INVESTIGATED: laptop cpus demystified

PICKING A PORTABLE PC MEANS PURSUING THE PERFECT INTEL PACKAGE

Core M series

Intel’s best ratio of CPU muscle to power/heat efficiency comes in the form of the Skylake-based Core M3, M5 and M7, which can be found in passively cooled systems like the Surface Pro 4 tablet and offer genuinely good results. They’re a system-on-chip design, which means the processor you choose will have Intel’s HD Graphics system on board –don’t expect high-end visuals, but it’ll get the job done.

Core i series

The most recent sixth-gen update to the Core i3/i5/i7 brings the Skylake architecture to Intel’s ultra-low-voltage chip package. Again, it’s an SoC with integrated graphics, although as it’s generally used in ‘proper’ laptops, you’ll often find a bit of additional pixelpushing power added in. Even the bog-standard sixth-gen i3 offers power similar to the fifthgen mid-range i5 chip, so you’re covered when it comes to power.

Pentium/Celeron series

The names might be ancient, but Intel’s low-end mobile series is still burning bright – the most recent chip, the Pentium N3710, has only just hit the market. These are all based on the Braswell architecture, and omit some of the most powerful features of the Core series, carry older graphics cores and generally run at lower clock speeds. But if you’re buying on a budget, they’re still capable CPUs.

Atom series

Intel hasn’t made a new Atom processor for a couple of years, but you’ll still find the Bay Trail-based CPUs in low-end machines. If you’re picking up a netbook-style laptop with one inside, you’ll get low power but great value for money.