Have you heard about Intel’s new powerful processors that came out this year? Take some time to familiarize yourself with some of the details during Intel gamer days. That’s right, Intel gamer days are here again with great savings on Intel powered laptops and desktop computers that’ll make everything you do go more smoothly: school, work, and especially gaming! Learn some facts about Intel’s new processors, then enter for a chance to win an amazing Intel powered laptop.

Which Intel processor will you choose

Shopping for a laptop isn’t easy for most of us. Part of the problem is that Best Buy has an incredibly large selection. A good first step is to read the Laptop buying guide and narrow down your choices a little. You can also narrow it down by deciding what kind of processor you want: on the Best Buy laptops page you will see a set of facets on the left hand side of the page for processor type. If you want one of the new Intel processors, then you would select one with “Intel” at the beginning. After that, you’ll want to choose the processor that matches your needs and budget. Here is a short primer that should help:

  1. i5 vs i7 vs i9: this is the first main differentiator for Intel processors where a higher number means better performance and usually a higher price too. If you are doing basic computing tasks (for work or school) and play simple games then an i5 may be perfect for your needs and will likely save you some money. If you want a laptop capable of playing complex games, processing large video files, or other demanding tasks then pay a little extra for a machine with a higher numbered processor.
  2. 11th gen vs 12th gen: as with most technologies, newer will be faster and more versatile. This is especially true for Intel processors released this year. We discussed the 11th generation processors in last year’s Intel gamer days article. They are still amazing processors, capable of handling the most complex tasks and demanding games very well. This year Intel released a major leap in processor design with the 12th gen processor as we discussed in an article last spring. Read that article and you’ll understand why “11 is good, but 12 is a lot better.” Again, if you want to save money, then last year’s model will be excellent for your needs. If you want maximum flexibility and performance then you’ll be leaning toward the newest models.
  3. H vs K vs HK: Intel model numbers have a suffix and two of the most important ones for fast laptops are H and K. H means the processor is optimized for high performance in laptops. Most of the fastest laptops have this suffix. The other suffix, K, is especially useful for very serious gamers or computing enthusiasts who want to push their machines to their absolute limits. The K means the processor is unlocked, and can be configured to go beyond the fastest specifications set by the manufacturer: the term for this is overclocking. People who desire an extra edge in gaming, or want to process very demanding computing task will often turn to a K processor.

What questions do you have about Intel processors

Those three points above will likely help most computer buyers but I know they won’t answer all of your questions. Intel actually has a quite a range of processors and it can be confusing. One of the things I hope you get out of Intel gamers days is a little more knowledge that will help you make a more informed decision on your next laptop purchase. As such, the methods of entry for this contest are designed to help. And just by asking or answering a question below, you’ll have a chance to win a great prize from one of the sponsors of this contest. Carefully read the instructions below for the best chance. You never know, you might win one of these four amazing laptops.

We will also give away a digital code for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (PC) to each prize winner because from August 25th, you will also receive a copy of the game if you purchase a qualifying device equipped with Intel i7 or i9 processor at Best Buy!

How to enter

Entering this contest is easy and you can enter in two different ways

  1. In comment below, help our readers learn about Intel processor by either
    1. asking a question about one thing you don’t understand about Intel processors; or
    2. answering a question that someone else posted in these comments about Intel processors; or
    3. telling us one thing you just learned about Intel processors that you think is interesting.
  2. For up to two (2) additional entries, create a public post on a social media channel (one entry per channel!) sharing with your friends and followers one thing you like about Intel Core 12th Gen processors; include the hashtag #BbyIntelgamerdaysContest, so we can find your post, and include one of the pictures showing on this article. Then return here and tell us in a comment below on which channel you posted it and the name of your channel (since many people use pseudonyms) so that we can check and verify your entry. You can use any two social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.), but the post must be public so we can verify it is there.

What you can win

At the end of this contest we will randomly select four winners from all eligible entries to win one of these prize bundles: HP OMEN 16″ gaming laptop and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (PC), Acer Nitro 5 15.6″ gaming laptop and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (PC), Dell Alienware m15 R7 15.6″ gaming laptop and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (PC), Gigabyte Aero 16 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (PC).

This contest runs from August 25th until Sept 4th. 

Remember you can enter in two different ways. Everyone needs a great computer so you know many people who would benefit from the information in this article, and would love to win a new Intel powered laptop. Share this article with all your friends and family!

Win a laptop during Intel Gamer Days Contest Rules and Regulations

Good Luck

Martin Renaud
Martin Renaud
Editor in Chief
Martin loves working with the talented editors and writers on the Best Buy Blog as Editor-in-Chief. During his spare time he is either working on his next novel, cooking up a masterpiece in the kitchen, or adding some smart tech to his new home on Mayne Island in British Columbia.
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651 COMMENTS

  1. How much better is the 12th Intel generation than the 11th? Is it worth waiting for the release of the 13th gen in terms of saving money?

    • Typically gains from one generation to the next are in the 8-15% range, regardless of engineering advances, The more cynical among us think this is a set target because it is calculated that this type of release schedule is more profitable, .

  2. I knew about the i5/i7/i9 and the generations but was not aware of what the final letter (H or K or HK) meant, which was interesting to learn.

  3. I thought the i5, i7 etc modifiers was interesting since that is often what you see on a sticker on the front of a computer tower identifying which Intel Core processor it contains.

  4. The thing I learned from this Intel article was what the classification of H vs K vs HK means for the processor. H = high performance and K = unlocked for gamers to get the most out of their pc.

  6. I learned about the difference in Intel’s model numbering scheme how to read upon their suffixes to determine which is the best model to go with (which seems to be HK).

  7. I learned about the differences and importance of H vs K vs HK in the performance of Intel processors. Thanks for the information and opportunity!

  9. I got it a bit…
    H means the processor is optimized for high performance,
    K means that the processor is overclocked
    But, what does HK means?

  14. I never knew about the numbers after the modifier. Now I know. But is there a difference between the SKU? Also, the article mentioned the suffix is H or K or HK but didn’t discuss the meaning of HK. Doe anyone know?

  20. I always knew that some people pushed their machines to their absolute limits (overclocked). Today I learned that it is the K suffix on the Intel model number that means the processor is unlocked and can be configured beyond the fastest specifications set by the manufacturer.

  21. One thing I learned was what the numbers and order meant. I just had always looked at it and gotten confused, but now I know how to tell the modifier and generation!

  22. I learned the meaning of the suffixes on intel model numbers. The suffix H denotes optimization doe high performance. K is great for games because it’s unlocked so it can run faster than specified

  26. I learned the meaning of the suffixes on intel model numbers. The suffix H denotes optimization doe high performance. K is great for games because it’s unlocked so it can run faster than specified

  29. Different model numbers and suffix letters are some things I learned from this post to figure out which laptops are best for all-around use or gaming to the max.

  32. One thing I learned was what the numbers and order meant. I just had always looked at it and gotten confused, but now I know how to tell the modifier and generation!

  33. I learned about the basic difference in i5 vs i7 vs i9, and have decided that i7 is probably the best for me.

  35. I had no idea that H means the processor is for high performance in laptops and most of the fastest laptops have this suffix. Does this mean that this type of processor would be better for designing/doing renderings? I don’t find my current laptop can keep up although it is older.

  37. my question is, if the chip can be overclocked to a higher speed, why doesnt Intel just make the higher speed the default speed.

    • overclocking is generally not good for the health of your processor, as there is a risk of overheating. laptops that allow for overclocking may have more expensive advanced cooling systems in place to handle the downsides of overclocking or are used by professionals who understand the risks and need to overclock anyway.

  39. I learned the importance of the suffix, had no idea what the H was indicating before, but did know the K meant it was easier to overclock.

  40. I think I know a little more about the difference between the processors. I still am wondering if i12 is what I need to basic photo/video editing and watching Netflix?

  41. Which is best for photo and video editing, is Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform a good choice? So many options.

  43. How does one find out which processor a laptop has? Mine has a sticker that say i5 but where do I find the generation and model numbers?

  44. I don’t know whether the new generation i7 is faster than the last generation i9 (and so on with the # suffix’s). Is there an easier way to know the speed based on the i# chip number? Is that the speed or model? Example the i7-9700k. Is 9700 the speed or model?

  49. I learned about the model numbers. Intel model numbers have a suffix and two of the most important ones for fast laptops are H and K. H means the processor is optimized for high performance in laptops

    • SKU stands for “stock keeping unit” and — as the name suggests — it is a number (usually eight alphanumeric digits) that retailers assign to products to keep track of stock internally. Hope that helps 🙂

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