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    Is the Quad core i7-2630QM processor overkill?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by zombiefan, Jun 22, 2011.

  1. zombiefan

    zombiefan Notebook Geek

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    I am debating getting the i5 2nd gen processors and backlight and 1080p 4gb for $904

    or i could get this:
    for 1054.99

    I'm thinking with the 525 graphics card the quads processor cant even take advantage of it. Also I dont really care about blue ray.

    Plus i hear the i7 has overheating problems and the ac adapter is giant.
     
    zombiefan, Jun 22, 2011
    #1
  2. zjacobss

    zjacobss Notebook Consultant

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    Go with the i7, it's quad core, future proof!
    And about the giant adaper I believe you get the big one if you choose the nvidia gt 540m but im not sure.
     
    zjacobss, Jun 22, 2011
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  3. zombiefan

    zombiefan Notebook Geek

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    does the i7 overheat? i heard there are problems with that
     
    zombiefan, Jun 22, 2011
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  4. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

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    Depends on your usage, if you are concerned about gaming that laptop aint for you
     
    Karamazovmm, Jun 22, 2011
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  5. zombiefan

    zombiefan Notebook Geek

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    which laptop aint for me? the xp15 in general or with the i7 processor?
     
    zombiefan, Jun 22, 2011
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  6. BobTheSniper

    BobTheSniper Notebook Consultant

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    Get the i7. It is much more powerful than the dual core i5.

    I'm getting 44-48 with web browsing. Idle temp a tiny bit below that. Upper 70-80 full load. Those temperatures aren't really that high.
     
    BobTheSniper, Jun 22, 2011
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  7. kgh00007

    kgh00007 Notebook Evangelist

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    Get the i7-2630QM, I have it, it's a great processor, loads of power and very power efficient, draws only 4W @ idle, less than my previous i5-560M which drew 5-6W @ idle, both reported by HW Monitor Pro. I get 6-7hrs on the 9 cell browsing the web and playing music, brightness @ 30% and almost as much power as desktop i7-920 when you need it!
     
    kgh00007, Jun 22, 2011
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  8. floofy

    floofy Notebook Enthusiast

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    aren't i5s quad cores too? The i3s are dual cores.
    I'm using an i5 at 2.3 ghz (turbo boost to 3ghz?) and it works fine with all my applications and games running at 1080p. Although everything runs smoothly some applications take some time to start up, so if you really want to future proof yourself I would go with the i7, but its not necessary.
     
    floofy, Jun 23, 2011
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  9. kgh00007

    kgh00007 Notebook Evangelist

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    The mobile i5's are all dual core!
     
    kgh00007, Jun 23, 2011
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  10. zombiefan

    zombiefan Notebook Geek

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    if you have the i7 quad does it come with a giant ac adapter cord?
     
    zombiefan, Jun 23, 2011
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  11. BobTheSniper

    BobTheSniper Notebook Consultant

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    Yes the power adapter is humongous (130 watt), although a 90 watt power adaptor works completely (just slower battery charging). I haven't tried a slim 65 watt adaptor yet.
     
    BobTheSniper, Jun 23, 2011
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  12. grimreefer1967

    grimreefer1967 Notebook Evangelist

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    I have the i7-2630QM and if you do any kind of video ripping/converting it is worth it.

    I've used HandBrake to rip blu-rays and the cpu will boost to 2.6/2.7 GHz steadily and temps peaked around 86*C. Judging from the heat exiting the exhaust port the cooling system is doing a fantastic job.
     
    grimreefer1967, Jun 23, 2011
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  13. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    These new quads don't have the heat issues that the Gen. 1 i7's did (last year's CPUs). They get warm, but when idling/web browsing, they throttle way down and aren't bad at all.
     
    madmattd, Jun 23, 2011
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  14. joegreen1967

    joegreen1967 Notebook Evangelist

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    I dont know what you consider giant its flat and light,the size is-3in wide,6in long,and an inch and a half high,the cord is a bit fatter than my m11x but thats to be expected.And as everyone is already saying the I7 is the way to go I have a 2720 and I repasted before I even turned it on,so I can't tell you stock dell temps but I have never gone over 76c at full and at idle 41c.I would repaste any high performance unit.I have seen dells with no paste!And dells with globs,(just as bad).The XPS15 is a great laptop when its working,the build quality is so so,and looks are plain but for the money and specs its hard to beat.I had problems with mine but others are very happy so if you get the xps get the I7 and clean & paste it,1st thing.
     
    joegreen1967, Jun 23, 2011
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  15. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    You only get the larger (which isn't large at all) 130 watt adapter if you pick the Nvidia GT 540M 2GB graphics card. All others no matter the configuration will get the 90 watt adapter. Unless you carry your adapters in your pocket, the size should not be an issue.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Jun 23, 2011
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  16. kgh00007

    kgh00007 Notebook Evangelist

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    I got the 130 watt adapter with the i7-2630 and Nvidia 525M, so that is not the case.
     
    kgh00007, Jun 23, 2011
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  17. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    You are an exception to the rule then. My info was verified by dell and others on the board.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Jun 24, 2011
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  18. kizh

    kizh Notebook Consultant

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    130 adapter here too, i5 2410m and 525m. Its a bit bulky, but meh I can live with it.
     
    kizh, Jun 24, 2011
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  19. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    I haven't seen any problems running a 720qm and 920xm so far. The first gen doesn't have heat problems either, they can't turbo as high though.

    Anyways, 120W isn't that big of an adapter, 150+W now that's huge but still manageable when it comes to carrying it around. You'll get used to it don't worry.

    Oh and yeah, i7 all the way, that 2630qm actually delivers similar performance to last gen's xm CPUs at stock clocks, that's without counting the overclockability of the xm CPUs of course.
     
    tijo, Jun 24, 2011
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