Core i5 what does the k mean

Previous Next Sort by votes. Feb 12, 35 0 18, 0. IntelEnthusiast Splendid. Feb 10, 2, 0 21, By unlocking the multiplier it allows easy overclocking of the processor. Since overclocking is generally through to be an enthusiast feature we have disabled some features on the Intel Core iK and Intel Core iK.

Christian Wood Intel Enthusiast Team. Oct 14, 0 19, The k means the processor has an unlocked multiplier, meaning you can overclock the CPU in the bios by simply increasing the CPU multiplier. Aug 3, 0 19, Therefore it can be easily overclocked to much higher frequencies. You need a P67 or Z68 motherboard to overclock the k series chips. Motopsychojdn Illustrious.

Jan 26, 11, 2 41, I always thought it denoted the Koolness of them over the non-K chips Nov 5, 5 0 18, 0. Apr 19, 27, 3 84, 4, In case no one mentioned it, the "k" means the CPU is unlocked so that it can be easily overclocked. Jul 6, 1, 0 19, Its for Killer actually like in Amd killer. RetiredChief Judicious. If you want to invest in a desktop for heavier workloads and gaming, we would recommend the K or kF series processors, preferably the i7 option though an i5 will suffice, and a good discrete GPU.

Both, the K and KF series processors would also be great if overclocking is your thing to get some extra performance. We also recommend the i9 option of the K family if you want a step up in performance over the i7. Make sure you have a great graphics card to pair it up for the best performance.

Finally, if you an Intel pc enthusiast, the X series of processors provide the best overclocking capabilities and cores among any Intel CPU. Only buy this if you are absolutely sure you need one or if you are a tech enthusiast wanting to try out the best. You can learn more about Intel processor names, numbers, and letters here. Our goal is to help people learn and sharpen their knowledge pertaining to technology. We cover everything tech-related including computers, consoles, phones, smart homes, and much more.

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These remaining differences are indicated by a letter-based product line suffix. The suffix indicates the level of graphics offered by the processor; higher numbers e. These digits are followed by a single-letter suffix U, Y, H, K, etc. When applicable, an alpha suffix appears at the end of the processor name, representing the processor line.

Higher numbers within the processor class or family generally indicate improved features and benchmarks, including cache, clock speed, or front-side bus. These numbers make a smaller difference than the number in the "iX" part, but they're still important. Intel's chips have letters like "K" and "U" after the numbers that give you an idea of what kind of purpose and performance the computer is designed for.

Some computers have Intel chips without any letters. Those are the standard, base chip models. The " K " chips are usually the fastest, with higher clock speeds than the standard chips without a letter in Intel's mainstream chips. It also means the chip is "unlocked," where its clock speeds can be tweaked — or "overclocked — by a user to squeeze out a little extra performance than what you get out of the box. Usually, it's mostly enthusiasts who tend to overclock their chips, and they're mostly designed for desktops or high-performance laptops.

The " G " means the chip has a built-in graphics processor. Most of Intel's chips come with basic built-in graphics processors so you can display something on your monitor without an entirely separate graphics card. But Intel's "G" processors come with a more powerful graphics processor for more power-hungry apps and games.

The " T" means the chips is designed to use less power while also having less performance than the standard chips without any letters. The " U " means the chip is designed for laptops and mobile devices, as "U" chips are Intel's "ultra-low power" models. They're "low power" because they use even less power than the "T" models and have slower clock speeds than their full-size, non "U" equivalents. By having slower clock speeds, they don't get as hot and have a lower risk of heat-related damage.