Is i3 Processor Good for Windows 10? Here is the Truth!

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A processor, also called a CPU, is the most important hardware component within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program. The executive component of your PC works for Windows in fetching, decoding, and executing program instructions to perform the basic arithmetic, control, and input/output operations.

Windows 10 was released on July 29, 2015, and is still in use. At that time i7 5th generation was released, which was amazingly compatible with Windows 10. But the earlier i3 processors were also compatible with limited features. Finally, in 2016, the Core i3 6th generation was released, also compatible with running Windows 10 with different RAM support.

Is i3 Processor Good For for Windows 10?

Here is the answer:

Intel Core i3 processor is capable of running Windows 10 without any problem. However, 1st and 2nd generations were not capable of running Windows 10. They were best for Windows 7 and Windows 8. But these Windows had limited access to applications and programs. That’s why Windows 10 Was launched, and Intel has to upgrade its processors.

I3 Processor is considered a power-efficient processor and the best frog laptop as it leads to better battery life. If you are not a power user or multitasker, i3 will fulfill your needs. But if you are an intense PC user planning to do some heavy-duty tasks or gaming, you might consider going for the more powerful processor.

Intel i3 processors come in different generations having different cores, frequencies, and cache sizes. Each generation is better and more powerful than the previous one. For example, the latest 10th generation intel i3 processors are way more powerful and faster than 1st gen i3 processors.

Here is the list of i3 processors compatible with Windows 10:

Processor	Frequency (Max-Turbo)	Cores	Cache	Integrated Graphics
Core i3-1220PE  Processor	4.2GHz	8	12MB	Intel UHD Graphics for 12th Gen.
Core i3-1215UE Processor	4.4	6	10MB	Intel UHD Graphics for 12th Gen.
Core i3-1210U Processor	4.4	6	10MB	Intel UHD Graphics for 12th Gen.
Core i3-11100HE Processor	4.4	4	8MB	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen.
Core i3-1115G4 Processor	4.10	2	6MB	Intel UHD Graphics 730
Core i3-10105 Processor	4.4	4	6MB	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Core i3-10305 Processor	4.5	4	8MB	Intel UHD Graphics 630.
Core i3-6100 Processor	3.7	2	3MB	Intel UHD Graphics

All intel 11th and 12th generation processors are eligible to run Windows 10 smoothly. But you also have to consider other factors like RAM and GPU. All other hardware supports the CPU to provide processing and give better performance. 

Which Exact i3 Processors Can Run Smoothly on Windows 10?

The minimum requirement of Windows 10 is a 1 GHz or faster processor with a minimum of 2GB of RAM. Minimum requirements mean the least favorable hardware requirement. You won’t be able to enjoy the lag-free performance. So, according to experts, you must use at least a 2.0 GHz processor with 4GB RAM for smooth performance.

A few different types of i3 processors can run Windows 10 without any issues. The most popular type of i3 processor is the dual-core i3-6100 with 3M Cache and 3.70 GHz frequency which is more than sufficient for running Windows 10 smoothly.

The other fully compatible processors are the quad-core i3-7100 and the hexacore i3-7350K. PCs equipped with any of these i3 processors should have no problem running Windows 10 without any lag or other issues. 

In short, you can use an i3 processor that is 2GHz or more to run Windows 10 32 or 64 Bits. There is just a RAM restriction. You have to use at least 2GB for 32-bit Windows and 4GB for 64-Bit to experience lag-free smooth performance. 

How Fast is i3 10th generation? Compared to i5 and i7?

If you are looking for an upgrade from an older computer, the i3 is a good choice. The i3 10th generation is noticeably faster than the previous generation. The i3 10th generation is also a good choice if you are looking for a more affordable computer. The i3 is cheaper than the i5 and i7, but it still offers decent performance.

Here is the comparison of both pi5 and i7 processors with i3. 

Intel Core i3 10th Generation Vs. i5

In overall performance, the i3 10th generation is better than the old i5 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations. But the i5 8th generation beats the i3 10th generation in overall performance. Its effective speed is 7% more than i3. Let’s compare the benchmark scores of both CPUs. 

Benchmark	i3 10th Generation	I5 8th Generation
Desktop PC	67%	68%
Workstation PC	43%	49%
Gaming Capability	58%	62%
RAM Speed	73.8 pts	73.6 pts
Single Core speed (Clocked/unclocked)	97.6/121 Pts	94.2/115 Pts
Dual Core speed	170 pts/205 Pts	174 pts/224 Pts
Cache	4 MB	6 MB
Max Turbo Frequency	4.10 GHz	3.90 GHZ
Maximum Memory Bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	37.5 GB/s

In conclusion, the average benchmarks of the i5 8th generation were 62.3%, and the average benchmarks of the i3 10th generation were 58.5%. More than 80thousand i5 8th generation user data and about 10 thousand i3 user data were used for evaluating these results, m. So, if you are on a budget, then the i3 10th generation is the best option, but if you prefer performance over price, go for the i5 8th or higher generation. 

Intel Core i3 10th Generation Vs. i7

The early generations of i7 are less performing than the i3 10th generation. In the latest i3 10th generation, the base speed is increased to 3.60 GHz with a maximum turbo speed of 4.10 GHz. So, it will be more responsive in general use and gaming than the i7 3rd, 4th, and even 5th generation.

Core i7 9th and 10th generations have significantly more performance than Core i3 10th generation. It shows a significantly 17% average performance difference in benchmarks. Therefore, we are going to compare the core i3 10th generation with the core i7 10th generation.

Benchmark	i3 10th Generation	I7 10th Generation
Desktop PC	87%	98%
Workstation PC	69%	97%
Gaming Capability	83%	97%
RAM Speed	92 Pts	88.8 Pts
Single Core speed (Clocked/unclocked)	123/128 Pts	144/154 Pts
Dual Core speed	234/253 Pts	281/307 Pts
Cache	6 MB	16 MB
Max Turbo Frequency	5.10 GHz	4.3 GHz
Maximum Memory Bandwidth	45.9 GB/s	41.7 GB/s

 After the comparison, we can say the i7 10th generation is way better than the i3 10th generation. Core i7 10th generation has 96.9% average benchmarks while i3 10th generation has 83% average overall benchmarks. This comparison was made between 19 to 20 thousand people. 

This huge difference is also due to the cores and threads as Core i3 10th gen has only 4 cores and 8 threads while Core i7 10th gen has 8 cores and 16 threads which benefits the CPU and delivers lag-free efficient performance.

Is it worth upgrading from i3 to i5 or i7 Processor?

Before upgrading, you must consider a few factors, including what you plan to use your computer for and how much money you’re willing to spend.

If you’re a casual user who mostly uses their computer for browsing the web, checking email, and other basic tasks, then an upgrade from an i3 to an i5 or i7 processor probably isn’t worth the money. However, suppose you’re an intense user who does high-level video editing or hardcore gaming. In that case, upgrading from i3 to i5 8th or i710th generation could make a big difference in speed and performance.

Conclusion

The i3 processors are good for normal use and can even handle some gaming. If you are looking for an upgrade from an older computer, the i3 is a good choice. The i3 10th generation is noticeably faster than the previous generation. The i3 10th generation is also a good choice if you are looking for a more affordable computer. The i3 is cheaper than the i5 and i7, but it still offers decent performance.