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    Core i7 620M vs Core i7 720QM (Gaming)

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by ARom, Jan 7, 2011.

  1. ARom

    ARom -

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    Which CPU would be better to pair with an ATI 5850 GDDR5 for gaming? The Intel Core i7 620M or Intel Core i7 720QM? This CPU is going inside a 15.4" Chassis (MSI 1656).

    Intel Core i7 620M
    Clock Rate 2660 - 3333 MHz
    Number of Cores / Threads 2 / 4
    Max. Power Consumption 35 Watt

    Intel Core i7 720QM
    Clock Rate 1600 - 2800 MHz
    Number of Cores / Threads 4 / 8
    Max. Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power) 45 Watt

    How fast is the i7 720QM when limited to 2 cores?
     
    ARom, Jan 7, 2011
    #1
  2. earthlings.com

    earthlings.com Notebook Geek

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    The 720QM.
     
    earthlings.com, Jan 7, 2011
    #2
  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    I would say the 620M.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jan 7, 2011
    #3
  4. NotEnoughMinerals

    NotEnoughMinerals Notebook Deity

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    Not this argument again....
     
    NotEnoughMinerals, Jan 7, 2011
    #4
  5. Althernai

    Althernai Notebook Virtuoso

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    There's not one, but several large threads about this. The 620M is better in all situations where the load consists of 1, 2 or 3 threads. The 720QM is better if there is a need for 4 or more threads. The differences are not very large. For gaming, I would go with the 620M as games usually don't use all 4 cores fully.
     
    Althernai, Jan 7, 2011
    #5
  6. alexUW

    alexUW Notebook Virtuoso

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    Isn't the i7-720 a 4-core processor? Thus, your question doesn't apply?

    Also, to me it would make more sense to get a 740 instead of a 720, since faster.
     
    alexUW, Jan 7, 2011
    #6
  7. City Pig

    City Pig Notebook Virtuoso

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    Just be thankful that this issue should be non-existent by next year.

    @OP: Are you buying a new laptop, or are you upgrading?
     
    City Pig, Jan 7, 2011
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  8. ARom

    ARom -

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    New barebones.
     
    ARom, Jan 7, 2011
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  9. ARom

    ARom -

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    You guys are right, I hit the search button and there are too many threads on this :eek:

    I'll let this one die quickly.

    * Notebookcheck has the i7 620M ranked higher than the i7 720QM
     
    ARom, Jan 7, 2011
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  10. Althernai

    Althernai Notebook Virtuoso

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    Then why are you even thinking about this? Sandy Bridge is a lot better than either of these in every way (most notably battery life, but also performance). The sales restriction ends January 9th (i.e. this Sunday).
     
    Althernai, Jan 7, 2011
    #10
  11. JKleiss

    JKleiss Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes it does, he means running 2 threads, the 720qm will run at base + turbo on two threads)
    so 1.6GHz + 6x.133GHz = 2.4GHz
     
    JKleiss, Jan 7, 2011
    #11
  12. City Pig

    City Pig Notebook Virtuoso

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    I agree. The 2720QM literally beats both the 620M and 720QM in all cases. Best of both worlds. The only issue is price.
     
    City Pig, Jan 7, 2011
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  13. ARom

    ARom -

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    because I buy used or ES cpu's to keep costs down.

    If Sandy Bridge is compatible with my motherboard then I'm sure I'll consider it down the road.

    I'm sure every title I run will run fine.... and I'm not as concerned with battery life as I am costs.
     
    ARom, Jan 7, 2011
    #13
  14. Althernai

    Althernai Notebook Virtuoso

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    OK, I understand. Sandy Bridge is not compatible with your motherboard -- all of the CPUs that are compatible are already out.
     
    Althernai, Jan 7, 2011
    #14
  15. City Pig

    City Pig Notebook Virtuoso

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    Unfortunately, it's not compatible. :/ Oh well.
     
    City Pig, Jan 7, 2011
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  16. kyo86sg

    kyo86sg Notebook Consultant

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    720QM for the win, u perfer 4 core or 2 core with faster speed?

    GTA IV, SC2 are more CPU intensive..thus quad core wins........

    Quad core is more future prove....any way i will suggest getting the cheapest processor in store then get a 920XM from ebay at $380-$420 and u get the max out performance~
     
    kyo86sg, Jan 7, 2011
    #16
  17. trvelbug

    trvelbug Notebook Prophet

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    ask yourself: will there be a single thread about 2vs4 cores in 6 months?
    that should answer your question.
     
    trvelbug, Jan 7, 2011
    #17
  18. City Pig

    City Pig Notebook Virtuoso

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    There will; the answers will just be unanimous.
     
    City Pig, Jan 8, 2011
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  19. ARom

    ARom -

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    Well you have an i7 720QM so I think you may be a bit biased but most games out aren't bottlenecked by a very fast dual core. Judging by what's going to be released in 2011 in 6 months I don't think anything will be either.

    Developers are slowing down when it comes do graphical fidelity: Who Cares About Graphics Anymore? - PC Feature at IGN

    I think I'm going to go for an i7 640M rather than the 620M or 720QM. Then get the fastest quad core that is compatible down the road when prices fall and if I need it.
     
    ARom, Jan 8, 2011
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  20. City Pig

    City Pig Notebook Virtuoso

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    IGN's one of the last sites I'd listen to about anything.
     
    City Pig, Jan 8, 2011
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  21. flubadoo

    flubadoo Notebook Consultant

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    That's because they messed up somewhere.

    Look at the benchmarks. The 740QM beats the 620M in most, if not all of them.
     
    flubadoo, Jan 8, 2011
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  22. ARom

    ARom -

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    What are the main differences between the i7: 720, 740 and 820?

    For example, what are the max turbo frequencies for each when 4 cores are available and when 2 cores are available?
     
    ARom, Jan 8, 2011
    #22
  23. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    My post from about 2 months ago. Also read the post immediately underneath mine.
     
    Judicator, Jan 8, 2011
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  24. Panther214

    Panther214 Notebook Evangelist

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    i7-740 is almost as good as a 820qm.. actually has 1 lower turbo multiplier for 2 cores.. if your going to get a 820qm , might as well buy a 920xm of ebay which is $400... way better deal if you can use 920xm in your laptop. With throttlestop its reached 3.3GHz with 8 threads...

    Panther214
     
    Panther214, Jan 8, 2011
    #24
  25. ARom

    ARom -

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    You guys were right. Sandy Bridge is the way to go at this point...
     
    ARom, Jan 10, 2011
    #25
  26. Syberia

    Syberia Notebook Deity

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    My 740qm plays everything modern just fine. In the future, new games will be able to take advantage of 4 cores/8 threads. All that being said, I'd go with the quad core. If any game needs the dual-core clockspeed of the 620, it needs it because it's trying to run on 4 cores and it can't. There's also something to be said for the fact that the quad can execute twice as many instructions at once as the dual; GTA IV stuttered on my y460 (i5) but runs smooth on my 560 (i7).
     
    Syberia, Jan 10, 2011
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  27. sameapple

    sameapple Notebook Enthusiast

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    sameapple, Jan 10, 2011
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