Processors in budget laptops: what to choose?

    At the moment, up to ten generations of different platforms coexist peacefully on the market, which even pros can get entangled in. Who is faster: Apollo Lake or Stoney Ridge? What is the difference between some Celeron, Pentium and Atom models made on chips with the same architecture?



    And if we take into account that, in addition to the processor, the overall performance depends on the number of memory channels, its type and frequency, the availability of the Turbo mode, as well as the speed of the graphics core, then the specialist will sometimes not be able to give the right advice.

    We suggest you look at budget laptops in the range of 10-30 thousand rubles and get acquainted with the full range of their “hearts”.

    Laptops cost from 10 to 15 thousand rubles


    The initial level - here reign processors for embedded systems, smartphones and tablets.

    Intel


    Yes, we were not mistaken, it turns out that all kinds of "Atoms" are quite suitable for the role of the processor in the most affordable laptops. The trouble is that there were a lot of Atoms, as well as names for them, and it is often difficult to understand what changes have occurred in them. But this is not the main task, because Far from the whole list of Atom processors falls into laptops. We reviewed all the proposed configurations and selected only those that are officially shipped to Russia and are available for sale.



    Let's start with the Bay Trail platform. It was announced in the third quarter of 2013 and was a highly integrated system (SoC). It is based on 22nm tri-gate technology. All processors are divided into 3 groups:

    • N - designed for laptops and come in N3000 - this is Pentium, or N2000 is Celeron;
    • J - for desktop PCs (J1xxx - Celeron, J2xxx - Pentium);
    • Z - for tablets (Z37xx - quad-core models, Z36xx - dual-core models).

    In affordable laptops worth up to 15,000 rubles, processors based on the Bay Trail (2013) platform are the most common, in particular, the Intel Atom Z3735G and Intel Atom Z3735F, which are twins, but, alas, are far from identical on the face. The fact is that the last letter means the number of memory channels. The manufacturer’s website provides dry figures and facts from the specification:

    • 4 cores / 4 threads, 2 MB L2 cache;
    • Intel Burst;
    • Support for 64-bit OS;
    • SSE4.1 Vector Instructions;
    • Support single-channel LPDDR3-1067 memory (up to a maximum of 4 GB);
    • Intel HD Graphics Graphics Core - 4 execution units (8 threads each);
    • Dynamic frequency of the graphics core, hardware acceleration of encoding / decoding;
    • Virtualization and security technologies.

    By the way, the preposition “before” does not always reflect reality. For example, the Intel Atom Z3735G only supports 1 GB of memory with a maximum bandwidth of 5.3 GB / s, and the Intel Atom Z3735F already has 2 GB of memory, respectively, increasing the bandwidth to 10.6 GB / s and capacity. The Intel Atom Z3735G contains four cores and handles four threads. Recommended price is $ 17. The base clock frequency of the processor is 1.33 GHz, the maximum frequency is 1.83 GHz, the cache memory is 2 MB, the maximum rated power is 2.2 W. The Intel Atom Z3735F is priced at $ 18.



    A step above is the platform Cherry Trail (2015). It is the successor to the Bay Trail, but from a wide range of products there are only laptops with Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processors. According to the description of Intel, the improvements have affected many parts of the processor, we will list the main ones below.

    • 14nm tri-gate technology;
    • Optimization of electricity consumption;
    • Memory support DDR3L-RS 1600 MHz;
    • Two-fold increase in integrated graphics performance.

    Unfortunately, the Intel Atom x5-Z8300 is the youngest model with reduced capabilities, so it lacks support for dual-channel memory and has a limit on its size of 2 GB. In essence, after changing the platform, the processor received an increase in frequency (base 1.44 MHz in turbo mode to 1.84 GHz) and price up to $ 21.

    In addition to "Atoms", there are Celeron processors with numbers N2840, N3050, N3060 and N3350. Model N2840 belongs to the Bay Trail platform and contains two cores. The frequency of operation is from 2.15 to 2.58 GHz. The maximum power consumption is 4.5-7.5 W, depending on the type of tasks. The chip supports two channels of DDR3L 1333 memory with a maximum capacity of 8 GB. In general, a normal entry-level processor for a laptop.

    N3050 and N3060 processors from another family - Braswell. And the N3350 refers to Apollo Lake. Too many code names of platforms should not confuse you, because upon closer examination, the changes from 2013 did not happen much. It is easier to compare these processors with each other according to the following characteristics: the number of cores is the same, the operating frequencies vary (N2840 - 2.15 ... 2.58 GHz, N3050 - 1.60 ... 2.16 GHz, N3060 - 1.60 ... 2, 48 GHz, N3350 - 1.10 ... 2.40 GHz), increasing the amount of cache memory - from 1MB in N2840 to 2 MB in other processors, reducing power consumption - from 4.5-7.5 W in N2840 to 4.0 -6.0 W in the rest, increasing the frequency of the supported memory - DDR3 from 1333 MHz in the N2840 to 1600 MHz in the N3050 and N3060, and then altogether 1866 MHz in the N3350, which also got LPDDR4 compatibility up to 2400 MHz. In other words, there is progress, but not as significant as I would like to see. And you have to choose between 4-core Atom processors for tablets with a meager amount of RAM and 2-core processors with a normal frequency and memory support up to 8 GB, but too low performance in general. Nobody offers alternatives.

    AMD


    Laptops in the category up to 15,000 rubles are more like typewriters for surfing the Internet - cheap matrixes and affordable prices. Perhaps someone may be interested in AMD processors, because they can also be easily found in the available models. As usual, we see a short list consisting of three models: AMD E1-2500, AMD E1-6010, AMD E1-7010.

    Kabini is focused on netbooks, ultrathin laptops and all-in-one computer systems. The processors include two cores each and have a second-level cache memory of 2 MB. For their production used 28-nm technological standards. Traditionally, AMD calls its processors with Radeon graphics - APU in order to separate their products from the competitor, denoting a new niche. AMD claims high graphics performance of its chips, but this does not apply to low-end models, as the memory bandwidth remains the narrow link in the system. After all, DDR3 memory with a maximum frequency of up to 1333 MHz and one channel will not allow the graphics core to reveal its potential. Therefore, the choice of AMD APU actually ends without starting.



    The E1-2500, E1-6010 and E1-7010 processors have some physical differences in frequency (E1-2500 - 1.4 GHz, E1-6010 - 1.35 GHz, E1-7010 - 1.5 GHz), in power consumption ( E1-2500 - 15 W, E1-6010 and E1-7010 - 10 W), but in general, their performance is close to medium-sized tablets. In addition, like the Intel processors in the available laptops, AMD APUs are manufactured in BGA performance and cannot be replaced. True, it should be said that they support a good set of technologies, among which there are instructions AES, F16C and AVX. Thus, there are no obvious flaws in them, but in terms of the number of cores and the frequency they are inferior to Intel processors. On the other hand, the graphics core AMD wins from them in performance.
    CPU
    Core
    Frequency, GHz
    Tech., Nm
    Energy., W
    Memory (volume, frequency,
    channels)

    Architecture
    Geekbench 4 (single / multi) results
    Intel Atom x5-Z8300
    four
    1.44-1.84
    14
    2.0
    DDR3L, 2GB, 1600, 1
    Cherry trail
    919/2478
    Intel Atom Z3735G
    four
    1.33-1.83
    22
    2.2
    DDR3L, 1GB, 1333, 1
    Bay trail
    829/2020
    Intel Atom Z3735F
    four
    1.33-1.83
    22
    2.2
    DDR3L, 2GB, 1333, 1
    Bay trail
    860/2035
    Intel Celeron N3350
    2
    1.10-2.40
    14
    4-6
    DDR3L, LPDDR3 LPDDR4, 8GB, 1600 2400, 2
    Apollo lake
    1556/2722
    Intel Celeron N2840
    2
    2.16-2.58
    22
    4.5-7.5
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600,2
    Bay trail
    1230/1980
    Intel Celeron N3050
    2
    1.60-2.16
    14
    4-6
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600,2
    Braswell
    1067/1871
    Intel Celeron N3060
    2
    1.60-2.48
    14
    4-6
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600,2
    Braswell
    1169/2121
    AMD E1-7010
    2
    1.50
    28
    ten
    DDR3L 8GB, 1333, 1
    Puma +
    Carrizo-L
    836/1389
    AMD E1-6010
    2
    1.35
    28
    ten
    DDR3L, 8GB, 1333, 1
    Puma
    beema
    816/1308
    AMD E1-2500
    2
    1.40
    28
    15
    DDR3L, 8GB, 1333, 1
    Jaguar
    kabini
    818/1351

    Laptops with prices ranging from 15 to 20 thousand rubles


    Usually as the cost of laptops increases, manufacturers try to put the CPU from the model range higher. It turns out that in the real world this is not entirely true, and last year’s models coexist quite peacefully with notebooks of the model range of the current year. Therefore, once again let us warn inattentive customers: even in the more expensive segment there are models with previously described processors. And new ones are added to them, which are not always faster and better than old ones.

    Intel


    Opens the list of three Intel Pentium processors with numbers N3540, N3700 and N3710. The first relates to the Bay Trail platform (2013), the rest to Braswell (2015).



    It makes sense to stop at Braswell only if you want to get a processor made with 14 nm technology with lower power consumption (4-6 W instead of 4.5-7.5 W). As a result, the heating and noise levels of the cooling system are reduced. Talking about the striking superiority of one over the other is not necessary because of too close characteristics. All have four cores, 2 MB of cache memory, and frequencies vary in the 2.16-2.66 GHz range for the N3540, 1.60 - 2.40 for the N3700 and 1.60 - 2.56 for the N3710. Braswell processors support 1600 MHz DDR3 memory, while the Bay Trail is limited to 1333 MHz. And the first significant difference is dual-channel memory of all described processors.

    Among Pentium there are CPUs with U index in the name - these are Intel Pentium 3558U and Intel Celeron 2957U. Both processors came from the world of Haswell desktop systems. Despite the difference in the names of Celeron and Pentium, in fact, both of them have only two processing cores, 2 MB of cache memory and 15 W power consumption. The difference between them is only in the frequency of work. Intel Celeron 2957U operates at 1.40 GHz without turbo mode, Intel Pentium 3558U - 1.70 GHz without boost. Depending on the desire of the laptop manufacturer, the system with these processors can have up to 16 GB of normal DDR3 1600 MHz SoDimm memory with dual channel mode. It turns out that it is these processors that are closest to desktop systems and assume the maximum potential for improving the characteristics of a laptop.

    AMD


    In the range between 15 and 20 thousand rubles falls a large list of APUs from AMD, ranging from the affordable and primitive AMD E1-6015 CPU to the decent model AMD A6-9210. And the full list includes as many as six APU AMD models: A6-9210, A6-7310, A4-7210, A4-6210, E2-7110, E1-6015.

    E1-6015 is a slightly overclocked version of the APU E1-6010. Frequency increased from 1.35 GHz to 1.40 GHz.

    E2-7110 is the same E1-6015, but with a frequency of 1.80 GHz, four processing cores and 2 MB cache memory instead of 1 MB. Naturally, the increase in the number of cores should have affected power consumption, but the improved technologies implemented in the APU allowed to stay in the range from 12 to 15 watts. Alas, the single-channel memory controller still holds back the integrated graphics of the Radeon R2.

    A4-6210, A4-7210 and A6-7310 twin processors. Close regular frequencies (A4-6210 -1.8 GHz, A4-7210 - 1.8 ... 2.2 GHz, A6-7310 - 2.0 ... 2.4 GHz), 2 MB of cache memory each, 15 W power consumption, single-channel DDR3L memory with a frequency of up to 1600 MHz for the first two and up to 1866 MHz for the last APU. By and large, the main difference lies in the graphics core. The A4-6210, A4-7210 is equipped with a Radeon R3 (128 unified processors with a frequency of 600 MHz in the first and 686 MHz in the second APU), and in the A6-7310 Radeon R4 (the R4 index indicates the frequency of the GP 800 MHz, and not an increase actuators, however logical it is). However, the problem here is the same - limited memory bandwidth. And in the end, that Radeon R3, that R4, on the screen, the difference is hardly visible with the naked eye.

    A6-9210 - seventh generation APU AMD with two Excavator cores. A decrease in the number and an increase in the number in the title is a favorite method of manufacturers. Although it all depends on which side to look at it. Indeed, the number of cores has decreased, and this has a negative effect on performance. On the other hand, AMD decided to balance the CPU with the advanced graphics of the Radeon R4 (192 stream processors at 600 MHz). Ultimately, the A6-9210 looks more attractive. In addition, the memory type was changed to DDR4 2133 MHz, although the number of memory channels remained equal to one. According to AMD, two cores at a frequency of 2.4 ... 2.8 GHz should cope with the daily work in the office / home and sometimes allow the user to play undemanding games.
    CPU
    Core
    Frequency, GHz
    Tech., Nm
    Energy., W
    Memory (volume, frequency,
    channels)

    Architecture
    Geekbench 4 (single / multi) results
    Intel Pentium N3710
    four
    1.6-2.56
    14
    4-6
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600,2
    Braswell
    1223/3606
    Intel Pentium N3700
    four
    1.6-2.4
    14
    4-6
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600,2
    Braswell
    1154/3353
    Intel Pentium N3540
    four
    2.16-2.66
    22
    4.5-7.5
    DDR3L 8GB, 1333, 2
    Bay trail
    1285/3637
    Intel Pentium 3558U
    2
    1.7
    22
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR3 16GB, 1600, 2
    Haswell
    2023/3347
    Intel Celeron 2957U
    2
    1.4
    22
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR3 16GB, 1600, 2
    Haswell
    1707/2895
    AMD A6-9210
    2
    2.4-2.8
    28
    15
    DDR4 8GB, 2133, 1
    Excavator
    Stoney Ridge
    1945/2928
    AMD A6-7310
    four
    2.0-2.4
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600, 1
    Puma +
    Carrizo-L
    1313/3370
    AMD A4-7210
    four
    1.8-2.2
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600, 1
    Puma +
    Carrizo-L
    1217/3070
    AMD E2-7110
    four
    1.8
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600, 1
    Puma +
    Carrizo-L
    1067/2991
    AMD A4-6210
    four
    1.8
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB, 1600, 1
    Puma
    beema
    1070/2974
    AMD E1-6015
    2
    1.4
    28
    ten
    DDR3L 8GB, 1333, 1
    Puma
    beema
    820/1331

    Laptops cost from 20 to 25 thousand rubles


    Not at all extra five thousand rubles can be spent in different ways. Someone will opt for a medium configuration, preferring a good matrix or a compact size. The rest, who care about processor performance, will tell you what to expect from them.



    Our list opens with a full-fledged Pentium N4200 from Intel with dual-channel memory from the Apollo Lake family (2016). We have already met with his younger brother Celeron N3350. The difference between them is in a slightly larger turbo frequency and four cores instead of two. The platform is fresh, though based on 14 nm.

    Processors with the letter “U” at the end belong to three generations at once (Haswell, Broadwell, SkyLake). The oldest, so to speak, is the Intel Pentium 3556U with Haswell architecture. It does not have the lowest frequency of operation - 1.7 GHz without turbo mode, but it is made using a 22 nm process technology and is adjacent to DDR3 memory, more precisely, its energy efficient version LDDR3, operating at 1.35 V. The

    processors are higher than a step, based on Broadwell architecture. Here you have the advanced 14 nm process technology, and the presence of Hyper Threading in some instances. Thanks to it, the number of executable threads in the system grows from two to four, although physically the processors are still endowed with two cores.

    The lower Intel Celeron 3215U and Intel Celeron 3205U CPUs differ in operating frequency (1.7 GHz versus 1.5 GHz), and the other characteristics are exactly the same: two cores each, 2 MB of cache memory, power consumption up to 15 W and support for LDDR3 memory frequency up to 1600 MHz. Again, returning to the importance of not memory, but its channel, in all enumerated processors two memory channels are used. This is a physical capability of the processors, but not all manufacturers use this feature, often giving laptops four or eight gigabytes of RAM on one channel.

    Intel Pentium 3825U and 3805U are also very similar except for one important fact that the 3825U has Hyper Threading support, 3805U does not. Both operate at 1.9 GHz without turbo modes with memory up to 1600 MHz.

    And finally, the last representative of the Broadwell processors is the Intel Core i3-5005U. Despite being part of the i3 series, it has little difference from the Pentium 3825U. First, the frequency has risen to 2 GHz. Secondly, the amount of cache memory is increased from 2 to 3 MB and ... everything. Is it worth it to overpay for it, obviously not, since there are a couple of SkyLake processors in the neighborhood.

    Intel Pentium 4405U according to its characteristics is close to the Pentium 3825U, but it operates at a frequency of 2.1 GHz. However, the frequency is not particularly important here, because It is worth paying attention to what aspect: SkyLake received a new controller that is compatible with two types of memory at once - DDR4 and LPDDR3. Depending on the integrity of the manufacturer, in a laptop can stand as one type, and the other. Naturally, with DDR4 performance will be slightly higher, and it is worth considering. But with LDDR3, SkyLake has an advantage over Broadwell due to the higher operating frequency - 1866 MHz instead of 1600 MHz.

    Intel Core i3-6006U should formally be better than the Pentium 4405U, but upon closer inspection, its frequency is lower by 100 MHz. Albeit with an increased amount of porridge, he is not able to compete with the Pentium 4405U. Again, the type of memory used will be the deciding factor.

    AMD


    In response to the dynamic sector of budget notebooks, AMD, like Intel, has some ambitions to bite off a piece of cake. Its APU is graphically ahead of the competitor, which cannot be said about the processing power of the main processor cores. Although, running ahead, a pair of APUs are quite decent against the background of Intel processors. On the other hand, it is in this segment that the outdated APUs, which do not fit into the modern reality, somehow come across. But we will begin with really interesting samples.

    AMD A9-9410 has only two cores with a dynamic operating range of 2.9 to 3.5 GHz. A small amount of cache memory (1 MB) is compensated for supporting DDR4 memory up to 8 GB and a frequency of up to 2133 MHz operating in dual channel mode. This is the only processor with Excavator cores on the Stoney Ridge platform. Its graphics core, subject to the presence of a large amount of RAM in a laptop, is able to compete with the most simple discrete graphics cards.

    All of the following four-core APUs are obsolete processors, but they may well satisfy the needs of an undemanding customer. For example, AMD A8-7410 with a frequency of 2.2-2.5 GHz or AMD A6-6310, operating at 1.8-2.4 GHz, and even AMD E2-6110 with its 1.5 GHz is capable of something . However, they all support only one memory channel and cannot fully unleash the potential of the integrated graphics core of the Radeon. And the latest APU AMD Brazos QC-4000 is like a dinosaur at all: not only does it have a very modest frequency potential of 1.3 GHz, and it is more focused on tablets rather than laptops.

    CPU
    Cores / Threads
    Frequency, GHz
    Tech., Nm
    Energy., W
    Memory (volume, frequency,
    channels)

    Architecture
    Geekbench 4 (single / multi) results
    Intel Pentium N4200
    four
    1.1-2.5
    14
    4-6
    DDR3L
    LPDDR3
    LPDDR4 8GB,
    1600
    2400
    2
    Apollo lake
    1592/4483
    Intel Core i3-6006U
    2/4
    2.0
    14
    15
    DDR4
    LPDDR3
    DDR3L 32GB
    2133
    1866
    1600
    2
    Skylake
    2789/5350
    Intel Core i3-5005U
    2/4
    2.0
    14
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR 16GB
    1600
    2
    Broadwell
    2619/4880
    Intel Pentium 4405U
    2/4
    2.1
    14
    15
    DDR4
    LPDDR3 32GB
    2133
    1866
    2
    Skylake
    2536/4997
    Intel Pentium 3825U
    2/4
    1.9
    14
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR 16GB
    1600
    2
    Broadwell
    2247/4119
    Intel Pentium 3805U
    2
    1.9
    14
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR 16GB
    1600
    2
    Broadwell
    2205/3619
    Intel Pentium 3556U
    2
    1.7
    22
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR3 16GB
    1600
    2
    Haswell
    1937/3265
    Intel Celeron 3215U
    2
    1.7
    14
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR 16GB
    1600
    2
    Broadwell
    1955/3158
    Intel Celeron 3205U
    2
    1.5
    14
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR 16GB
    1600
    2
    Broadwell
    1811/3014
    AMD A9-9410
    2
    2.9-3.5
    28
    15
    DDR4 8GB
    2133
    2
    Excavator
    Stoney Ridge
    2278/3485
    AMD A8-7410
    four
    2.2-2.5
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB
    1866
    1
    Puma +
    Carrizo-L
    1352/3715
    AMD A6-6310
    four
    1.8-2.4
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB
    1866
    1
    Puma
    beema
    1335/3401
    AMD E2-6110
    four
    1.5
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB
    1600
    1
    Puma
    beema
    911/2505
    AMD Brazos QC-4000
    four
    1,3
    28
    15
    DDR3L 8GB
    1600
    1
    Jaguar
    kabini
    854/2359

    Laptops priced from 25 to 30 thousand rubles


    The last group of laptops in question is really interesting in several things. For the first time in this category, we will come across the most recent processors and nimble APU models with decent graphics. To continue the conversation, put everything on the shelves. First, we say that all systems support dual-channel memory, and most processors are provided with support for faster DDR4 memory.

    Intel


    Representatives of the blue camp cover demand by three generations of processors: from Haswell to the freshest Kaby Lake.


    Intel Kaby-Lake. Photo: pcworld.co.nz

    Of course, Intel Core i3-4030U looks faded against the background of more modern CPUs, but it also has quite good performance, including 1.9 GHz frequency, 3 MB cache, support for Hyper Threading, DDR3L / LPDDR3 memory up to 16 GB and up to 1600 MHz.
    But Skylake is definitely the best on all fronts.

    The Core i3-6100U has a fixed frequency of 2.3 MHz, and it combines with three types of memory with a maximum capacity of 32 GB: DDR3L up to 1600 MHz, LPDDR3 up to 1866 MHz, DDR4 up to 2133 MHz. Which one you will find in a laptop is a rhetorical question. It is best to find it with DDR4 memory, and then priority on the drop down. The Core i5-6200U has a dynamic core frequency in the range from 2.3 to 2.8 GHz, the other characteristics do not differ from the Core i3-6100U.

    At the pinnacle of attractiveness, the Core i5-7200U stopped on the architecture of Kaby Lake. For a potential buyer in a given price range, he is the priority choice. Optimization and improvements were made to the core, the frequency increased, and the graphics core improved again.

    AMD


    For the red camp stands several APU with attractive features. AMD knows what to do, if the rest of the parameters of the APU is not so hot. Of course, the buyer should be lured by the presence of four cores, which the company does. Although such methods will not force a picky buyer to change their choice, the “signboard” will work on people who are not advanced in iron. We do not beg AMD merits, because in reality, some of the presented APUs have very good potential for undemanding games.

    In particular, AMD A10-9600P is the latest and most advanced APU from AMD at the moment. It is based on the Excavator architecture, and it belongs to the Bristol Ridge platform. But she lives the last year, because APUs with Zen cores are waiting for us soon. If you want to save A10-9600P remains a good choice with support for 2-channel DDR4 memory. Alas, its volume is limited to 8 GB.

    AMD A10-8700P is worse in everything, starting from the maximum power consumption and ending with a low starting frequency of just 1.8 GHz.

    Another representative of the platform Stoney Ridge A9-9400 got here by accident. Apparently, there are still unsold laptops, otherwise it is difficult to explain. The option is clearly passing for this category.



    And finally, the list has AMD A8-5550M. This is almost the founder of AMD's mobile APUs on the Trinity platform. Most likely, from the same stocks as the A9-9400.
    CPU
    Cores / Threads
    Frequency, GHz
    Tech., Nm
    Energy., W
    Memory (volume, frequency,
    channels)

    Architecture
    Geekbench 4 (single / multi) results
    Intel Core i5-7200U
    2/4
    2.5-3.1
    14
    25
    DDR4
    LPDDR3
    DDR3L 32GB, 2133/
    1866/
    1600, 2
    Kaby lake
    3941/7871
    Intel Core i5-6200U
    2/4
    2.3-2.8
    14
    25
    DDR4
    LPDDR3
    DDR3L 32GB, 2133/
    1866/
    1600, 2
    Skylake
    3732/7157
    Intel Core i3-6100U
    2/4
    2.3
    14
    15
    DDR4
    LPDDR3
    DDR3L 32GB, 2133/
    1866/
    1600, 2
    Skylake
    3250/6301
    Intel Core i3-4030U
    2/4
    1.9
    22
    15
    DDR3L
    LPDDR3 16GB, 1600, 2
    Haswell
    2276/4593
    AMD A10-9600P
    four
    2.4-3.3
    28
    15
    DDR4 8GB, 1866, 2
    Excavator
    Bristol Ridge
    2174/4872
    AMD A10-8700P
    four
    1.8-3.2
    28
    35
    DDR3, 2133, 2
    Excavator
    Carrizo
    2348/6074
    AMD A9-9400
    2
    2.4-3.2
    28
    ten
    DDR4 8GB, 2133, 2
    Excavator
    Stoney Ridge
    2145/3140
    AMD A8-5550M
    four
    2.1-3.1
    32
    35
    DDR3
    DDR3L
    DDR3U, 1600, 2
    Piledriver
    trinity
    1947/4569

    findings


    The abundance of simultaneously represented platforms of an ordinary buyer will frighten at first. And the neighborhood of similar and hardly differing names of processors also confuses him. Agree, who on the move will answer the question about the differences between the Intel Pentium 3825U and Intel Pentium 3805U? Or solve a puzzle with the designation APU AMD? So which processors are worth staying in four price categories?

    In the presence of 10-15 thousand rubles to count on luck is not necessary. All processors have flaws, either four cores and a low frequency paired with single-channel memory, or two cores and a relatively high frequency, but already with dual-channel memory. Neither one nor the other option should even be considered for purchase, you will be disappointed right after coming home. An acceptable option, we would call the processor Intel Celeron N3350, but only with LPDDR4 memory.

    In the price range from 15 to 20 thousand the number of applicants increases. These are Intel Pentium N3710, Intel Pentium 3558U and, gritting teeth, AMD A6-9210.

    Steps above are full-fledged processors Intel Core i3-6006U, Intel Pentium 4405U in the broad sense of the word. Perhaps they will give you the necessary level of performance and relevance. For the graphical component of mercy, we ask in the AMD camp to the APU A9-9410.

    Our review ends on the once most popular group of laptops with prices ranging from 25 to 30 thousand rubles. A few years ago, for this amount, it was possible to find a good configuration with an IPS matrix, an energy efficient processor and the possibility of transformation. Now at best, you get a mediocre system. Although I must say that even the latest Intel Core i5-7200U processor managed to get here. We recommend that you search for it, since there is such an opportunity. And for AMD stands the last representative of the era of the nucleus Excavator - A10-9600P.

    Enjoy the shopping!

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