i3 2310m vs i5 2410m

Hello, I am deciding between i3 2310m and i5 2410m for a ThinkPad T420. I don't play any video games, and rarely even watch movies. This laptop will be used for general internet use, college note taking, and casual photo editing.

The only reason I can think of upgrading to i5 would be for programs that run simulations I might get for some classes down the road but even at that, would the seconds shaved off really matter?

I know it's only $50 more, but is it worth it for someone who is using the laptop for school first and multimedia second?

 

A i5-2410M turbo boosts to 2.9Ghz. A i3-2310M maxes out at 2.1Ghz. So the i5 has up to another 38% of extra perfromance. An i5 T420 will also have better resale value. I'd pay the extra $50.

 

Apart from turbo, i5s also have hyperthreading that i3s do not

 

Intel® Core? i3-2310M Processor (3M Cache, 2.10 GHz)with SPEC Code(s)SR04R, SR04S

The i3 as hyperthreading.


I wouldn't worry too much about it if you can't get the i5. Usually I suggest getting the i5 if you can due to the Turbo Boost feature, but odds are you might not even notice the difference.

 

I would keep the $50 in your pocket as the i3 can easily handle the tasks you mentioned. Doesn't hurt to have the i5, but you will rarely see the performance difference between them.

 

As it's been stated, go for the i5. For only 50 bucks I would pull the trigger. 100+ maybe not. Sandy Bridge i5 have even more radical turbo speeds than the previous generation Arrandale.

For single threaded applications, the i5 would rip apart the i3, but again goes down to your usage habits.

 

For those tasks you mentioned, there will be little to no benefit going from i3 to i5. I know 50$ isn't much, but the point is you will probably never notice a difference in your daily use, so why bother paying extra? I say save the 50$ and spend it elsewhere in real life.

 

I was going to vote for the i5 - but if this is the price range you've paid:

See:
Lenovo ThinkPad T420 4177QGU Intel® Core™ i3-2310M (2.10GHz, 3MB L3) Prices | ZDNet


Then I say keep the money (too).

You will get better idle/near idle battery life from the i3 and any performance improvements with your usage scenario will only be worth it in 2 or 3 years time - when it will be time to simply buy another system anyway.

Save your money.

 

I3's have a max temp of 85C and I5s a max temp of 100C. This is already 5C under the Arrandale max temp. I would not own an I3 with thermal limitations like that for any serious CPU work.

Bronsky

 

All the way to i5 for the above reasons (turbo frequency, thermal limits etc.).
$50 is not a very big deal...


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No need for the i5, stay with the i3.

 

For 50 bucks considering the hassle to upgrade later and the addition of higher clock speeds you get Turbo Boost, I think it is well worth it.

 

By the time the OP needs the higher (slightly...) clock speeds, a new system would be the wiser choice (2-3 yrs from now) all while saving the $$ now.

Also, the higher heat output and the lower battery life by moving to an i5 based system is not worth it when computational prowess isn't in your list of things that you 'need'.

 

Disable turbo mode in Throttlestop's DC profile and battery life is the same. Higher heat with higher performance comes with the territory.

 

Granted, but higher (system) price for extra software (even if free/donation ware) to run when not even needed in the forseeable future is simply money down the drain.

 

Many ThinkPad users like to keep their laptops...for an extremely long time . Also it's not like the upgrade price is 10 or 20% of the total cost of the laptop, its a fraction. But again it's up to the OP.

 

Given the OP stated the laptop was mainly a general usage machine, the better CPU has almost no marginal value. In three years, the CPU will be dated, regardless of whether it's an i3, i5 or i7.

 

Thank you all for your replies.

I realize that it's 2x% more processing power for a little more but why splurge when you don't need to.

And I do plan to stretch this laptop throughout my entire undergrad, so four years. The only thing that could make me want to get the i5 over the i3 is if it would allow me to stretch the laptop for that additional year. Though, from ZaZ's comment above that's a no regardless if I go with the i5 or i3?

 

I'd go with what you need to get the job done, for web surfing and basic computer needs,,intel core i3 is plenty.

Cheers
3Fees

 

Considering I kept a ThinkPAD for 7 years (and it kept working for a total of 10 yrs for the person I donated it to...), I'd say you'll be fine.

When the price hits rock bottom, max out the RAM - and in a year or two find a good (Intel! ) SSD (this is where I would normally suggest an HDD upgrade), do a clean Win8/9 install on it and enjoy it until you get tired of it (it probably won't die!).

Cheers!