Before you buy a PC: You need to know these Intel processor technologies

Intel Thunderbolt 3

Computer processors are not only defined by the number of cores and clock frequencies. With Thunderbolt 4, Optane and Wi-Fi 6E, Intel uses innovative technologies in its current processors that offer tangible advantages beyond pure performance data.

Probably the most important component when buying or building a new PC is the processor. Of course, the bare performance data is of particular interest to gamers, for example the number of cores and the possible clock frequencies. But performance benchmarks aren’t everything to consider when deciding on a processor.

In addition to pure performance, there are other processor features that are relevant for gamers. For example, there are a number of technologies that can be used with the current generation of Intel processors.

Thunderbolt 3 and 4 for high-end external graphics


full screen

Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are Intel’s fast data interfaces.

Image: © Intel Corporation 2020

Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are data interfaces from Intel that were developed based on the current USB-C standards. Compared to USB-C, they allow data to be transferred at twice the speed of up to 40 Gbit/s, i.e. with up to 40,000 megabits per second. This allows data to be read and written faster on external hard drives. For gamers – especially those who gamble on a laptop – Thunderbolt 3 and 4 also have the advantage that external graphics cards can also be connected to the computer.

Manufacturers such as HP and Razer offer so-called eGPU housings that can be connected to a computer that supports this via Thunderbolt. The external housing can be equipped with standard desktop graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD. In this way, the graphics performance of the cards can also be used on low-performance laptops. It is therefore possible to upgrade a graphics card with Thunderbolt on a notebook.

See also  15 German Twitch streamers gather together in a house for a big LAN party

Intel Optane: The hard drive boost

Intel Optane
full screen

Intel Optane accelerates a PC’s memory.

Image: © Intel Corporation 2019

With Optane, Intel offers a storage solution that is equally interesting for working and gaming. The technology can accelerate classic magnetic hard drives to the pace of modern SSDs. In practice, this means: Thanks to Intel Optane, applications – whether games, programs or the operating system itself – are started at a pace as if they were stored on an SSD.

The Intel Optane memories are in the form of M.2 modules and are plugged into the corresponding slots on the Intel mainboards. Despite what they look like, they aren’t actually hard drives. The Optane modules act as a kind of buffer, preloading data from the actual hard drive and then forwarding it to the processor at high speed.

Intel Optane chip
full screen

An Intel Optane module in a laptop.

Image: © Intel Corporation 2020

In this capacity, Optane is more like the RAM of a PC than data storage. Unlike RAM, however, Optane data is not lost when the computer is shut down, but is retained – for example to speed up the computer’s restart.

But Optane doesn’t just accelerate HDDs. The frequently used 2.5-inch SSDs, which are connected to the mainboard via a SATA 3 interface, also receive a speed boost in connection with an Optane module. In practice, the usual reading speed of 500 to 600 megabytes per second can double or even almost triple.

Wi-Fi 6E: Fast Wi-Fi with no stability issues

Laptops are usually not wired, but wirelessly on the Internet via WLAN. Wi-Fi 6E is the latest standard for wireless internet and offers clear advantages over Wi-Fi 6. Since April 2020, Intel has stocked network adapters with Wi-Fi 6E support.

See also  Best CS:GO player in the world is in crisis - team wins everything but is "mentally destroyed"

Wi-Fi 6E allows access to the 6 GHz frequency band. This has the advantage of not being overloaded with other Wi-Fi devices and networks. Therefore, the new Wi-Fi 6E networks are less susceptible to interference than older WLAN networks. These use the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. Home users can enjoy almost 3 times the speed of Wi-Fi 6E compared to Wi-Fi 5. The latency is reduced by up to 75 percent.

You can use different devices such as laptops, smartphones and smart TVs in parallel without them getting in each other’s way and without the speed dropping significantly.

WLAN router
full screen

Wi-Fi 6E is intended to make WLAN networks faster and more stable.

Image: © Adobe Stock/phonlamaiphoto 2018

For gamers, Wi-Fi 6E ideally means shorter loading times, less latency for online games and cloud gaming, and a more stable connection when gaming. The advantages of Wi-Fi 6E can only be used in conjunction with a corresponding router.

Intel laptops with Wi-Fi 6E

It is up to the manufacturers whether they offer Wi-Fi 6E or an older standard. These laptops come with an Intel Wi-Fi 6E network adapter onboard.

Reference-www.turn-on.de