T520 - core i7-2720qm vs core i5-2540m?

I thought I got a bargain when I placed an order for the T520 with core i5-2540 (FHD, NVidia, 720P Cam, 4GB 1DIMM RAM, 6300 WiFI). However, with the new doorbuster promo, I have been able to configure the T520 with exactly the same specs and at a tiny bit lower price but with quad core i7-2720qm instead.

I believe I can still cancel the existing order as the estimated ship date is 6/6/2011 and place a new one.

1) I know the dual core i7-2620m isn't much of an improvement over the 2540m. What do you think of the quad core i7-2720qm? My usage varies from light to moderately heavy (database and data analysis soft).

2) Will the quad core run significantly hotter at average loads? IIRC, some people claim that Sandy Bridge quad core i7s shouldn't be much different from their dual-core counterparts at idle or low loads. Is this true?

In short, is it really worth the trouble of cancelling the existing order and waiting a week or so more to go from the i5 to the quad core i7?

Thanks.

 

i would go quad core, you get USB 3 as well!

 

I would definitely switch, I'm loving my quad core W520.

 

thanks. what about heat?

 

I feel no heat at all with my W520 quad core. And I sit with it on my lap for hours at times.

 

You may not wait a week. I canceled an order for an i5 base CPU X220 and input an identical order for an I7 equipped X220 and the shipping time is 7 days earlier.

Don't know why but?

 

Same here. I'm running Windows Server 2008 R2 with 3 Hyper-V virtual servers on it. Still getting 7 hours battery life while coding/web browsing.

 

Thanks to everybody. I have finally made up my mind and placed the order. I am hoping that the cancellation request will be approved before the old order ships.

 

Are you sure that If we go for i7-2720 on T520, we will get USB 3.0 instead of USB2.0? Also, how many memory slot will we get if we go for i7-2720 on T520?

 

Even chose i7-2720 on T520, the power adapter option is still 90w. Is 90w powerful enough for the 45W CPU(10W higher)? The W520 use 170W power adapter.

 

Mine comes with a 135W, which was the only option.

 

The W520 also has 4 memory slots, higher end processor options, higher end graphics and a raid option. That's why it comes with the 170W, and the 135W will also run my W520 too.

 

I've been running my T520 on an old 90W adaper at work, and the bundled 135W at home.

I read somewhere that with a insufficiently powered adapter some thinkpad's will clamp the max speed - don't know if this is the case for the T520.

I haven't noticed any discernible change in performance, running visual studio and some other simulation apps that will use 100% of a cpu core for up to 10 minute bursts. However I don't use the GPU extensively, nor have I run some hard benchmarks between the 90/135 to compare.

I also plugged in a power meter and found the steady state draw of my laptop was substantially less than 90W (can't remember what, just remember it was a lot less than 90)