i3 vs i5

Hi i want to know if the i5-460m is significantly better than the i3-370m. laptop is 3820TG with HD5650.

 

It's better, but I wouldn't say "significantly better."

Increases in clock speed don't really have that much of an effect on most things that you do with your laptop, like gaming or running applications. But those situations are typically GPU limited (gaming) or storage system limited (applications) You might see something like a 10% boost in framerates with a faster processor, especially with your relatively powerful GPU.

That's better, but I wouldn't consider that "significantly better." In order to really notice the benefits of a faster CPU, you'll need to be using your laptop in a way that is limited by your CPU, such as video encoding.

 

What are the prices of both machines?

As kent said, the i5 is definitely better, but it's not a HUGE difference either so it'd depend what the price difference was between a 3820TG with an i3 vs a 3820TG with an i5.

 

Like most people mentioned, the price matters.

For myself, the i3 series would be what I would consider if a longer (on battery) running and cooler running notebook is what I was after.

The i5 series would be for more intense work but at the expense of shorter battery run times and a significantly hotter notebook.

So, do you need the extra % in performance and can live with the (battery/heat) consequences?

For the price, I would not move to an i5 if the cost was much more than around $50 difference - too much to pay in heat output to be worth much more (to me).

 

The Core i3 and i5 run on the same voltage, and have the same TDP. They most likely generate the same amount of heat, and have the same battery life.

 

kent1146, that is what the spec's would suggest.

However, having used numerous systems with both processors I stand by my point that generally, the i5's are noticeably hotter - with correspondingly shorter battery run times.

Especially if the notebook chassis is similar/identical - except for the cpu inside.

 

i3 = 11.3
i5 = 15"
i7 = 17"

the i5 would give you a better boost of mhz and bus speed. of course core speeds are different from one another.

 

its for the 3820TG. currently only the i3 370 is available, price will be about ~$100.00~ difference which doesnt matter too much. But if i want the i5 I will have to wait a while, maybe even try to get it shipped from US.

 

okay so im thinking of pulling the trigger on the i3-370. any last words?

 

Heres is my opinion on i3 vs i5. It all comes down to price. Performance from the i3 to i5 while noticeable wont be jumping off the page. I find that the i5 however gives you more bang for your buck than the i3

 

...what are you talking about? There are plenty of 13" laptops that have i5 or even i7 processors, and there are plenty of 17" notebooks with i5 or i3 processors. The Core i_ numbering system has nothing to do with screen size.

The i3 processors are probably more power than you'll ever need. The lower-end standard-voltage i3 CPUs are roughly on par with the upper-end P8x00 processors from the Montevina generation (P8700, P8800, etc), and will not bottleneck your Radeon 5650.

 

Yeah, I noticed that too. And I read some of his other posts in other topics. He has no idea what he's talking about.