The processing speed of a CPU depends on several factors, such as the number of cores, the clock frequency, the cache size, and the architecture. Generally speaking, i5 and i7 CPUs have more cores, higher frequencies, and larger caches than i3 CPUs, which gives them an advantage in performance. However, there may be some cases where an i3 CPU can outperform an i5 or i7 CPU, depending on the specific model and the workload.
• Is it possible that a new generation i5 cpu is more powerful than an old generation i7 cpu? Intel releases new generations of CPUs every year or so, which usually bring improvements in performance, efficiency, and features. A new generation i5 CPU may have a newer architecture, a higher frequency, or more cores than an old generation i7 CPU, which can make it more powerful in some scenarios.
• Why is it that despite the fact that processors are becoming more powerful over the generations of CPUs, the same designation of i3, i5, i7 remains in place?
Intel uses these names to help consumers choose the right CPU for their needs and budget, based on the general rule that i3 is for basic tasks, i5 is for mainstream tasks, and i7 is for high-end tasks. However, these names do not reflect the exact specifications or capabilities of each...
Check the following links for your reference. To summarize, it depends on the technology that is included in the processor.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/processors/core.html
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/processors/core/series-1.html