyper threading giving it 2 physical cores and 4 logical cores, in multithreaded tasks its addition clock speed will help close the performance gap so they will perform fairly similarly, but if you OC the 750 will do better in any tasks that need more than 2 cores. The 650 also comes with integrated graphics on the CPU, not great but better than the IGPs they had on their old chipsets, any discrete GPU will best it easily but it can be good for cheaper low budget machines that just need some graphics.

 

[runswindows95]

The 750. It's a true quad, and will easily overclock to 3.2Ghz with a good motherboard.

 

[Kewlx25]

750 is 45nm and 650 is 32nm

 

[enzo matrix]

The i5 750 is a quad core processor, while the i5 650 has two cores (but these cores are multi threaded so to speak to give it 4 hypothetical cores).

Darn. And right after I thought I had finally figured out the intel naming scheme:
i7=HT and 4+ cores
i5=no HT and 2 or 4 cores (now proven wrong)
i3=HT and 2 cores

Looks like I'm going to have to start all over again

 

[tkgclimb]

^ this might help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_i5

out of the core i5 series only a clarkdale (600's) has hyper threading enabled, bringing it from 2 actual cores to 4 logical cores like hunter said

 

[WR2]

If you're curious about the performance of 2 faster cores (i5 650 3.2Ghz) vs 4 slower cores (i5 750 2.66Ghz) check out these benchmarks.

 

[WR2]

And if you're curious why the price is so close (i5 650 @ $180 vs i5 750 @ $195) it's because the i5 650 has an actual IGP graphics chip built on the actual CPU package - Intel HD Graphics.

Small chip is the CPU - big chip is the GPU.