The processor (CPU) determines how fast your laptop can think. Here's what the naming conventions mean.

Intel Core Series

Chip	Level	Best For
Core i3	Entry-level	Browsing, email, documents
Core i5	Mid-range	Most users — great multitasking
Core i7	High-performance	Creative apps, coding, heavy use
Core i9	Top-tier	Professional workloads

AMD Ryzen Series

Chip	Comparable To	Best For
Ryzen 5	Core i5	Excellent value, everyday to mid-range
Ryzen 7	Core i7	Strong multi-threaded, creative work

Cores & Threads

Cores are independent processing units. Threads let each core handle two tasks at once.