i5-2450M(sandy) vs i7-3610QM(ivy) laptop processor

Looking at specs for a new laptop and I have a $100 upgrade option to go with the i7 ivy bridge.

Other differences, the i5 maxes at 1333 MHz memory while the i7 allows 1600. Also the i5 runs at 2.5 GHz with 3MB cache, while the i7 runs at 2.3 GHz with a 6 MB cache.

The most taxing stuff this thing would be doing is playing games, which normally I would just go i5. Since I am not sure how much of a jump the i7 ivy bridge is I fest I should ask.

Both run a GT 650M GPU.

Is the upgrade worth the $100?

Thanks.

well you don't give the price of the laptop or the specs is it 400.00 or 1200 that makes a diference, would you use the 100 saving for more ram or faster hard drive?

Quote from komondor : well you don't give the price of the laptop or the specs is it 400.00 or 1200 that makes a diference, would you use the 100 saving for more ram or faster hard drive?

True enough, here is the breakdown of what I am looking at.

http://sagernotebook.com/index.ph...ame=NP6110

Go ahead and laugh, 11.6 inch laptop. The i5 is at $899, while the upgrade taps $999.

I would likely take the $100 and put it towards a SSD. I may do that either way though.

It comes with 8GB of memory, and I would just leave it at that.

It's my understanding that the Ivy has double the processing power of that i5, with acceptable graphics.
http://www.cpu-world.com/news_201...otted.html

Quote from Somesort : Looking at specs for a new laptop and I have a $100 upgrade option to go with the i7 ivy bridge. Other differences, the i5 maxes at 1333 MHz memory while the i7 allows 1600. Also the i5 runs at 2.5 GHz with 3MB cache, while the i7 runs at 2.3 GHz with a 6 MB cache. The most taxing stuff this thing would be doing is playing games, which normally I would just go i5. Since I am not sure how much of a jump the i7 ivy bridge is I fest I should ask. Both run a GT 650M GPU. Is the upgrade worth the $100? Thanks.

Definitely worth $100. Going from 3mb cache to 6mb cache should be real nice.

Also not sure if you know...but with turbo boost the i7 runs at 3.3ghz (while the i5 runs at 3.1ghz).

Overall that's a great upgrade for $100. I'd usually expect that to run a little bit higher (round $150). Laptop will run cooler as well (at least compared to SB i7).

I'd wait another year or so before you grab an SSD. Down the road you should be able to snag a 256gb a decent price.

Thanks everyone. I figured it was a decent enough jump, I just wanted to hear it from a few other people.

Quote from Somesort : Thanks everyone. I figured it was a decent enough jump, I just wanted to hear it from a few other people.

A 12 inch rocket ship.
I bet you're anxious to get your hands on that baby.

Quote from RockySosua : A 12 inch rocket ship. I bet you're anxious to get your hands on that baby.

Just need to convince the wife that I need a new toy.

Why all that power and 11.6?

Quote from Mako1215 : Why all that power and 11.6?

Much of the time that I actually have free to play games, is not time that I can spend hunched over a PC at home. Or, I am in a place where dragging around my current 17", 13 lb beast just does not work. Pretty sure this laptop is burning a hole in my legs too.

If I happen to be at home, I can just plug into a monitor. I just need something that I can conveniently carry around.