witch Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 I need a laptop for my daughter to take to uni - it needs to be 17in screen, with a good dedicated graphics card (she is studying product design engineering and so needs good graphics). We were looking at the Dells but the difference between i5 and i7 has been blurred, it seems, with new versions being released by intel. See here: Core i5 vs. Core i7: Differences Between Intel's i5 and i7 Processors I am very confused now. We were looking at an XPS L701X i7 which looked quite good but then we saw that the processor was slower than the i5 which confused us. We can't afford much more than £700 tops - not with all three kids at Uni next year - so any advice gratefully received!
Steve21 Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 I am very confused now. We were looking at an XPS L701X i7 which looked quite good but then we saw that the processor was slower than the i5 which confused us. What makes you say i5 is faster than i7? Remember a lot of the i7s have double the i5 cores/threads Steve
jcollings Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 It's well worth looking at the Dell Outlet for a good price. Dell Outlet - Refurbished Computers/PCs: Laptops, Desktops & Servers | Dell UK One of the guys here bought a 17" one for a bargain price from there. Saved a good bit on the price
witch Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) The spec says so - mrwITch's i5 is one of the newer ones - sandy bridge? - 2.6ghz whereas the i7 we were looking at was 1.73ghz. mrwIT says the double cores/threads is only any use if the software you use can deal with that. The article confused me... Just want a decent spec machine!!! I bought a machine from Dell Outlet last year for the last child to take to uni - a very nice i5 There hasnt been much on the site lately and the current one that is there is actually cheaper if you buy it new after you add in VAT and delivery. Edited July 19, 2011 by witch
Guest Guest Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) mrwIT says the double cores/threads is only any use if the software you use can deal with that. Yes and no. IME most software now will utilise 4 cores. Even just sat on edugeek with a few apps in the background 5 of my threads are being utilised. Also clock speed has got little to do with it unless comparing same family CPUs, and even then thanks to the way intel label their CPUs it's still very confusing. Personally I'd be aiming at the sandy bridge series - tbh anything in that range and you can't go wrong. What about the Dell "New Inspiron 17R" or XPS 17 ranges? Edited July 19, 2011 by Guest
witch Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 Yes and no. IME most software now will utilise 4 cores. Even just sat on edugeek with a few apps in the background 5 of my threads are being utilised. Also clock speed has got little to do with it unless comparing same family CPUs, and even then thanks to the way intel label their CPUs it's still very confusing. Personally I'd be aiming at the sandy bridge series - tbh anything in that range and you can't go wrong. What about the Dell "New Inspiron 17R" or XPS 17 ranges? It is the XPS17 we are looking at on the site wasn't a sandybridge - so that is the issue. MrwITch's i5 sandybridge has 2 cores and therefore up to 4 threads, whereas the XPS i7 is a clarksfield and has 4 cores and up to 8 threads. So is that better? Or not? The New Inspiron appears to be an i3 and anyway doesnt have enough graphics
Steve21 Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 It is the XPS17 we are looking at on the site wasn't a sandybridge - so that is the issue. MrwITch's i5 sandybridge has 2 cores and therefore up to 4 threads, whereas the XPS i7 is a clarksfield and has 4 cores and up to 8 threads. So is that better? Or not? The New Inspiron appears to be an i3 and anyway doesnt have enough graphics Well generally sandys give more performance per core/thread as you mentioned, But unless I'm mistaken, It's still "worse" then double cores, if that makes sense (in a sense: 4x2.6 vs8x1.7~ (Not exact, but example)) Only main advantage of sandy I can see, is it's lower power. But compared to what the rest of the laptop will use (17" etc) minimal imo. Steve
witch Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 Well generally sandys give more performance per core/thread as you mentioned, But unless I'm mistaken, It's still "worse" then double cores, if that makes sense (in a sense: 4x2.6 vs8x1.7~ (Not exact, but example)) Only main advantage of sandy I can see, is it's lower power. But compared to what the rest of the laptop will use (17" etc) minimal imo. Steve Don't think I understand that - so...should I go for the 17in clarksfield? (I just want to break into song.."Take the last train to clarksfield (yes, I know) and I'll meet you at the station")
Guest Guest Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Heres the inspiron The Dell Online Store: Build Your System I would have thought a 525m would have been fine, it seems to play games ok Which i7 is it? I can't find any i7s on the dell site which arn't sandy bridge. This is the XPS I was looking at. Same spec as the inspiron near enough but with a GT550 http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=n00x7m03&c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&model_id=xps-l702x Edited July 19, 2011 by Guest
witch Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Looking at a Dell XPS 17 with an i7 740QM which according the Intel website is a clarksfield configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=n00xl706&m_30=322462 It has to be a 17in and it has to have a lot of graphics, probably at least 2GB of non-integrated due to the extensive 3D software she is going to have to run at Uni (they have told us that) Edited July 19, 2011 by witch
Steve21 Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 Looking at a Dell XPS 17 with an i7 740QM which according the Intel website is a clarksfield configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=n00xl706&m_30=322462 Don't suppose you know which I5 you were comparing it to? or which your partner has? Steve
Guest Guest Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 BTW I'm getting "your message is too short..." while trying to post back to you. I believe it's because of the auto replace on youtube URLs
Guest Guest Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Looking at a Dell XPS 17 with an i7 740QM which according the Intel website is a clarksfield configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=n00xl706&m_30=322462 Well according to benchmarks the sandy bridge is slightly faster. Plus it has better graphics and is £50 cheaper. http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php EDIT // No sorry the graphics are a bit slower - blooming nvidea product names! http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php Sack it, just get a mac, it's easier! Edited July 19, 2011 by Guest
witch Posted July 19, 2011 Author Posted July 19, 2011 Where are you looking? Can't get a mac - can't afford it, don't need it, and yes I am one of those mac haters... Actually the uni has said that they have more pcs with the software on than macs so a windows machine would be preferable.
Steve21 Posted July 19, 2011 Posted July 19, 2011 Aye seems that does beat i7 by a bit. Not sure what pricing difference is like on them, personally would go with whichever has the better graphics. Did a lot of 3d design at uni and was always my graphics that let me down IMHO Unless you'll be wanting hours of rendering etc doubt the diff in the two CPUs will matter Steve
witch Posted July 20, 2011 Author Posted July 20, 2011 Well after a quick look at Dells site you could get a Sandy Bridge i7 based system for just over your £700 budget. £750.14 would get you Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM Windows®7 Home Premium (64 BIT) Memory 6GB (1x2GB, 1x4GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel SDRAM Video Card 3GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M Graphics Card Hard Drive 1TB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Dual HDD - (2x500GB) Optical Devices DVD+/-RW (DVD, CD read and write) Wireless Networking Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000 (EUR) Service Standard Service - 1 year Primary Battery 9-cell 90Whr Lithium Ion battery LCD 17.3"(44 cm) HD+ WLED True-Life (1600x900) with 2.0 Mega Pixel Integrated Camera The Dell Online Store: Build Your System Use this code at checkout for 15% off CGJ1CJ721GVXFC That's quite a long way over the budget - even with the 15% off but thanks She will be doing lots of rendering, I think. This is true product design where you are actuallly designing real things, and the idea is to produce a working object
witch Posted July 21, 2011 Author Posted July 21, 2011 AAARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHH Thanks Armando3 but if you read the whole thread you would see that was where this all started - is i7 really better than i5? The problem is budget. With three offspring at Uni next year and no maintenance loan even paying accomodation costs never mind food etc, we are on a tight budget. She is allowed a better laptop than her brothers as the course requires it (last year bought one for the son - i5 - £450) but too much better and they will not be happy!
Guest Guest Posted July 21, 2011 Posted July 21, 2011 (edited) Just to muddy the waters even more, you might want to consider a FHD Screen is design is going to be it's main use. Must say I agree. Whats the point in a low resolution 17 inch monitor? IMO anything over 14inch has to be 1080p or better. That's quite a long way over the budget - even with the 15% off but thanks She will be doing lots of rendering, I think. This is true product design where you are actuallly designing real things, and the idea is to produce a working object Unfortunately I think if you want a decent graphics card in a laptop you will be looking at a lot more than you are budgeting, especially since you require a 17 inch monitor - could she not use an external monitor when needed and get a 15inch laptop? Personally I think a good compromise would be this; (using sysmans 15% coupon) Base 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2540M processor 2.60 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.30 GHz Microsoft Operating System English Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT) Memory 3072MB (1x2GB, 1x1GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Keyboard Internal UK/Irish Qwerty Keyboard Video Card 1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 550M Graphics Card Hard Drive 500GB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive Optical Devices DVD+/-RW (DVD, CD read and write) Wireless Networking Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000 (EUR) Cables UK 250V Power Cord Shipping Documents English Documentation Gedis Bundle Reference N05X7M02 Service Standard Service - 1 year of Collect & Return 10 day coverage included with your PC Extended Service 1 year of coverage included with your PC Integrated Mobile Broadband Mobile Broadband Not Included Order Information XPS L702x Order - UK Primary Battery 6-cell 56Whr Lithium Ion battery Carrying Cases No Carrying Case Dell System Media Kit XPS L702x Resource DVD Color Choice Silver Anodized Aluminum Cover Accidental Damage Support No Accidental Damage Protection Online Backup DataSafe Online Backup 2GB - 1 year licence TV Tuner and Remote Control TvTuner Not Included LCD 17.3"(44 cm) HD+ WLED True-Life (1600x900) with 2.0 Mega Pixel Integrated Camera DataSafe Datasafe Local 2.3 Basic Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Office Starter: reduced-functionality Word & Excel w/ads. No PowerPoint or Outlook Protect your new PC McAfee® SecurityCenter 15 Month Subscription Power Supply 130W AC Adaptor Operating System Recovery Options OS Windows® Recovery Media Not included £682.13 delivered. Maybe up the ram mind. Graphics card is decent for a laptop. The CPU I've speced is pretty god damn good tbf Edited July 21, 2011 by Guest
AlfaTech Posted July 21, 2011 Posted July 21, 2011 (edited) Looking at a Dell XPS 17 with an i7 740QM I have an XPS 15 with a similarly powered processor. Its a Core i5 560M - dual core, hyper-threaded to quad, running from 2.66 (to 3.2 GHz with turbo boost). Which is comparable to the i7 720QM in terms of performance, and it's plenty powerful enough. Especially combined with a dedicated NVidia GeForce 420M 1GB so it plays all the latest games satisfactorily and simply roasts PhotoShop. Check out the comparison of the 740QM to other processors here: Intel Core i7 740QM Notebook Processor - Notebookcheck.net Tech (Look down at 'Surrounding CPUs') Edited July 21, 2011 by AlfaTech 1
jerryeight Posted July 22, 2011 Posted July 22, 2011 well you know i7 cpus are under clocked to save power but it could be ramped up with turbo boost for high perfornmance
witch Posted July 22, 2011 Author Posted July 22, 2011 Thanks all. Advice from uni is that it really has to be a 2GB graphics card. I know a desktop would be preferable but not really possible as she will need it in the holidays and carrying a desktop back home could be a bit problematic!
witch Posted July 22, 2011 Author Posted July 22, 2011 Solidworks pro and some bespoke software especially created for the Uni, apparently.
jerryeight Posted July 22, 2011 Posted July 22, 2011 honestly if you need a system with 2gbs video memory and at least 4gbs of ram it is gonna be hard to keep it under 600£
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