The Best Intel Trading Computer Processors

Intel has been dominating the trading computer market for the last two decades. Blue Aura Trading Computers use the top of the line Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9 Intel processors. While we do offer AMD as an option, Intel is our preferred platform for a variety of reasons, mostly due to their performance.

When buying a new computer you'll be looking at three different options, generally speaking. Almost all computers have either an Intel, AMD or varient of Apple's M1 processor that are exclusive to Apple products.

Intel Core i5, i7 and i9 processors are based on trusted x86 architecture that is designed with Windows based operating systems (and Linux). Apple's M1 is built on arm-based architecture, similar to what's in a smartphone. Desktop x86 Intel CPUs are significantly faster than an Arm-based Apple CPU. Of course, it's not really a fair comparison since they are designed for different uses, but it's important to point out the performance distinction. Really no mobile/laptop Arm-based CPU will truly compare in performance, that's the whole point to purchasing a desktop computer, you can get unlocked chips that use much more power since they don't have to worry about battery consumption like on a phone or laptop.

What is a Processor (CPU)?

The processor is also known as the CPU which stands for "Central Processing Unit". The CPU is the brains of the computer, and is the single most important component in a trading computer. The more powerful your processor is, the faster it can accomplish the tasks you need done.

The processor and system RAM, also known as "system memory", work together to accomplish computing tasks. RAM is a temporary buffer that stores data and is cleared out every time your computer is shut down or restarted. Think of RAM as a large empty building that can be filled up with information, and the processor is a complex chip with multiple CPU cores that can accept all that information in the form of instructions and output the results back to the RAM and motherboard.

INTEL CORE i3, CORE i5, CORE i7 & CORE i9

2006 was a pivitol year for Intel, with the debut of Intel's first Core processors. Now, nearly two decades later, Intel is still using the same "Core" branding.

What's the difference between the i3, i5, i7 and i9?

• Core i3: Adequate performance for light use, home and internet users, very light office tasks and lower end gaming.
• Core i5: Good performance for moderate to heavy workloads.
• Core i7: Great performance for really demanding workloads.
• Core i9: Extreme performance for the most highest CPU intensive tasks. More cores than Core i7. (performance and/or efficient cores).

It's important to consider that an older generation i7 processor might not out-performer a newer generation i5 processor. The differences between i3, i5, i7 and i9 aren't meant to be compare between different generations of processors. For example, a Core i5 13600K has a 45% faster effective speed over a Core i7 7700K. The 13600K is about 5 years newer, so naturally it's a much faster processor regardless of what it's called. This is the one point of confusion with customers, many often think their older i7 or i9 will outperform a newer i5 processor, which is not always the case. The only way to compare CPUs you are looking at is to do a direct comparison though websites like cpu.userbenchmark.com. Only use Intel's naming convention for a comparison between chips within the same generation.

What is CPU Cache?

When it comes to Intel processors, it's not just the speed of the chip that matters, we also need to consider the onboard cache. Most people probably don't give much thought to CPU cache, but it's very important. In the simplest of terms, CPU cache is just onboard memory, integrated into the processor itself. System memory (RAM), are those sticks you see installed on your motherboard, the memory we are talking about with CPU cache is put directly into the CPU to help deal with the increases in processor performance that system RAM can't deal with. Cache is the fastest memory available that your CPU can use, and the more you have the faster your computer will operate.

There are a lot of different types of memory in a modern computer, each performing faster then the other. Solid state SSD drives have come a long way, with new NVMe drives being the fastest type available today. But any hard drive is still slower than system RAM and CPU cache is the fastest because it's part of the CPU itself. According to some online sources, cache memory operates anywhere from 10 to 100 times faster than system RAM. That can fluctuate as new, faster types of system RAM are introduced into the market, but CPU cache will always be the fastest.

How Exactly Does CPU Cache Work?

There are 3 types of CPU cache - L1 cache, L2 cache and L3 cache.

L1 Cache: L1 Cache is the fastest type of cache and is located closest to the CPU. When processing instructions the CPU looks at the L1 cache first. L1 cache is the smallest of the 3 types of cache, and it works a different now with new Intel processors that have Performance-Cores and Efficient-Cores.

L2 Cache: This is probably the most important cache to look at, because it is a substantially larger amount than L1. The amount of L2 cache varies in size depending on the CPU, but with newer chips we are seeing as much as 32MB and in the future we'll see even larger amounts on the higher end CPUs. L2 cache is slower than L1, but it is still significantly faster than system RAM, so having a lot of L2 cache is important in a trading computer.

L3 Cache: L3 cache is the largest in size, but as you can see in the specs on some chips the size can come pretty close to the L2 cache size. Intel sometimes on their specs just say "Cache" when referring to L3 cache. L3 cache is the slowest of the three but it is still much faster than system RAM.

How Much CPU Cache Do Trading Computers Need?

When shopping for a new trading computer, you'll probably narrow your CPU choice down to 2 or 3 processors. If you're going to be doing a lot of CPU heavy work on your trading computer, we'd recommend going with the fastest processor you can afford with the most cache. The #1 most important component in a trading computer is the processor. You can always add more system RAM later on, so it's critical to buy the best processor you can afford when configuring your new computer.

What is Intel Hyper-Threading Technology?

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, known as HT Technology, allows for two processing threads for each physical CPU core. This means one physical core operates like two logical cores that can handle more software threads. Highly threaded programs can perform faster and allow you to get more work done. CPU intensive tasks can be accomplished sooner.

What is Intel Turbo Boost Technology?

Intel processors have a base speed and also a higher clock speed. The higher speed can be used under very heavy CPU workloads. If processors ran at their maximum clock speeds all of the time they would use an excessive amount of energy. Intel processors are intelligent. They can run at a higher clock speed when needed, then slow down when not.

The clock speed (also known as clock rate) is the number of cycles a processor executes per second. When a CPU operates at a lower clock rate it uses less power which reduces heat. This can extend the life of the processor and components in the computer. When it comes to portable devices this is even more important, consumers need the battery to last as long as possible between charges.

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 is an enhanced version of 2.0 that can boosts the fastest cores of a CPU individually, while also pushing the workloads to the boosted cores.

THE BEST INTEL PROCESSORS FOR TRADERS RIGHT NOW

The processors listed below are the best Intel CPUs available right now for a trading computer. We've listed them in order of what we believe to be the most powerful to the least within each generation of CPUs shown. Sometimes we list previous generation CPUs as they can be a lower cost alternative for traders looking to save some money. But, if you can afford it, it's always best to purchase the newest gen CPUs and buy the best model you can. The processor is the single most important component in a trading computer.

• Intel Core i9 14900K - 24 Core (8 Performance Cores + 16 Efficient Cores)
• Intel Core i7 14700K - 20 Core (8 Performance Cores + 12 Efficient Cores)
• Intel Core i5 14600K - 14 Core (6 Performance Cores + 8 Efficient Cores)
• Intel Core i5 13600K - 14 Core (6 Performance Cores + 8 Efficient Cores)