x230 's processor , i3-3120M vs i5-3210M aka turboost worth it?

Can't find exact results on real world tests, but i was able to find that
they have the same specifications save the turbo boost technology
Intel Core i3-3120M 512KB + 3MB 35 2500 2/4
Intel Core i5-3210M 512KB + 3MB 35 2500 ‑ 3100 2/4

how much better is the i5, or when would you notice(ie programming)

 

If it's solely programming, you won't notice a difference. If you need some specialized features like VT-d, the i5 could be worth it.

 

I agree, you probably won't notice much if anything.

 

what about movies, or heavy multitasking?

 

Absolutely nothing with movies. Maybe you'll notice a little bit of an improvement if you're switching between a lot of single-threaded apps...

 

I have no issue multitasking even with my Pentium CPU, which is less powerful than the mobile i3-3120M. By multiasking, I mean having a few Firefox tabs open, F@H (GPU client), and a few other common programs such as Word or whatnot.

If you're looking to spend money on a worthy upgrade, the CPU is not the place to look. Instead, consider getting the IPS display for the X230 (the $50 Premium option). You'll notice that a hell of a lot more than i3 v i5.

 

The other thing you want to consider is whether you game, if you do the i5 with turbo will be much faster because the integrated HD4000 benefits from turbo boost. If you don't the Ivy Bridge i3 is perfectly fine for the vast majority of laptop users out there.

 

You'll notice a fairly significant difference for compiling code. The practical impact depends on how much time you generally spend compiling code.

 

get the cheapest i5 upgrade. I was given an advice before that when deciding on a budget. Always get the lowest end of the newest technology.

 

They are both "new", coming from the same generation. Just repeating my first post here, the only reason to upgrade to the i5 is if OP needs those specialized functions found in the i5. Any of the other differences (Turboost, increased default clock speed) means jack all for most programming purposes.

 

The i3 has a turbo turbo boost for it's GPU too. It just doesn't go as high. Now I don't know the exact numbers, but if I'm not mistaken the Sandy i3 HD3000 can go up to 1100MHz whilt the i5 can probably go up to 1200MHz.

Don't rely on those numbers. Check Intels database to be on the safe side. All I want to say is, those few dozen MHz won't make a noticeable difference in GPU performance. If at all, only in Benchmarks.

 

The i3 configuration has since been updated to an Ivy Bridge processor, so it's current-gen. There's no need to upgrade the i3-3120M unless you get an exceptional deal.