Lower end processors are based on the same cores, but have less of them, and run at lower frequencies.
NOTE: I'm not including the graphics part of the processors, because they are irrelevant in most desktops.
As you can see, the AMD A4 APUs and Intel Celeron/Pentium processors offer the least value/price, although they are cheaper than the other processors and can handle typical office/home tasks with their respective integrated graphics. They can also play most types of video files and streams, so they are perfect for quiet and cheap HTPCs.
The new Kaby Lake Pentium G4560
with HyperThreading offers Core i3 level performance for a Pentium price, as it can run most new games, which require four processor threads. Coupled with a mid-range video card like GTX 750Ti
/1050
or Radeon RX 460
/470
it offers quite impressive FPS even in 1080p (Full HD) resolution.
The quad core and hexa core AMD processors and APUs are less desirable at this point, because the new generation of AMD processors is just months, maybe weeks away. Right now only the high end AMD RyZen processors are released, but the upcoming quad core and hexa core models (with SMT) will offer Core i5/i7 level performance in games, for a much lower price. Until then maybe the A8/A10 APUs are worth buying for HTPCs and casual gaming, as they have quite good integrated graphics.
I dare to say that the Intel Core i3-7100
makes no sense. It costs twice as much as the Pentium G4560 and offers only slightly higher performance at 3.7GHz vs. 3.5GHz.
I predict that Core i5 processors will also become less and less desirable, as they are quite inefficient, lacking HyperThreading, and cost almost as much as Core i7 processors, which are ~40% faster and more efficient. Just as the Pentiums got HyperThreading enabled, Core i3 and i5 processors also have to offer more features and/or performance, if Intel is expecting to sell them at the same price as before.
NOTE: I'm not including the graphics part of the processors, because they are irrelevant in most desktops.
The new Kaby Lake Pentium G4560
with HyperThreading offers Core i3 level performance for a Pentium price, as it can run most new games, which require four processor threads. Coupled with a mid-range video card like GTX 750Ti/1050 or Radeon RX 460/470 it offers quite impressive FPS even in 1080p (Full HD) resolution.The quad core and hexa core AMD processors and APUs are less desirable at this point, because the new generation of AMD processors is just months, maybe weeks away. Right now only the high end AMD RyZen processors are released, but the upcoming quad core and hexa core models (with SMT) will offer Core i5/i7 level performance in games, for a much lower price. Until then maybe the A8/A10 APUs are worth buying for HTPCs and casual gaming, as they have quite good integrated graphics.
I dare to say that the Intel Core i3-7100
makes no sense. It costs twice as much as the Pentium G4560 and offers only slightly higher performance at 3.7GHz vs. 3.5GHz.