i5 3210m vs i7 3610qm

Hi,

Everything is in the title. I'm going to buy a laptop and I have a choice between these 2 CPU.

Would like to know if its worth to pay quite a lot more for the upgrade.

I'm gaming quite a lot and use that computer to work as well on big excel files and Photoshop/lightroom/Illustrator.

Thanks !

Tib

 

Define "quite a lot"

 

It really depends on what GPU you use. Some GPUs can be CPU limited. If you get any of the gaming level GPUs, you would want to get the 3610 upgrade. If you are getting lower end GPUs, well, I would suggest upgrading the GPU and then the CPU but if you cannot, and have a lower GPU, then get the i5

 

Which laptop is this, what are the specs in your configuration, and what are the available upgrades other than the processor?

 

Mentioning the prices would help us help you.

 

Would probably be better if you filled out the sticky at the top of the WNBSIB subforum so we have an idea of what you're doing with the laptop.

 

Hi,

Sorry for the late answer.

After negociations with my employer, there are no more money problem but I still have to choose between an i5 and an i7

My Boss is allowing me to choose between a MSI GT60 with a GTX670 but only a i5-3210m or a GE60 with an i7-3610qm and a GT650M

For work I'm not too worried as i'm just doing light photoshopping/programming and mainly office and emails but for gaming which one should I choose ?

Thanks for the help

Tib

 

For gaming the GT60.

Also will you get to keep it? If so its more upgradable in future.

 

There is a question about Quad core vs. Dual core? In second half of 2012?

(There is no such thing as 'light' PS'ing or when using LR4.1...).

No question about it; go for the i7 3610QM.

The video cards in question will not make a significant enough difference in mobile gaming that a slight quality notch down won't fix for you (depending on the game, of course).

To aid you in both gaming and your work: get an SSD and a 7200 RPM HDD (or better: two SSD's) and 16GB or more of RAM (PS, LR4 and your 'large Excel files' will thank you).

Don't do the MSI RAID0 option. (Especially with dual SSD's - they simply slow down (drastically and noticably) after a very short time...).

Maybe once Intel releases IRST 11.5 WHQL this issue will be solved, but I would rather put in my own SSD's (Intel 256GB 520's) once the correct drivers (that allow TRIM to RAIDed SSD's) have actually been released.

Good luck.

 

With the way lightroom 4.1 runs on my single core netbook with 8GB of ram, I can't imagine there can be any difference noticeable between the i5 and i7.

 

Uhm... okay.

 

I'm serious, tiller. Lightroom is very light for what it does. Exporting photos is the thing that takes the most time, and it already only takes seconds to process and export photos on my netbook. An Ivy Bridge i5 is going to be able to do anything you want with lightroom without skipping a beat.

Photoshop is a different story, as you can really bog down any system if you get really crazy, but the OP said he's not doing anything heavy with it.

He can get whatever processor he wants, but I doubt there is a noticeable difference between the two for what he plans on doing with it. But as far as gaming, the difference between the two GPU's becomes readily apparent. The choice is really obvious for what the OP wants to do.