Which processor do I need? • TopLaptop

In short

i3/Ryzen 3: Perfect for everyday use (internet, email, word processing, streaming).
i5/Ryzen 5: Ideal for multitasking, office work and light photo editing.
i7/Ryzen 7: Powerful for demanding tasks like video editing, gaming and professional software.
Generation matters: A 12th-generation i5 is faster than an 8th-generation i7.

Intel and AMD: the two big brands and their processor lines

When you buy a laptop, you mainly come across two brands: Intel and AMD. Both make processors for all kinds of uses, from simple office tasks to heavy gaming and video editing.

Intel: Core i3, i5 and i7 (8th–13th generation)

Intel calls its processors Core i3, i5 and i7. The number indicates how powerful the processor is:

i3: The entry-level processor. Suitable for basic use.
i5: The mid-range option. Good for most users.
i7: The powerhouse. For demanding tasks and professional use.

AMD: Ryzen 3, 5 and 7

AMD uses the name Ryzen (no idea how you pronounce it) for its processors. The same applies here:

Ryzen 3: Entry-level model, comparable to the i3.
Ryzen 5: Mid-range, comparable to the i5.
Ryzen 7: Top-tier, comparable to the i7.

AMD processors are known for their good price-performance ratio and efficiency.

With both manufacturers, the first number after the product line is the generation (from 8 to 14 for Intel and from 1 to 9 for AMD). Sometimes there’s a U, a G or a T at the end.

Good to know: only Intel processors from the 8th generation and AMD processors from the 3rd generation are suitable for Windows 11. We also don’t sell laptops with processors outside these generations.

What do the generations mean? 8th vs 10th vs 12th generation

Each new generation brings improvements in speed, efficiency and capabilities. For refurbished laptops, Intel’s 8th, 10th and 12th generations are especially interesting. Here’s a point-by-point comparison.

8th generation (2017–2018)

i5-8250U, i5-8350U, i5-8365U, i7-8550U, i7-8650U
For whom?
- i5 (8th gen): Good for office work, multitasking, light photo editing, streaming and light games like Minecraft.
- i7 (8th gen): Suitable for heavier tasks like video editing (Full HD), professional software (Photoshop, Lightroom) and gaming (medium-high settings).
Pros: Proven and reliable, cheap in refurbished form, sufficient for most users.
Cons: Less efficient than newer generations, shorter battery life, no support for the latest technologies. For video output to a dual QHD screen you need a DisplayLink dock (read more about it here)

10th generation (2019–2020)

i5-10210U, i5-1035G4, i7-10510U, i7-10750H
For whom?
- i5 (10th gen): Excellent for office work, multitasking, light to medium photo editing, and modern games on lower settings.
- i7 (10th gen): Very suitable for video editing (Full HD, 4K), heavy photo editing with Photoshop, Lightroom, gaming (higher settings) and professional applications like InDesign.
Pros: Better performance and efficiency than 8th gen, longer battery life, support for faster RAM and storage.

12th/13th generation (2021–2023)

i5-1235U, i5-12450H, i7-1260P, i7-12700H
For whom?
- i5 (12th/13th gen): Very suitable for intensive multitasking, medium video editing, gaming and professional software.
- i7 (12th/13th gen): Top performance for heavy video editing, 3D rendering, gaming on high settings and AI applications.
Pros: Best performance, longest battery life, support for the latest technologies.
Cons: Highest price in refurbished

We offer these powerful 12th/13th generation laptops at an attractive refurbished price, so you can enjoy top performance without the high new-product price.

How does a processor work? The hurdlers metaphor

Many people think: the higher the clock speed (GHz), the faster the laptop. But that’s not the whole story. Imagine a processor as a hurdler on an athletics track:

GHz (Gigahertz): This is how fast the runner runs. 1 GHz = 1 billion laps per second.
Cores: This is the number of runners. A dual-core has 2 runners, a quad-core 4, and a hexa-core 6.
Cache: This is the runner’s memory. The more cache, the faster the runner can react without having to go to the slower working memory (RAM).

Example: A 2.5 GHz quad-core can feel faster than a 3.2 GHz dual-core, because more runners can carry out tasks at the same time.

Which processor suits your use?

i3 / Ryzen 3: For basic use

Tasks: Browsing, email, word processing, streaming (Netflix, YouTube).
For whom: Students, home users, people who only do basic things.
Generation: From the 8th generation (e.g. i3-8130U) this is fine.

i5 / Ryzen 5: For multitasking and office work

Tasks: Multitasking (several programs open), light photo editing, office software (Excel, Word), light games.
For whom: Office workers, students who do more than just browse, people who play a game now and then.
Generation:
- 8th gen: Good for office work and light tasks.
- 10th gen: Better for multitasking and medium tasks.
- 12th/13th gen: Great for intensive use.

i7 / Ryzen 7: For demanding tasks and professional use

Tasks: Video editing, heavy photo editing, gaming, professional software (AutoCAD, Photoshop).
For whom: Creatives, gamers, professionals who need a lot of computing power.
Generation:
- 8th gen: Suitable for Full HD video editing and gaming on medium settings.
- 10th gen: Very good for 4K video editing and gaming on higher settings.
- 12th/13th gen: Best choice for the most demanding tasks and future-proofing.

Why GHz doesn’t tell the whole story: the bigger picture

Manufacturers like to put a high GHz figure on the box, but that doesn’t tell you everything. An older 3.4 GHz dual-core is often slower than a modern 2.1 GHz quad-core with more cache and better efficiency.

What should you look out for?

Number of cores: More cores = better multitasking.
Cache: More cache = faster responses.
Generation: Newer generations are more efficient.
RAM and SSD: A fast processor also needs enough RAM (8GB+) and an SSD.

How we want to help you make the right choice

We sell refurbished laptops with Intel processors from the 8th to the 13th generation and Ryzen from the 2nd to the 8th. We know specifications can sometimes be complicated. That’s why, for every laptop, we don’t just give the dry specs, but also clearly indicate what use the laptop is suitable for. We give a general description (“basic performance”, “good all-rounder”) as well as more detailed application possibilities.

For example: “This i5-8250U (8th gen) is perfect for office work, multitasking and light photo editing.”
Or: “This i7-10750H (10th gen) is ideal for video editing, gaming and professional software.”

In doubt, or think some information is missing? Feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help you find the laptop that fits your needs exactly.

Conclusion: choose smart, not just on GHz

i3/Ryzen 3: Basic use.
i5/Ryzen 5: Multitasking and office work.
i7/Ryzen 7: Demanding tasks and professional use.
Generation matters: A 12th-generation i5 is faster than an 8th-generation i7.
Note: Look at the bigger picture: generation, number of cores, cache and efficiency.

At TopLaptop.nl we select laptops with the right balance, so you don’t buy unnecessary power, but exactly what you need.

Browse our carefully curated laptops or get in touch for personal advice.