Pentium 957 vs. 2310M What one?

This isn't going to be simple as it sounds. I've been eyeing the x220 since it came out and there is an insane deal for dirt cheap. I want to spend as little money as possible and I'm wondering what CPU I should get as the Pentium 957 is $42.50 cheaper than the 2310M. This laptop is going to used for office work, web browsing, etc. (Light use.) I can't find any information on the 957 and was wondering if it could keep up. Other than price I'm considering getting the 957 due to lower heat (I think), less fan noise and hopefully longer battery life. What do you think? I know the 2310M is far "better", but I just don't need the extra power. The only problem is that I know nothing about the 957 and if someone could dig up information on it, that would be great.

Thanks,

~350

 

Have you read this: Intel® Pentium® Processor 957 (2M Cache, 1.20 GHz)with SPEC Code(s)SR089

Seems ok, 1.2GHz dual core.

 

All I have seen are the specs, which doesn't really mean much to me. I just want to know what it's comparable to and if it will suffice. I had a i5-470UM in an older laptop and it was just fine for me. I am just afraid of taking a shot in the dark with something I know little about.

 

Not only was your 470UM almost 11% faster at it's 'default' clock/state - it was also 55% faster when it turboed up. (That is why you felt it 'just fine').

The problem with the 2310 is that it is a 35W TDP processor (the 470UM is 18W, btw) and the 957 is a 17W part. Should be okay (battery time wise...) as long as you don't push it too much though.

I know you say you don't need a lot of oomph - but the 2310 would be my choice if I was using this system for the next 18 months or more. Windows updates, program updates - not to mention the ever increasingly complex and performance sucking internet based apps/browsers/websites only point to the better performing cpu/gpu combination as the smart choice in a system that you'll only save $42.50 now on but regret (the savings) for the next few years.

 

Unless you push the processors there won't be any difference in heat. Also keep in mind that recent Thinkpad models with Celeron and Pentium cpu's are pretty much impossible to get rid of in the second-hand market. You'll lose a lot more $42.50 when you go to sell it. This is a Core2Duo right? Afaik, Sandy Bridge has better power consumption. $42.50 isn't much for a massive increase in performance and resale value.

 

The 957 is a 17W LV part. The 2310M is a 35W standard voltage processor. So the 957 is better for battery life, something that usually costs extra if going a premium UM processor. See comparison.

 

Would I see any difference when on battery with the CPU set to "Low?" I want to say the i5-470UM was clocked at 800Mhz when on battery. The most intensive thing I did with that was HD Youtube videos.

vinuneuro- It's a Sandy Bridge processor.

Lenovo says I can get the 957 and if I don't like it, exchange it for the i3.

 

well you are going to notice the difference in battery life, the ULV were not only meant to be put on thin and light, but to consume less power.

if lenovo is not going to charge you restocking fee, then get it test it, if you like keep it, but the resale value is going down, probably way down

 

It might have idled at 800MHz on battery, but I'd be surprised if it didn't hit it's max turbo when needed. After all, even flat out it would only use 'x' amount of power - much less than a 'standard' cpu (35W TDP vs. 17W TDP) would.

I would guess you'll be wasting your time 'trying' the 957... I would be more interested in 'trying' the 2310 and seeing if the battery life was close/surpassed your expectations (on the 'Power Saver' profile or the standard 'Balanced' profile). Trying, of course - if they allow you to return/exchange with no fees.

Good luck.

 

Just thought of something; My quote runs out in 14 days and by the time I get the ULV and try it out, the deal for the i2310 would be long gone making me pay a lot more to exchange it. I think I'm going to go with i2310 and save myself the trouble. Thanks for the help!

 

Make sure you get the IPS screen too.

 

Nah, I heard the TN panel is way better....

The IPS is one of the main reasons why I'm planning on getting it. I'm so sick of so-so screens on the market.

 

Glad to help! I'd appreciate any feedback from you when you get it and have a chance to play with it a while.

Cheers!

 

Based on what is everyone assuming the 957 is a LV processor? (Please don't say the TDP; that's got to be the most misunderstood aspect of cpu's these days). To me it just seems to be a budget processor. Whatever the case, I maintain that you would've gotten annihilated in the used market when it came time to sell a 'Pentium' equipped X220, so smart decision going for the i3.

PS: the sales rep who told you could exchange it for an i3 if you didn't like the 957 only gave you the half-truth. Sure you can exchange it- with a 15% restocking fee, unless there's some major hardware manufacturing defect.

 

According to the approximation of notebookcheck, it will be somewhat better than the U5400, which is quasi equivalent in power to a SU7300.

The SU7300 is absolutely enough for office work, I even use it sometime to compile some stuff in C++.Net, which is pushing it, and the notebook hates (it eats the battery) doing this when on battery.

 

With the advent of turbo and core gating etc then ULV CPUs and regular CPUs idle at the same power consumption.

A higher TDP CPU simply can use more power to reach higher clocks due to a higher ceiling, and will do so when needed.