Is it a good time to buy, and do I need i3 or i5 to last several years?

I've currently got a Studio laptop bought in 2010 that has an i5 M540 @ 2.53 ghz processor and 4gb of ram (running win 7). I really still love this laptop, though it's out of warranty, the cd drive doesn't work (not a biggie as I can use my husband's on the rare time I need that), and it has a bit of bloaty slowdown at times that AVG pc tuneup hasn't totally quelled.

I know I'll want a new one sometime in the next year (sooner if anything major goes wrong), so I've started checking prices. Also, I have a deal on my Amex card through 7/21 that will give me back $100 if I spend $599 at Dell, and that is really making me think about buying now, though I don't know how much influence I should let that have. ALSO, Dell is offering a 4-year warranty for the price of 3 right now (with no details on how soon that ends), which is very appealing.

Anyhow, right now at Dell.com I can get a 4th gen i3 with 4gb of ram, a touchscreen and a 4-year complete warranty (including accidental damage) for about $659 (becoming $559 after my Amex cashback). OR I can get a 4th gen i5 with 6 gb of ram, a touchscreen and the same warranty for something like $829 (becoming $729 after the cashback).

Should I jump now on these prices, or just wait until Black Friday or Christmas? And would an i3 be fine for lasting another 4 years? It seems to have a slower processor than what I currently have, but it is the 4th gen so maybe that makes a difference.

 

I would go for at least the i5.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

agreed go for the I5

 

Thanks, I think I should go with the i5 too now that I've thought about it more. Now to just decide to get one now while there is cashback and 4 years warranty for the price of 3, or wait. But I don't think I'm ready to part with this laptop yet, so that probably decides it, lol.

 

If you want it to last go for at least i5.