Should I take the free upgrade to i7?

I won't bore you guys with the details...but basically it comes down to this;

Dell has offered to replace my Vostro 3750 i5-2430M with an i7-2630QM. Both with a 9 cell battery, 8GB RAM, 750GB 7200 HD & Nvidia 525M.

My usage is basically internet, online streaming, Netflix and light gaming occasionally. I'm pretty sure even the i5 is overkill for my needs. My concern is even though I don't really need the upgrade, if I do take it will I end up with a laptop that runs hotter and drains the battery faster or would that only be a concern if I was using intensive applications?


EDIT: Thanks Guys. I spoke with Dell today and said I'd take the i7. I do have a follow up though. I have 2 options for the i7. Either i7-2630QM with 750GB HD or i7-2670QM with 500GB HD. Currently I have used about 150GB of Data but I don't ever see myself using more than 350GB so either HD will be sufficient. Is it better to have the slightly higher processor or more free space on my HD?

 

On full load the 2630QM will eat more battery life. I doubt on idle it is going to be significantly higher than the i5, Sandy Bridge does wonders for idle. My i5-2520M + IGP idles lower than my LV SL9400 + X4500 for my X220 Tablet vs X200 Tablet.

 

I would take it because it's free, and it will increase the value of the laptop.

 

I paid $630 for my original spec. I don't plan on selling it as it is a desktop replacement. If I will be worse off with the i7 however based on my usage, I could also ask for my original spec and a credit instead...that's what it comes down to. If the i7 will be faster, more future proofed and no significant heat/battery change then I'd much rather take the upgrade.

 

Bro, that's a free upgrade? Take it for sure! Like Mischief man said, it will increase the value of your laptop, plus those multithreaded apps will love it too

 

Get the upgrade, then buy an i5 or i3 on ebay. Sell the 2630qm after you get the i3/i5. Profit.

 

+1 ....

 

It will downclock when you don't need the power. Take it for free.

 

Thanks all. I'll definitely be accepting the i7.

For me it makes no sense to try to sell it for a little profit as ultimately I still need a laptop and after trying a few one thing I know is that I'll be sticking with the Vostro 3750. I think I lucked out with what I paid for my original spec as it is so this is just an added bonus. I've never actually dealt with Dell before and there's probably a big difference in Customer Service between consumer and small biz but overall I've been extremely happy with them.

 

Some people don't feel comfortable taking apart the machine and selling XX CPU. Alot of notebooks these days mount the CPU/heatsink end under the motherboard, requiring you to flip it over to remove the CPU. Also certain manufacturers, changing your CPU will void your warranty.

 

Just take the i7, the cpu does not take too much power over the i5 for your usage. If free, it is a SIN to not accept.

 

EDIT: Thanks Guys. I spoke with Dell today and said I'd take the i7. I do have a follow up though. I have 2 options for the i7. Either i7-2630QM with 750GB HD or i7-2670QM with 500GB HD. Currently I have used about 150GB of Data but I don't ever see myself using more than 350GB so either HD will be sufficient. Is it better to have the slightly higher processor or more free space on my HD?

 

Take the better processor. The hard drive can easily be upgraded later if you want to. The processor is much more difficult to upgrade.

 

Thanks!

 

Lucky you, the 2670 is an incredible upgrade from a mediocre i5, and it would be criminal to turn it down. Out of curiosity how did you orchestrate such a significant FREE upgrade from Dell on a cheap $600 laptop?

 

Yes sir, take the 2670QM, it may be only a bit stronger than 2630QM but every bit helps in prolonging the life and value of a laptop. Hard drives come and go, processors (unless you're really into swapping parts) will be there for the entire lifetime of that lifetime.

 

Dammit. The 2670 was no longer an option today as that config is now sold out. Also gone from their website...oh well...2630 with 750 HD it is.

I got the free upgrade as I had issues with the Nvidia GPU from day 1 with the i5. On day 3 they diagnosed it as a faulty GPU/Motherboard and decided to send out a replacement. Just over 2 weeks later I got the replacement but they "forgot" to add on the Nvidia. As they had no "ship fast" option with equivilant specs as me (9 cell, 750 7200 HD) and I'd now have to wait another 2 weeks (at least), they offered me the "Upgrades".

 

WTH...They messed up my second replacement...They included a 6 cell instead of the 9 cell...Now they are sending a seperate 9 cell battery and told me to keep both...

I guess I should be happy with what I've ended up with...but I really hope I can be done with this soon...how much more money will they keep throwing at me? lol

 

Not bad. If they take back the wrong battery, it could cost more.

 

Just an update. I got my replacement finally...although the invoice says 2630qm it's actually the 2670qm. These guys seem clueless but I guess it's a win win for me as I also got the 750GB HD. Love having the 2 baterries too! Very glad I went with the i7 as I haven't noticed much difference on heat or battery life. Thanks for the push!

 

Business notebooks get much better support. I bought a $2k 8740w, then 3 full system replacements, and 4 on-site visits later, I had my current laptop which sold for $4.9k.