Let’s be honest: buying a laptop these days feels like accidentally enrolling in a tech degree you never applied for. One person is shouting “Core i7!” like it’s a magic spell. Another is swearing that Ryzen is the only way to go. Someone else casually drops “RTX graphics” into the conversation, and suddenly your small, innocent budget starts sweating.
At Menxtt Technology NG, this confusion is our daily bread at Computer Village. We see people walk in confident and walk out ten minutes later looking like they just attended a lecture in a foreign language. So we decided to say things the way they truly are—simple, honest, and without the heavy tech grammar that scares people away.
First, let’s clear one very common mistake. Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and even Core i9 are all Intel processors. AMD does not use “Core” at all. So when someone says “AMD Core i5,” just know that something is not adding up. AMD processors are called Ryzen, Athlon, or in older laptops, A-Series. Same purpose, different branding. That’s all.
In the Nigerian market, Intel processors are still the most common, especially in fairly used and brand-new laptops. Most people know Core i3, i5, and i7, but there is also Core i9, which is the big boss of Intel processors. These ones are not your regular school or office laptops. Core i9 machines are built for serious gaming, heavy video editing, engineering software, and people who want speed without compromise. They are powerful, rare, and expensive—so if you see one cheap, ask questions.
You’ll also still find Intel Pentium and Celeron processors everywhere. They are the “entry level” processors, good for browsing, typing documents, watching videos, and very light work. But let’s be honest: they struggle once you start multitasking or using modern apps. Many people buy them because they are cheap, and a few months later they are back at Computer Village asking why their laptop is “thinking too much” before opening a simple file.
Now, this is where many buyers get tricked: generation. An Intel Core i5 is not just an Intel Core i5. A 4th generation Core i5 is a completely different creature from a 10th, 11th, or 12th generation Core i5. The generation is usually the first number in the processor name. For example, Core i5-8250U is 8th generation, while Core i5-1135G7 is 11th generation. Newer generations are faster, more power-efficient, and better suited for today’s software. At Menxtt Technology NG, we always tell customers not to stop at “Core i5.” The real question is, “Which generation?”
On the AMD side, you will commonly see Athlon, A-Series, and Ryzen processors. Athlon is AMD’s entry-level chip, competing with Intel’s Celeron and Pentium. It works for basic tasks but isn’t meant for heavy use. A-Series processors are older and still appear in fairly used laptops; they function, but they are no longer ideal for modern workloads.
The real stars of AMD are the Ryzen processors. Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, and Ryzen 9 are the main categories. Just like Intel, they also come in generations. A Ryzen 5 3500U is older, while a Ryzen 5 5500U or 7530U is newer and much faster. This is why many Nigerians now prefer Ryzen—it offers strong performance, great multitasking, and very good value for money.
Then there are those small letters at the end of processor names that most people ignore. They actually matter a lot. Processors ending with “U” are designed to save power and extend battery life, which is why you’ll see them in slim laptops. Those ending with “H” or “HX” are built for performance and are mostly found in gaming and workstation laptops. Some newer Intel processors also end with “G,” meaning they come with improved integrated graphics.
Now let’s talk about graphics, because this is where expectations often go wild. Integrated graphics such as Intel UHD, Intel Iris Xe, and AMD Radeon Graphics are built into the processor. They are excellent for everyday work, videos, presentations, and even light creative tasks. Iris Xe and newer Radeon graphics are surprisingly powerful for non-gaming users.
Dedicated graphics cards are another level entirely. NVIDIA graphics cards like the GTX and RTX series are made for gaming, video editing, animation, and professional graphics work. GTX cards are older but still strong, while RTX cards are newer and come with advanced features like ray tracing and AI-based rendering. These laptops are more expensive and use more power, but the performance difference is very clear.
After selling and testing all kinds of laptops, here is our honest truth: the processor name alone means nothing without checking the generation, type, and graphics. A newer Core i5 can easily outperform an older Core i7. A Ryzen 5 can feel faster than an old Core i5. And buying a laptop with powerful NVIDIA graphics when all you do is browse the internet is simply money wasted.
Choosing the right laptop is about matching the machine to your lifestyle. Students and casual users don’t need monsters—they need newer generation Core i3, Ryzen 3, or well-optimized Core i5 or Ryzen 5. Office users and business owners are safer with newer Core i5 or Ryzen 5. Gamers, designers, and creatives should look toward Core i7, Core i9, Ryzen 7, or Ryzen 9 paired with NVIDIA graphics.
Menxtt Technology NG is your trusted technology partner at Ola Ayeni Street, Computer Village, Ikeja. We deal in brand-new and fairly used laptops, accessories, and IT solutions—but more importantly, we help people understand what they are buying.
You can reach us at info@menxtt.com.ng, visit www.menxtt.com.ng, walk into our store at Computer Village, or call and WhatsApp us on 0802 893 1940 or +234 814 090 2614.
The truth is simple: you don’t need the biggest name or the highest number. You just need the right processor, the right generation, and the right graphics for what you actually do. And if all this still sounds confusing, Menxtt Technology NG is always ready to explain it—clearly, honestly, and without stress.