n61 i5 vs i7 for photoshop use

I am interested in the new Asus N61 laptops and am debating between the N61JQ and the N61JV (limited to Amazon right now). My main use for this is Photoshop - most files are 200-300mb. I know that the majority of the filters I use in photoshop are 'single thread', so I am wondering which processor will really work better for me, the i5 430 @ 2.26 or the i7 720 @1.6. Seems to me the i7 will have to shutdown cores do handle the same work the i5 will with 1 core, but I would appreciate feedback.

I also like the sounds of the switchable graphics on the N61JV - the reviews sound good, any one have knowledge on this? I like the idea of the longer battery life - this is to allow me to work on photos without always being tied to my desktop. And to use traveling...

Some gaming is done, my son uses it for WOW at times, but what I have read, either one will handle what he would play on it.

Thanks in advance

Terri

 

the i5 can turbo to 2.53, the i7 can go up to 2.80 on single threads. the i7 also has twice the cache (which should help a fair bit imo). strictly for performance, go for the i7.

editing on the go will cut the battery life by more than half on either notebook.

 

thanks for the quick response. I would really like one of the faster i5 processors, but it seems to be more expensive to upgrade than to just buy the i7.