What is physically different between a high-end CPU (e.g. Intel i7) and a low-end one (Intel i3)? What makes the low-end one cheaper?
In: Technology
The process to make computer chips isn’t perfect. Certain sections of the chip may not function properly.
They make dozens of chips on a single “wafer”, and then test them individually.
Chips that have defects or issues, like 1/8 cores not functioning, or a Cache that doesn’t work, don’t go to waste. They get re-configured into a lower tier chip.
In other words, a 6-core i5 is basically an 8-core i7 that has 2 defective cores.
(Just for reference, these defects and imperfections are why some chips overclock better than others. Every chip is slightly different.)
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