Y470p: Which processor should I buy?

Hi. I've been doing research on Lenovo Ideapad Y series laptops and noticed there are two versions of the Y470p: One with a i7 quad core and one with an i5 dual core. Both had the powerful 7690M video card.

A couple weeks ago, the price on the i7 quad core version of the Y470p was $799. The i5 version was $750. In hindsight, this was a no-brainer, I would have purchased the i7. But, I was still conducting research and gathering the funds.

Of course, now that I'm ready to buy, the price of the i7 version has skyrocketed to $1249. I cannot justify buying it at that price, knowing it was $450 cheaper not two weeks ago. The i5 version is still $750, within my price range.

Should I pull the trigger on the i5 version, or should I wait and see if the i7 version goes on sale again in the near future? My main concern is 3D game performance (Skyrim, Battlefield, etc.): how much better in games would the i7 perform than the i5, given the power of the video card? And, in general computing and multimedia, (online streaming videos, movies, and such, no video editing or any other extremely cpu intensive tasks) how much benefit would I see from the i7 over the i5?

I'd like to buy now, but it is not absolutely essential. I am most concerned with making the best "bang for my buck" decision. Thanks for any replies and/or advice you guys can offer.

 

Sounds like you won't really (directly) benefit with the extra power from a quad-core CPU. Of course, extra power is always nice to have.

Maybe there are other possible laptop out there for you. Wouldn't hurt to try post in the "What notebook should I buy?" forum if that is the case.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I'm pretty set on Lenovo Y470/Y470p. I'm definitely looking for a 14-inch, as this laptop will be moved a lot and used for classes as well. I have an old 14-inch HP, and the size is perfect for what I need it for. I'd like the extra bonus of having a laptop that size that can play games moderately well.

The Y series Lenovo laptops seem to fit my needs well, and the price seems right. Just trying to decide between the i5 and i7, as I indicated above.

When you say I won't "benefit" does that mean I won't see the difference in any games or programs I'll be running?

 

For playing videos and general computing, you won't notice any difference between the quad and dual core. For the games, the current i5 is about as fast as some Core 2 Quads so I think you should be fine - though there are the exceptions like GTA IV.

 

I'd get the i5. In general, less heat and better battery-life will be the tradeoff. If you realize you need more power down the road, cpu won't be difficult to upgrade...and they will come down in price as new tech gets released.

 

I've never swapped a laptop processor before. Built many desktop systems, but in general I stay away from too much tinkering with my laptops. I have taken covers off, accessed the cpu, put on thermal grease, etc. so I suppose there's no reason I could change a processor, either.

There was a post somewhere on these boards that refuted the fact that i5 dual cores generate less heat than the i7 quads. The battery life is not a huge priority for me, either. I'm a performance guy, but considering budget, I'm also bang for the buck.

 

We own two Compal NBLB2's. One has an i5, and the other an i7...and although these were first gen i-series, I can say without a doubt that the i7 has always ran 5-10 degrees warmer (even just idle). It also consistently gets ~30min less battery life with balanced power profile.

Not sure how the second gen i-proc's stack up, but I assume similar difference between a dual-core i5 and a quad core i7. They just take more power, and power produces heat.

 

Definitely makes sense to me, and I have no reason not to take your word for it. Just don't want to look back in hindsight, thinking that I should have waited for the Y470p i7 version to come down to $799 again.

Let me ask this: if I do get the i5 now and want to upgrade later, where would I purchase a laptop processor, and how well would an i5 laptop cpu sell on eBay?

 

Yea I mean it's really up to you. I was the opposite...getting the i7, looking back in hindsight, the i5 was near the same performance playing games but with less heat and better battery. Less heat also allowed for higher overclocking headroom for the gpu.

ymmv.

 

2nd Gen i7's run way cooler than 1st gen i7's (the first gen are ridiculously hot in summer and you can't use them because it's like sitting in front of an oven). And you say the reason you're buying this lenovo is for the GPU. To the best of my knowledge there wouldn't be much difference between the performance of the 7690M and the 6770m and seeing I come from a HP with a HD 6770m GPU to this len Gt 555m, which I can't tell the difference between the two.

IMO if you're looking to drop that $800 odd on a laptop, you're best buying any 2nd i7 core with a GPU that falls within the parameters of the performance you're after, really who cares which laptop you buy as long as you get the specs you're after!

 

Not sure why you're bringing the HD 6770m up... my choice is between a laptop with an i7 and a 7690M and a laptop with a i5 and a 7690M.

I mean, check out Comparison of Laptop Graphics Cards - Notebookcheck.net Tech. The two cards you're talking about are only 4 places separated on that chart. Of course there is likely not going to be a lot of difference between them.

I am attempting to go after the specs I'm after, but am trying to balance price with performance. Thanks for your reply, and I respect your opinion, but you responded without addressing the issue I presented in the OP and made a comparison that could be taken as misleading. According to the Lenovo website, the Y470 sports a GT 550M. Don't tell me there wouldn't be a noticeable difference in performance between that and the 7690M. Not sure why you even brought up the 6770M. I don't see that included in any of the 14" Y-series laptops.

 

He brought up the 6770m because that is what the 7690 came from. It's the re-branded name for 7000 series...same chip cut from the cloth, but with higher clocks (and possibly more stable).

Note these are just the facts I've heard. I've never read a testimonial from ATI saying that it's a rebrand. It's just been extrapolated with GPU-Z data comparison of the two.

 

If I can read your post right, you were somewhat pi$$ed that you missed out on buying the

So you choice wasn't really between the i5 or i7 it was on how much to spend, because you said yourself you would have bought the i7 (In hindsight) . All I said was, why not just look around for another deal so you get your i7 and the GPU you can settle with, there are deals out there you just have to keep looking. I bought the laptop with specs below new in a box with warranty for $650 AU.