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CPU - Intel Desktop

Not sure which processor is right for you? Read our Intel CPU Buying Guide

The CPU is the brain of the PC and Intel processors continue to rule the roost. Retail CPUs are installed in the motherboard inside a desktop PC. There are many grades of Intel desktop CPU from entry-level models to high-end models, including some that can be overclocked for additional performance. Those looking for a performance PC ought to make a beeline for Intel Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9 processors, with the latter offering staggering performance that makes a mockery of benchmarks and multi-threaded applications. Make sure you select a compatible motherboard for your chosen CPU.

Intel Core i9 Socket 1151 Coffee Lake Processors

Intel 9th generation Core i9 Coffee Lake processors have 8 physical cores plus Hyper Threading technology, allowing them to work on up to 16 threads simultaneously. Despite the Core i9 branding, these CPUs are compatible with mainstream Z390 & select Z370 motherboards, and therefore don't require one of the much more expensive enthusiast-grade motherboards such as X299 models.

Important - Please Note: A number of Intel Z370 motherboards will support these processors out-of-the-box, or with a BIOS update. Please check the list of supported CPUs for your motherboard before purchasing one of these processors to ensure it is compatible.

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Tekspek An in-depth guide into tech: Intel 9th Gen Core 9900K Processor Intel Core i9 9900KS

Intel Core i7 Socket 1151 Coffee Lake Processors

This category contains a mix of Intel 8th & 9th generation Core i7 Coffee Lake CPUs which feature more cores & greater cache memory than the Core i5s, giving them much faster performance, especially in CPU intensive tasks such as graphics processing, video encoding and music mixing.

8th Gen. Core i7 processors come with 6 physical cores & HyperThreading technology, while the very latest 9th Gen. Core i7 models instead pack 8 physical cores for greater performance per thread, across more processes, letting you do more than ever before.

Important - Please Note: Despite using the same LGA1151 socket as 6th & 7th Gen. CPUs, ONLY Intel 300 Series Motherboards are compatible with these 8th Gen. 'Coffee Lake' & 9th Gen. 'Coffee Lake Refresh' CPUs.

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Tekspek An in-depth guide into tech: Intel 8th Gen Coffee Lake Processors Intel 8th Gen desktop CPUs

Intel Core i5 Socket 1151 Coffee Lake Processors

These 8th & 9th Generation Intel Core i5 Coffee Lake CPUs are the most affordable 6-core Intel processors. Intel Core i5 CPUs provide a significant speed up in games and multimedia applications such as image and video editing, making them a great choice for gamers and creative professionals.

Important - Please Note: Despite using the same LGA1151 socket as 6th & 7th Gen. CPUs, ONLY Intel 300 Series Motherboards are compatible with these 8th Gen. 'Coffee Lake' & 9th Gen. 'Coffee Lake Refresh' CPUs.

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Tekspek An in-depth guide into tech: Intel 8th Gen Coffee Lake Processors Intel 8th Gen desktop CPUs

Intel Core i3 Socket 1151 Coffee Lake Processors

These 8th & 9th Generation Intel Core i3 Coffee Lake quad-core processors are much faster than the cheaper Celeron and Pentium models thanks to having more cores and cache memory which enables them to process up to four threads at a time. Due to their higher frequency and larger cache Core i3's are much faster than Pentiums, and are the cheapest CPU we recommend for a more intensive tasks such as gaming and image editing.

Important - Please Note: Despite using the same LGA1151 socket as 6th & 7th Gen. CPUs, ONLY Intel 300 Series Motherboards are compatible with these 8th Gen. 'Coffee Lake' & 9th Gen. 'Coffee Lake Refresh' CPUs.

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Tekspek An in-depth guide into tech: Intel 8th Gen Coffee Lake Processors Intel 8th Gen desktop CPUs