Performance difference between Intel Core i3, i5 and i7

Question

I never understand what are the basic differences between these processors apart from core i5 and core i7 supports turbo boost

Answer 1

Several articles

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/i3-i5-i7-comparison.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core

http://www.intel.com/products/processor/index.htm

Then there is the overclocking aspect of these processors http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=583&Itemid=38

Answer 2

It's just a marketing distinction. The architecture is basically the same, but the more expensive ones with faster clock speeds and more features are branded as i5 and then i7.

Answer 3

This Wikipedia page has a nice table. Another difference is L3 cache size.

Answer 4

I believe some models have integrated GPU for 720p/1080p playback and such. I have a core i3 in my HTPC and it performs like a champ with no dedicated video card.