What Do VirtualBox and VMWare Do?

VMWare and VirtualBox are machine virtualization solutions, also known as hypervisors. They let you run a full virtual computer with its own operating system in a virtualized machine on another computer.

But why would you want to do that?

For the desktop user, say you use Windows, but you’d also like to use Linux, macOS, or even iOS and Android. Yet you don’t have computers for all of them. That’s where you’ll use a desktop virtualization solution.

You could even run a previous version of Windows inside a VM on your Windows 11 system if you have older apps that just don’t run well with newer systems.

In a business, server virtualization saves on hardware and operational costs. Imagine having just a few physical computers yet being able to have many servers and workstations hosted on them.

What Are the Types of Hypervisors?

There’s more to hypervisors than just allowing you to run a virtual computer inside a physical computer. How they do it is important, and each type has different requirements and satisfies different needs. There are two types of hypervisors; Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 hypervisors are sometimes called bare-metal hypervisors, meaning they don’t need to run inside a regular operating system like Hyper-V in Windows. They are the operating system. Without all the features of a standard operating system, they’ll leave more resources for their guest VMs. This makes them ideal for large data centers or medium to large businesses. The VMWare company has Type 1 hypervisors such as ESXi (Elastic Sky X Integrated) and VSphere.

Type 2 hypervisors run within a regular operating system as though they’re just another program. To do that, Type 2 hypervisors must access hardware resources through the host OS. Because of that, Type 2 hypervisors aren’t as efficient as Type 1 for hosting large amounts of guest VMs. Type 2 hypervisors are better suited for individuals and small to medium businesses.

VirtualBox is a Type 2 hypervisor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. VMWare also offers VMWare Fusion for macOS and VMWare Workstation for Windows and Linux.

Comparing VirtualBox and VMWare Type 2 Hypervisors

In this article, we’re focusing on Type 2 hypervisors since that’s what most home or small business users will be running. And we will compare the two offerings in the same environment—running Linux on Microsoft Windows 11.

Specifically, we’ll compare VMWare Workstation Player to Oracle’s VirtualBox. VMWare Workstation Player is the free version for personal use, and VirtualBox is free for the general public and open-source. If you like VMWare Workstation Player and want more features, try the affordable VMWare Workstation Pro for commercial use.

VMWare Player and VirtualBox Functionality Comparison

The following table shows the key features offered by VMWare Player and VirtualBox.

VirtualBox, VMWare, and Snapshots

Perhaps the most significant difference is that VirtualBox supports VM snapshots while VMWare Player doesn’t. Making a snapshot in the VMWare Player requires finding the VM’s files, then copying and pasting them to another location. To roll back to that point in time, the snapshot is added as a new VM.

VirtualBox has several ways to take a snapshot. It can be done from within the guest window or the VirtualBox manager. Snapshots can be named, and VirtualBox organizes them chronologically. Rolling back to a previous time simply requires selecting the desired snapshot, selecting Restore, then starting the VM. VirtualBox is the clear winner regarding snapshots.

Which is Easier to Use, VirtualBox or VMWare Workstation Player?

Downloading and installing either VirtualBox or VMWare is as simple as any other software. Each has installers that walk you through the process. The differences appear when installing a guest OS.

VirtualBox requires making some manual choices about resources like memory, drive space, and the number of processor cores, whereas VMWare Player compares your host computer’s resources to those required by the guest OS and automatically assigns resources, making it user-friendly. After the guest OS is installed, you can adjust the resources assigned in both hypervisors.

The time to install the hypervisors and Linux Ubuntu on Windows shows VMWare is about 30% quicker. VirtualBox took 25 minutes, while VMWare Player took 17 minutes.

Which Runs Better, VirtualBox or VMWare Workstation Player?

Both hypervisors are Type 2, running on top of Windows, so don’t expect a significant performance difference. Using PassMark PerformanceTest, VMWare Player showed a CPU Mark of 4935 versus VirtualBox’s 3465. That was the biggest difference. The rest of the markers were close, yet it felt like VMWare was faster. Of course, host machines vary, and so will your experience.

Which is Better, VMWare Workstation Player or VirtualBox?

We don’t know exactly what you’re looking for in a hypervisor. VMWare Workstation Player and VirtualBox do virtually the same thing with minor differences, so there’s no clear winner. It all depends on the use cases.

VMWare Workstation Player is best if you just need to get a virtual machine running quickly. If you need to use apps in a different OS or you’re evaluating a variety of operating systems, you’re in that group.

If you want to lean into the finer points of managing a hypervisor and its guests, VirtualBox is for you. The ease of creating snapshots and restoring them tips the scales. Another point for VirtualBox is that you can install macOS in VirtualBox with some direction. VirtualBox may be better for people learning DevOps, system administrators, or cybersecurity professionals testing different OSes.

Which one will you use, or do you already have a favorite? Do you have any tips or tricks to share? Please let us know in the comments.

While there aren’t many native Chromebook games, you can still benefit from games designed for related platforms such as the Linux and Android operating systems. It’s a little complicated, so let’s review what games a Chromebook can play.

Cloud Gaming, Steam, and Google Play on Chromebooks

There are two types of Chromebooks: those that can run Google Play Android apps and those that cannot. Sadly, if your Chromebook isn’t part of the Android app support list, you won’t have access to the Google Play Store. This means many of the games listed here will not work for you.

Likewise, if a school or an employer has issued your Chromebook, they may have blocked access to the Play Store, even if you have a compatible device. You may have to ask them to unblock that access, but whether they comply depends on their policies. Gaining access to Android games is key to accessing the best Chromebook games, so it should be your first step.

A great alternative is cloud gaming, regardless of which type of Chromebook you have. Cloud games run on a remote computer over the internet, with your Chromebook acting as an interface. As long as you have a good internet connection, you can use services such as Microsoft Xcloud or Nvidia’s GeForce Now. Sadly, Google Stadia is no longer an option.

At the time of writing, there is a limited alpha version of Steam for ChromeOS. If your Chromebook is on the short supported list, you can install Steam and play a few PC games from its library on your device. We expect that over time more Chromebooks and more games will expand Steam’s presence on this platform.

1. Asphalt 9: Legends (Google Play Store)

The Asphalt series of arcade racing games have always pushed what’s possible when it comes to visuals on the phone, which means Asphalt 9 looks stunning on a Chromebook, assuming you have the specs to run the game smoothly. Then again, it runs great on the Nintendo Switch, so the requirements are perhaps not too high.

As a free-to-play game, Asphalt 9 is heavy on timers, in-app purchases, and general grind. It’s perfect as a game to fill the minutes between classes or during a lunch break. It also means you can’t ignore your homework for too long!

2. Fallout Shelter (Google Play Store)

What started as a quirky free-to-play mobile spinoff of the Fallout RPG series has turned into a fantastic management sim game in its own right. You get to manage your vault of nuclear fallout survivors, depicted in the quirky 50s style of the main series.

Although this is a free-to-play game, monetization is done so that you don’t need to spend any money if you don’t want to. It’s perfect for playing in short bursts as you wait for the outcomes of your decisions. It’s a funny, challenging, and hugely satisfying management survival game with nothing else quite like it.

3. Fortnite Battle Royale (Sideloaded Android App)

Fortnite is a multiplayer battle royale game that needs no introduction, but we’re doing it anyway. Drop into an arena with your character with a bunch of other players, and the last one standing wins.

Fortnite has grown into a metaverse of its own, with crossover characters galore and events such as in-game music concerts providing other things to do than playing the main game. Fortnite is massive, lets you customize your character, and you can play it on your (Android-compatible) Chromebook by sideloading the app onto your system.

4. Roblox (Google Play Store)

If there were only one game you could play on your Chromebook, Roblox would be the smart choice. That’s because it isn’t a single game but a platform for many games inside the Roblox world. It’s more like a virtual universe with millions of experiences to try.

5. Stardew Valley (Google Play Store)

This beautiful and whimsical farming RPG was famously created by a single talented developer working for years. Inspired mainly by the Harvest Moon series, Stardew Valley puts you in the shoes of a city-slicker who inherits a farm and has to get it back on track while exploring the mystery, events, and relationships that fill the local town and natural world. Be prepared to sink 100s of hours into this one. This is one of the best games ever made on any platform and a unique gaming experience you shouldn’t miss.

6. Among Us (Google Play Store)

Among Us lived under the radar for quite some time and then suddenly burst out as a smash-hit viral game. However, it does deserve accolades since the concept is fresh and fun. You and a group of friends play as crewmates on a spaceship. However, one of you is an imposter, and it’s up to the “real” crew to figure out who it is, while the imposter sows chaos and tries to get innocent crew members fingered as the faker.

7. PUBG Mobile/ PUBG Mobile Lite (Google Play Store) 09

PUBG (Aka Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds) was the game that put battle royale shooters on the map before Fortnite stole its thunder. That doesn’t mean PUBG is dead! PUBG’s more grounded (relatively) look and feel may endear it to a slightly different crowd, who may not be too keen on watching Darth Vader duke it out with characters from Scooby Doo.

8. Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition (Google Play Store)

Baldur’s Gate is one of history’s most important computer RPGs. The Enhanced Edition polishes this classic to a shine while preserving the amazing Dungeons and Dragons-powered story and gameplay. It’s the perfect game to play with a mouse and has depth and replayability unrivaled by most modern video games.

Baldur’s Gate is one of our favorite games, but it’s worth considering Baldur’s Gate II Enhanced Edition and Planescape Torment—two other Play Store RPG remasters of iconic games.

9. Minecraft (Via Linux Support or Play Store)

Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the world, with millions of players spending time in its charming blocky world. The game offers a creative mode where you can simply build things and then a survival mode where you have to gather resources, upgrade your gear, and try to survive the onslaught of creatures. It’s also become one of modern education’s best interactive learning tools.

It used to be relatively easy to play the Android version of Minecraft on Chromebooks, but now only educational users have access to the special education version of Minecraft. If you have a school-issued Chromebook with Google Play enabled, you must install the game from the Play Store and log in with your credentials.

If you want to play the non-educational version, you’ll need a Chromebook with Linux app support. There are many great tutorials on how to get the Linux version of Minecraft running on Chromebooks, and it’s such a great game it deserves the effort.

10. DOOM I + II (Google Play Store)

DOOM was the game that put first-person shooters on the map in the early 90s. This gory tale of a space marine fighting the hordes of hell on Mars is a classic and has been ported to everything, and we mean everything.

The Google Play versions of Doom I and Doom II are virtually perfect reproductions of the PC classic (just smoother and crisper) and include a ton of extra content, such as additional community-made levels. Both games include a controller, mouse, and keyboard support.

11. Alto’s Odyssey (Google Play Store)

This stunning pixel-art game takes you on a sandboarding journey as Alto or one of six other characters. Surf to the end of each level and experience varied biomes, obstacles, stunning scenery, and music. This is one of those games that everyone has to try at least once, and you need headphones to enjoy this one to its fullest potential.

12. Pac-man (Google Play Store)

Pac-man is one of the earliest arcade games to become a mainstream hit, and even today, most people probably know about this retro arcade masterpiece. Pac-man has to eat all the pills in each maze without coming into contact with one of the four ghosts that haunt it. If he eats a big pill, the ghosts become vulnerable.

It’s a simple premise, and all you do is control Pac-man’s direction, but in the years since its first release, few other games can match the addictiveness and challenge of this action puzzle game.

Controlling Your Games

If you don’t have a touchscreen Chromebook, many Android games can be hard to play, with limited keyboard or gamepad support. As of ChromeOS 105, there is now a feature called “games overlay,” which lets you control touch-only games with a keyboard. While the initial version of the feature only works with a few games, over time, we expect more and more great mobile games will be compatible, expanding the list of fun games significantly.

Unlike the difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, the difference between Micro USB and USB-C isn’t just a matter of numbers. The physical dimensions of the connector are an important factor, as well, dictating the kinds of devices that can use it. Here is a detailed breakdown.

How Versions of USB Are Named

The naming scheme of USB versions can be confusing. Alphabetical versions like USB-A and USB-B rub shoulders with the more standard names like USB 2.0 or USB 3.1. What do all these versions mean?

USB standards are classified in two main ways—by the type of the connector and the version of the standard.

Types of USB Connectors

USB connectors are named alphabetically, giving us Type-A connectors, Type-B connectors, and Type-C connectors. With the older connectors, there are variations of size, as well, since the advent of smartphones led to substantial miniaturization of the technology.

First came the Mini-USB connectors, used in older digital cameras and smartphones. In addition to a Mini-A and a Mini-B cable, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) introduced a combined Mini-AB cable.

For all of their advantages, Mini-USB was still too large and unwieldy for the progressively thinning smartphones. This is why in 2007, Mini-USB was supplanted by the thinner, more durable Micro-USB connectors, becoming the mainstay for mobile device connectivity in the years to come.

USB Versions

Alongside the physical design of the USB cable, the specifications of the underlying technology itself were also changing. Each progressive iteration of the standard was given a new version number, signifying its better performance.

Consider the following table from Wikipedia:

Thus, USB 1.0 transformed into USB 2.0, in turn being left behind by USB 3.0. Now we are on the cusp of USB 4.

Not all connectors support every standard, with USB 2.0 being the most common version supported by Micro-USB connectors. For USB 3.0 you need to get a SuperSpeed version of the standard USB connector or switch to USB-C.

The Problems with Micro-USB

Universal Serial Bus (USB) was originally envisioned to provide a simple, standardized interface for electronic connectivity. And while that may have been true in the initial years, the rising popularity of smartphones has changed the landscape.

Every new USB connector comes with a slightly different form factor, leading to a variety of USB ports and cables. And that’s before we go into the varying transfer speeds, as different ports end up supporting different USB versions, even on the same device.

This is why Apple created its own proprietary Lightning interface, offering better speeds and performance than a Micro-USB cable. And USB-IF took note, using Apple’s Lightning as a template for redesigning the USB connector into a more compact and powerful form.

USB-C: Truly Universal

The development of the USB 3.1 standard brought a few problems. Type-A and type-B connectors could only handle the higher transfer speeds in the SuperSpeed mode, which is too cumbersome for most mobile devices.

The Type-C connector was introduced to solve this very issue. The so-called USB 3.1 cables are actually USB-C cables, supporting all compatible USB devices without any size restrictions.

Unlike earlier iterations, a type-C cable can be used with both smartphones and laptops, provided they possess a USB-C receptacle. Type-C cables are also reversible, eliminating the precise orientation needed to insert a Micro-USB cable.

Data Transfer Speeds

Technically, the connector type only specifies the physical aspects of the cable – the actual transfer speed depends on the version of the USB standard supported by a particular connector.

In practice, however, the type of USB cable gives you a good idea of what kind of speeds it can offer. Micro-USB for example, can usually only support the USB 2.0 standard. Its SuperSpeed version looks a lot different and is only compatible with very few devices.

USB-C cables, on the other hand, support USB 3.1 out of the box, giving data transfer rates of 5GBps at the minimum. Some Type-C connectors can bump this up to 20GBps using USB 3.2.

And the newly released USB 4 is going to work exclusively with USB-C connectors. This means that a Type-C cable will give you higher transfer speeds over Micro-USB in every case.

Fast Charging And The Power Delivery Mode

With the improving performance of wireless protocols like Bluetooth, very few people use USB cables for data transfer anymore. Instead, they are used for connecting to phone chargers.

And that’s another scenario in which USB-C trumps Micro USB. Only Type-C connectors can implement the new USB Power Delivery Mode (PDM), allowing for superfast charging of even the bulkiest phones.

The Power Delivery Mode even allows a USB-C cable to charge larger devices like laptops and tablets by supplying more than 100W of power. This is in sharp contrast to the standard USB’s limit of 7.5W only.

Micro-USB vs USB-C: At a Glance

What Are The Differences Between Micro USB and USB-C?

The USB Type-C connector succeeds the Micro-USB standard. Faster, leaner, and more reliable, the USB-C technology is designed to replace the confusing mess of USB cables in the market with a single type of cable.

Supporting USB 3.1 and higher, a type-C cable is capable of connecting to both smartphones and laptops using the same reversible receptacle, unlike the Micro USB port that works on phones alone and can only support the outdated USB 2.0 version.

Even in charging speed, the USB-C connector is superior to Micro USB, as it can implement the Power Delivery Mode. This lets it exceed Micro USB’s limit of 7.5W (going higher than 100W) to offer Fast Charging on compatible Android phones and laptops.

Considering all these advantages, it’s no surprise to note that USB-C is steadily replacing Micro-USB in the latest smartphones. Only Apple is still dragging its feet on integrating a USB Type-C port on the iPhone, though the MacBook Pro has already made the leap. Eventually, USB-C cables are going to be the de-facto USB technology.

If you’re trying to decide which one is best for your needs or which version of a file you should download, there are some important things you need to know.

What Is MKV?

Matroska Multimedia Container (MKV) was developed to replace the AVI format. The term “container” is important and means that Matroska Video is simply a container for various video and audio codec formats. A “codec” (short for coder/decoder) is an algorithm that describes how video and audio data should be represented. Different codecs have varying degrees of quality loss and size compression.

The name “Matroska” comes from the Russian Matryoshka, the classic wooden nesting dolls. This refers to the most important feature of MKV: its ability to contain multiple media streams simultaneously. A single MKV file can contain multiple video, audio, and subtitle tracks. It also supports metadata such as chapters and menus.

This means, for example, having one video track with annotations and one without, or one track with censored content and another without. You can have audio tracks in multiple languages or stereo and surround tracks in one file. You can also mix codecs and have one audio track be AAC and another MP3. MKV supports any video codec and any audio codec.

MKV is an open file format and doesn’t require a licensing fee for software or hardware players to support it.

What Is MP4?

MP4 is short for MPEG-4 Part 14. It’s a container format based on Apple’s QuickTime MOV format. MP4 is identical to QuickTime but has minimum specified requirements and features that QuickTime does not. The QuickTime format supports some codecs that MP4 does not—FLAC lossless audio, for example.

While an iPhone will play MP4 and Quicktime formats without issue, you can’t play MOV files on an Android phone without converting it first or downloading a specialized player app. QuickTime files may contain MP4 video and audio data, but they can also include DRM (Digital Rights Management) to ensure that only the licensed owner of the media can play it.

MP4 supports several video codecs, including HEVC, H.264, MPEG-4, MPEG-2, and MPEG-1. It supports AAC, MP3, and multiple lossless audio codecs. MP4 files do support subtitles in the 3GPP format.

MP4 is a proprietary format and may attract licensing fees for anyone who wants to make a player device or application.

Video and Audio Quality: MKV Wins

As mentioned above, both MKV and MP4 are container formats. So, if you use the same codec (e.g., AVC/H.264) and encoding settings with both containers, there will be no difference in quality between them. The actual codecs encode the audio and video streams and can have several types.

Video quality depends on many factors besides the codec you’re using. These factors include the bitrate, resolution, frame rate, and color depth. MKV does support codecs that arguably offer better quality than the small selection of MP4 codecs.

The same is true for the supported audio formats, with some offering better technical quality than MP4. MP4 only supports “lossy” video formats, but MKV supports lossless video using FFV1 encoding.

Suitability for Streaming: MP4 Wins

When both MKV and MP4 were created in the early 2000s, streaming video as we know it today was a far-fetched idea, so it should be no surprise that it wasn’t at the top of the list. As a result, MKV isn’t a format favored for web streaming. However, MP4 has been updated to support two streaming protocols: HLS and MPEG-DASH.

HLS only works with H.264 and H.265 (HEVC), while MPEG-DASH works with anything MP4 can contain. HLS is a format specific to Apple devices, and MPEG-DASH is the more open format. Both technologies allow for variable bitrate streaming, making it suitable for streaming video on your local network or over the web.

File Size: It’s a Draw

As with video and audio quality, there should be no practical difference between an MKV format file and an MP4 file using the same settings and codecs. However, because MKV format files can contain multiple audio and video tracks, they can end up much larger than MP4 format files.

Of course, you’re getting more content for the space, but if you aren’t interested in additional language tracks, the extra space MKV files take up is wasted.

Playback Compatibility: MP4 Wins

You’d expect that since MKV is free and open source, it would have broad support compared to MP4, but the opposite is true. MP4 has almost universal support, especially for smart TVs, portable devices, or media players. The default video players included with most operating systems support MP4. So it’s not hard to decide which format has better compatibility.

If you want to play MKV files, you almost always have to download a specialized player such as VLC or make sure that the smart TV or media player you buy also lists MKV as a supported container format. Most importantly, all modern web browsers have native support for MP4 playback, making it a near-ubiquitous video format on the web.

Another problem is that MKVs can contain essentially any audio and video format. So, just because a device supports the container format doesn’t mean it can play back the audio or video content in a file.

Ease of Creation: MP4 Wins

Since MP4 only supports a limited number of codecs, playback will rarely fail. Almost anything can play an MP4, and just about every MP4 will work on those devices unless someone has done something strange to it during the creation process.

Speaking of which, if you want to make an MKV, it’s a much more complex process than creating an MP4. So unless you must have multiple media tracks, menus, chapters, and all the other extra features of MKV, it’s not worth the bother.

Versatility: MKV Wins

While you probably need to have a specific hardware or software player to use MKV files, there’s no doubt it’s the most versatile video file format of the two options. First, you get to choose any codec you’d like to use with MKV files, although, as mentioned above, that can also be a weakness in player support.

MKVs can contain almost any combination of video and audio in a single file. It is the best format for making good-quality compressed backups of your DVD and Blu-Ray discs. Since you can preserve almost all of the video and audio content. That’s handy if you want to port your physical disc collection to a home streaming solution such as Plex. The alternative is to make disc images such as ISO files, but of course, these high-quality video “rips” are enormous compared to a compressed MKV file.

Both formats have an audio-only version. M4A and MKA. M4A only supports lossy AAC encoding, while MKA supports lossless formats such as FLAC.

To add even more to its versatility, MKV supports 3D video in the form of its .mk3d file format. Although no one really has a 3D display anymore, it’s notable that MKV allows for such content to be preserved, and VR headsets still allow for 3D movie viewing.

Converting Between Formats

There’s no real reason to convert an MP4 file to an MKV file, but you may often want to convert a video saved as MKV to MP4—usually so it will work with mobile devices, smart TVs, or set-top media players. You may also find that you don’t need the extra language or video tracks, so converting an MKV to MP4 can save storage space.

Using video converter software on your Windows or Mac computer to perform a conversion isn’t hard, but you will have to choose which video and audio track from the MKV will go into the MP4. If you want to keep multi-language versions of an MKV file, you’ll have to make multiple MP4 files, each with the combination of audio and video you need. As for subtitles, you may have to extract the subtitle files from the MKV video container. As long as the subtitle file is in the same folder as the MP4 and has the same name, most MP4 players will automatically make it available.

For instructions to get the best video output format, check out ​​How to Use Handbrake to Convert MKV to MP4.

With Intel’s 13th Gen “Raptor Lake” CPUs on the way, we thought it would be an excellent time to discuss what E-cores and P-cores are and why it matters.

What Are P-Cores and E-Cores?

Until recently, most multi-core Intel CPUs have been composed of almost identical cores. Usually, each core has the same capacity and clock speed, and the “work” is spread between them to process tasks faster.

That’s where Intel’s new CPUs differ. They now feature two kinds of cores:

1. Performance Cores (P-cores). The larger, more powerful P-cores focus on heavier tasks. These are based on Intel’s Golden Cove CPU core micro-architecture. They also offer potential hyperthreading capabilities, which allow each core to handle two threads simultaneously, further boosting performance.
2. Efficient Cores (E-cores). The efficiency-focused E-cores target background tasks that run all the time but require less energy. These are based on Intel’s efficient Gracemont CPU micro-architecture and aim to maximize performance per watt used.

This combination enables processors to increase performance speeds and take on higher workloads while lowering power consumption. This is all thanks to Intel’s Thread Director, a technology that assigns P- and E-cores to different tasks in an optimal way.

Which CPUs Contain P- and E-Cores

The new core design began with the mobile Lakefield chips (Intel Core i5-L16G7 and Intel Core i3-L13G4). Finding some success in the approach, Intel decided to use it once more in the most recent lineup of PC processors—the Alder Lake CPU series.

We’ll discuss these Alder Lake CPUs in the following few sections.

Intel Core i9-12900K

The 12900K has the following:

1. Core Count: 16 cores with 8 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 24 total threads.
2. Frequency: P-cores with 3.2 GHz base and 5.2 GHz peak (using Turbo Boost Max 3.0, a P-core feature). E-cores with 2.4 GHz base and 3.9 GHz peak.

Intel Core i7-12700K

The 12700K has the following:

1. Core Count: 12 cores with 8 P-cores, 4 E-cores, and 20 total threads.
2. Frequency: P-cores with 3.6 GHz base and 5.0 GHz peak (using Turbo Boost Max 3.0). E-cores with 2.7 GHz base and 3.8 GHz peak.

Intel Core i5-12600K

The 12600K has the following:

1. Core Count: 10 cores with 6 P-cores, 4 E-cores, and 16 total threads.
2. Frequency: P-cores with 3.7 GHz base and 4.9 GHz peak (using Turbo Boost Max 3.0, a P-core feature). E-cores with 2.8 GHz base and 3.6 GHz peak.

The Benefits of Hybrid Architecture CPUs

When Alder Lake was released, there were some hiccups with the new high-performance, high-efficiency approach to CPU core design.

Some software reportedly had issues adapting, and it took months for Microsoft to release an update that let the cores run as they should on Windows 10. This was because the software was written for the Windows 11 operating system which provides a brand-new CPU Task Scheduler.

But with these obstacles mostly out of the way, Intel’s new hybrid architecture provides many benefits for PC users, including:

1. Increased speeds. According to Intel, at the time of release, the 12th generation P-cores have 19% better performance than the 11th gen cores. Likewise, the E-cores feature a massive 40% improvement in single-core efficiency over Skylake chips.
2. Improved battery life. The biggest winner of P- and E-core architecture might be laptops. This is because, with the increased energy efficiency of E-cores, background apps use less power, and battery life is extended.
3. Included support for next-gen technologies. The Alder Lake CPUs provide better performance and efficiency through the P- and E-cores and support new tech. This includes PCIe 5.0 (with PCIe 6.0 already on the way) and DDR5 RAM (the successor to DDR4 RAM), surpassing both AMD and Apple in connective technologies.

Intel’s new Raptor Lake, soon to be released, builds on the hybrid architecture of Alder Lake. With greater speeds, efficiency, and compatibility, the 13th Gen CPUs promise to herald a new age of CPUs.

The Future of CPUs

With Intel’s 12th Gen CPU package taking the crown in CPU performance, and the 13th Gen already on the way, it seems like the new hybrid architecture is the way of the future—especially for gamers and other high-spec users. Indeed, AMD is rumored to be introducing a similar hybrid CPU structure in its AMD Ryzen 9000 line in late 2023 or early 2024.