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| Look closely and you can see the USB 3.1 Type C port. (Copied from Alienware.) |
Skylake, the code
name for Intel's long awaited 6th generation processor is finally, officially
here. Not just on paper but actually available on computers available for
purchase right now. In addition to the availability of Skylake, several other
advancements have been released in concert. Not to say that Skylake was the key
to all of the other advancements, it just made sense to have all of them released at approximately the same time.
As I had eluded to
in my post titled "2015 is the year to buy a new PC" Not only did Skylake get released but DDR4 memory, PCI Express SSD's
and usb 3.1 type C are all now available at the same time (Windows 10 missed the
party by 2 months). What this has led to is computers that boot to the desktop
in 10 seconds with lightning fast response and faster data transfer
speeds. All of this leads to more productivity and better gaming.
So how does all of
this affect you, the user? Not only is Skylake 10%-15% faster than the previous
generation, it also has higher energy efficiency, so you're getting faster
performance while using less energy. Now let's talk about storage speeds. That
10 second boot time that I mentioned earlier had more to do with the PCI Express SSd's
that are now shipping with most computers that have the capability. The PCI Express based drives that are currently available are 3 to 4 times faster than the
previous generation.
As I had stated in
January, this is the year to buy a new computer. Whether you want to get the
previous generation and save yourself a few dollars or go all out on the
bleeding edge of technology and speed, you won't be disappointed. If you are in
the market for a new PC this is what you should be looking for. Right click on
the windows button/logo on the desktop of any computer - click on system - from
there, you will be able to determine what processor is in the computer. The first number after i3-, i5- or i7- has to
be a 6. This number is how Intel annotates the different generations. The
easiest upgrade to spot is the USB 3.1 type C connector. The memory and SSD drives are a bit more complicated to
confirm and if you're shopping that information should be readily available.
I highly recommend
always buying from a trusted or reputable source, especially if you're looking
into getting a high end system. Always try to get at least one second opinion
on a unit before making a final decision and never shy away from asking about the
type of technology being used in the computer that you are interested in.
Search for model numbers using your phones. Its holiday season so try not to
fall prey to the impulse buy. Feel free to post any questions you might have in
regards to picking a system or deciding what to get, I will ensure that I
respond accordingly with my recommendations and opinion.
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