Many people are wondering why laptops don’t have the same processors as desktops? Let’s take a look at the differences between laptop and desktop processors the same?
A laptop must contain a functional PC in a very small case, which limits the size of its components and does not include a cooling system. If we had a laptop with a 95 watt processor, which is typically the typical value for a mid-range desktop processor, we would need a proper heatsink to keep the processor at the proper operating temperature.
Laptops have an external power supply that is responsible for supplying power to all the laptop’s hardware (components), and these power supplies are compact. Of course, if we had a laptop with a desktop processor, we would need a suitable power source to provide it with the power it needs, right?
This is why desktop processors are not used in laptops – power and cooling.
Differences between laptops and desktop processors
Consumption : A desktop processor uses much more power than a laptop, so a suitable power supply and cooling system is required.
Socket : Usually the desktop processor is “removable”, the laptop processors are soldered to the board and cannot be replaced. There are also removable processors on laptops, but this factor should be taken into account
Varying number of cores : Typically, laptop processors have fewer cores than desktop processors. Even with the same cores, they generally won’t have HyperThreading / SMT to double the number of threads.
Low Speed: Laptop CPUs have much slower operating speeds and have a very large difference in base speed and turbo speed.
Various characteristics : when we buy processors, we see that they have a list of specific characteristics besides the cores and their speed. Many features of desktop processors have virtualization to run, such as virtual machines. In laptops, they are not, or rather, there are but few.
Integrated graphics : There are many desktop processors that include integrated graphics, but many do not. In a laptop, almost all processors will have integrated graphics.
Given the constraints that laptops have, processor manufacturers had to decide how to offer good performance, while reducing the number of features and thereby reducing consumption.
Many people have very fuzzy concepts for desktop and laptop processors. Are there any similarities? Likewise, can I use it? Or is there any different? Now OS-Store finds an answer for you.
Laptops are designed to be used on the go, which requires them to be run over an extended period of battery power. One of the main features that distinguish laptop processors from other processors is low power consumption. The same CPUs are found in a wide variety of both desktop computers, but the performance will not necessarily be the same.
The differences between desktop and laptop processors are Clock speed, operating voltage, bus speed, Chip components.
Someone conducted a head-to-head test of laptops and desktops running similar processors and even basic desktop systems have shown that they perform better than a high-end laptop.
It means you can upgrade both desktop and laptop processors. The only problem you may encounter with accessing the laptop processor is urinating on your warranty.
Laptop or desktop computer. What to choose?
As you already understood from the title – now there will be another duel. But, the battle of a desktop computer and a laptop cannot be a full-fledged duel, since, in principle, despite their functional similarity, these devices are slightly from different areas of application, each of which has its own specifics.
But, unfortunately, some do not see this rather clear line and finally “buried” for themselves the option of assembling or purchasing a system unit. This article is devoted to such, blindly surrendered to the “power of the laptop”.
Separately, one of the “wonders of the world” will be touched upon – a gaming laptop, and some paradoxical nuances associated with its choice. At the end there will be results that should prove that the desktop is alive and will live.
Performance. We pay more – we get less
Let’s start with the insides. Here, the clear leader will be the desktop and only it. In terms of price / performance ratio, it confidently breaks away from its portable, but more expensive opponent.
If we take into account desktop processors and mobile models, then again, we get more performance for a lower price from desktop systems. The same i5 – 3570 K, in 3DMark processor tests slightly bypasses Intel Core i7-3615QM, but as you can imagine, the prices are clearly not in favor of the i7-3615QM.
The same can be said about video cards. In laptops, which are positioned as a replacement for a home PC, video cards are installed that can only morally support modern demanding games and applications.
And about a comfortable game, there can be no question.
Of course, this is all offset by the much lower TDP of the laptop components, but in my opinion this is not a full-fledged excuse when it comes to performance.
So we slowly came to a very interesting and relevant topic.
The wonder of the world or also known as gaming laptop. Selection features
Very often I come across requests to choose a laptop on which any applications fly, and fps goes off scale in all, without exception, games, but the budget is quite modest. Most are well aware that this is impossible. But they are still trying to pick up a laptop as a gaming system or to work in applications that are demanding on system resources.
But you can be surprised when it comes to obviously immodest budgets. Let’s look at a fairly productive laptop Asus N76VM, in the average configuration of which, similar to the one discussed above, an Intel Core i7-3610QM processor is installed. The price of the issue (laptop) is $ 1300-1400, a lot, agree?
But I want you to pay attention to the video card. The “mighty” GT630M is installed in this device, even if I chose the GT630M, not the 650M, out of schadenfreude, but this would not radically change the situation. So, GT630M is equipped with a memory bus width of 128 bits, even with GDDR5 memory.
The video memory operates at 800 MHz, and in terms of performance, this video card is comparable to the desktop model HD 6570. After these words, there should be a solid portion of “snorting” from avid gamers.
Now answer the question: Would you put the HD 6570 on a $1400 desktop system? Of course not! With a budget like this, you can put in an HD 7950 or 7970 and then jump for joy and swallow a rainbow of radiating gaming performance.
Want a truly gaming laptop? – $3,500 Alien ware M18x with dual 7970M graphics at your service.
And for those who do not have extra “thousands of dollars”, but want to play everything at once, I suggest looking in the direction of desktop systems, and not even looking at laptops.
But not everything is as bad as it might seem, above we talked about the maximum performance in the most demanding games. But games are also different, so for a modest amount you can pick up a good parody of a gaming laptop, on which a lot of games will go badly or badly.
For example, now the bundle ” AMD A10 processor + HD 7670M video card ” looks solid and cheap. Also, you can pick up a slightly more “fun”, but expensive option on the Intel i5 / i7 + GT650M. But the basic concept remains the same – the laptop is not for gaming.
Simple advantages and disadvantages of desktop and laptop
Despite such an aggressive introduction towards laptops, it is foolish to state once again the fact that this device has a lot of advantages. Everyone understands that compact laptops are in most cases much more convenient (in terms of portability) than a separate monitor and a system unit with a bunch of wires, which takes up a lot of space.
Undoubtedly, portability also adds heat, and some users, realizing only these two factors, are ready to rush to buy a laptop. Perhaps for some it will be reasonable, but obviously not for many.
One of the leading advantages of a desktop, which stems from its size, is ease of use. Whatever one may say, but it is much more convenient to work with a separate full-sized and, for example, an ergonomic keyboard, the position of which can be conveniently adjusted for yourself, rather than behind a laptop keyboard, with offset buttons and without an additional digital block (often).
Also, the minimization of the buttons themselves and a decrease in the distance between them are very often noticeable, which also clearly reduces convenience.
That is, we can safely attribute portability and compactness to the main advantages that can be clearly “felt” in laptops , and for desktops, this is undoubtedly the convenience of work.
Despite the fact that for some the factor of convenience will be dubious, in contrast to people who do not have to carry a computer with them on their “duty”, it will not be very doubtful.