Does anyone know anything about the new i7 UM chips?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm referring more specifically to the i7 640UM. notebookcheck.net seems to think it's going to be godawful slow compared to just the regular i3, i5, and i7 chips in the M variety... just wondering because this chip is in a few ultraportables that I'm thinking of getting.

 

[Zap]

This is a great replacement for the older CULV CPUs. They're only 18W (that includes the former Northbridge) and can handle 105°C. They also have Turbo mode, so they can clock up to 2.26GHz. They are dual core with Hyper Threading.

The low wattage makes them great for ultraportables and "slow" is relative. They're faster than the older CULV offerings and probably faster than most of the Mobile Core 2 Duo under 2.4GHz. Atoms are not even in the same county for performance. The IGP is also better than any of the older offerings.

Basically saying this is a slow CPU is like saying the Core i7 920 is really slow... compared to other Core i7.

Of course I could be wrong since I haven't used one in person and haven't read too many reviews on them, however how slow can a 2.26GHz 32nm Core i7 be?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

This is a great replacement for the older CULV CPUs. They're only 18W (that includes the former Northbridge) and can handle 105°C. They also have Turbo mode, so they can clock up to 2.26GHz. They are dual core with Hyper Threading.

The low wattage makes them great for ultraportables and "slow" is relative. They're faster than the older CULV offerings and probably faster than most of the Mobile Core 2 Duo under 2.4GHz. Atoms are not even in the same county for performance. The IGP is also better than any of the older offerings.

Basically saying this is a slow CPU is like saying the Core i7 920 is really slow... compared to other Core i7.

Of course I could be wrong since I haven't used one in person and haven't read too many reviews on them, however how slow can a 2.26GHz 32nm Core i7 be?

Basically reading from here:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i7-640UM-Notebook-Processor.25705.0.html

the Core i7-640UM is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo (1.2 GHz) in all (us known) applications and benchmarks. Still the Turbo Boost may not trigger very often (sometimes it is even not activated in the BIOS) and therefore the maximum of 2.26 GHz is not very important. All in all the I7-640UM should be faster than a Core 2 Duo SL9300 (1.6GHz).

The SL9300 gets only 949 in Passmark while even the slowest i3 M 330 @ 2.13GHz does 2014.

What worries me the most is that little blurb about the Turbo Boost not even being active. If I could have it active all the time at 2.26GHz, then I suppose it could be up there with an i5 M 430 @ 2.27GHz, which gets 2397 in Passmark.

 

[CurseTheSky]

CULV chips are NOT meant to replace normal mobile processors. You shouldn't be comparing them directly.

CULV processors are meant to bridge the gap between Atom and normal mobile chips. They run at a slower clock speed, but still have complete feature set, and usually consume half (or less) as much power as other processors. Atom, on the other hand, consumes even less power, but is something like half as fast.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

CULV chips are NOT meant to replace normal mobile processors. You shouldn't be comparing them directly.

CULV processors are meant to bridge the gap between Atom and normal mobile chips. They run at a slower clock speed, but still have complete feature set, and usually consume half (or less) as much power as other processors. Atom, on the other hand, consumes even less power, but is something like half as fast.

The problem with this is that comparisons are inevitable.

A 3.5lb thickish laptop costing $1000 with an i3 or i5 M compared to a 3lb laptop costing $1400 with an i7 UM. The latter is more expensive, but it's lighter, very thin, and has an i7. But it's a UM i7. Is that going to be faster than the former with an i3 or i5 M? If not, is the performance still close enough to justify going for the more expensive, but more portable option?

 

[CurseTheSky]

It depends what you do with it. If you're encoding videos or doing some sort of CPU-intensive task, then the "normal" i3, i5, or i7 is a better option. If you're just doing average computer work (browsing the web, typing documents, programming, editing a few photos, etc.) the CULV will be more than plenty. With the CULV, you'll enjoy better battery life (when compared to a similarly-spec'd model with a similar capacity battery) as well.

What are the two computers you're comparing?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

This machine will be at 100% CPU for hours at a time processing photos in my car, in the homes I photograph, and in Starbucks. It will be moving around all the time.

I love the weight and size of my 11.6 in 2.5lb LG X100, but the CPU is really lacking.

Acer TimelineX 1830T - Core i5-520UM

http://www.netbookchoice.com/2010/04/02/acer-aspire-timelinex-1830t-hands-on/

Fujitsu P770 - Core i7-640UM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834110404

Fujitsu S760 - Core i5-520M Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834110411

Asus UL30JT - Core i5-520UM

http://www.technotalks.com/reviews/asus-ul30jt-ultra-portable-notebook/

Budget is under $1500, and the first thing I will do is throw an SSD in it.

Sony Vaio Z is too expensive.

 

[IntelUser2000]

The SL9300 gets only 949 in Passmark while even the slowest i3 M 330 @ 2.13GHz does 2014.

What worries me the most is that little blurb about the Turbo Boost not even being active. If I could have it active all the time at 2.26GHz, then I suppose it could be up there with an i5 M 430 @ 2.27GHz, which gets 2397 in Passmark.

That's bunch of BS by notebookcheck. BTW, you won't get anywhere near the i5 because the 2.26GHz Turbo Boost for i7 640UM is only for single core.

The single core Turbo Boost is NOT important. What's important is the 2-4 core Turbo. The i7 640UM goes...

1.2GHz base
1.86GHz 2 core Turbo
2.26GHz 1 core Turbo

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

That's bunch of BS by notebookcheck. BTW, you won't get anywhere near the i5 because the 2.26GHz Turbo Boost for i7 640UM is only for single core.

The single core Turbo Boost is NOT important. What's important is the 2-4 core Turbo. The i7 640UM goes...

1.2GHz base
1.86GHz 2 core Turbo
2.26GHz 1 core Turbo

So basically an i7 640UM with both cores Turbo Boosted @ 1.86GHz will *still* be slower than an entry level i3 M 330 @ its stock speed of 2.13GHz?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

And basically in my previous list of 4 lappies, the Fujitsu S760 with Core i5-520M would wipe the floor with any of the other three?

 

[CurseTheSky]

Define "processing photos" - what kind of photo work will it be doing?

If your main focus is using the processor to do any sort of task, then CULV processors are probably not for you. The main benefit they offer is lower power consumption, and thus lower battery life. If your laptop is going to remain plugged in or near an accessible power source during most of its use, I'd just get a regular processor and call it a day.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Define "processing photos" - what kind of photo work will it be doing?

If your main focus is using the processor to do any sort of task, then CULV processors are probably not for you. The main benefit they offer is lower power consumption, and thus lower battery life. If your laptop is going to remain plugged in or near an accessible power source during most of its use, I'd just get a regular processor and call it a day.

It's hard to describe the work - It's basically aligning a stack of 9 photos and processing them into an HDR image. We are talking about hundreds of photos that I'm doing this with daily. It's very CPU intensive.

I guess I'll just get a regular i5 or i7.

Lenovo X201?

http://www.amazon.com/TopSeller-Thin.../dp/B003A4D2QC

 

[beginner99]

This machine will be at 100% CPU for hours at a time processing photos in my car, in the homes I photograph, and in Starbucks. It will be moving around all the time.

So you will be near a power source almost all the time or how much time do you spend in starbucks? Probably never longer than 1-2 hours?
Do "car kits" for laptops exists? (charging them using the lighter?)

What about 13, 14 or 15 models? Meaning is weight that important? The bigger ones have larger screens and if you pick the right model a higher resolution. i would assume that also counts when editing photos.

 

[Osamede]

This sort of CPU allows you to have a very compact 12" or 1" laptop that needs little cooling (fans, heat sinks etc) and can thus come it at around 1kg to 1.3 kg. That's the point of an 18W CPU, not power. If you want power you go buy something else. There is plenty to chose from elsehwhere in Intel's lineup if you want power.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

So you will be near a power source almost all the time or how much time do you spend in starbucks? Probably never longer than 1-2 hours?
Do "car kits" for laptops exists? (charging them using the lighter?)

What about 13, 14 or 15 models? Meaning is weight that important? The bigger ones have larger screens and if you pick the right model a higher resolution. i would assume that also counts when editing photos.

I should be close to a power source most of the time, but I'd like at least 2-3 hours on battery while it is going at full blast just in case I can't find a place.

I can always charge from my car.

Weight and size are important to me because I carry this around a lot. I do not want to go over 14 inches and I'm still ok with 1366x800 res.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Quick question, should the integrated Intel graphics nowadays be more than ok to handle 720p video?

 

[IntelUser2000]

Quick question, should the integrated Intel graphics nowadays be more than ok to handle 720p video?

The 640UM won't be much slower than the i3-330M, but will cost less. It will use less power than the i3-330M of course.

And yea, it will be more than fine to play even 1080p.

 

[rfielder]

This is an older thread, but I am looking for info on the i7 640UM. Specifically, as it is used in the Fujitsu P770.

I currently have a Gateway mx6627 with a Centrino M 1.73Ghz CPU. How will the i7 640UM compare, specifically for apps that are single threaded and tied to one core?

A bit more detail - this laptop will be for DJing. My software, DJPower 2008, does not run in a multi CPU or hyperthreading environment. I tied it to one CPU with a utility called Set Affinity II. This works very well on my Acer Aspire One AOD250 netbook. However, it does mean that the application is dependent on the single core speed of a CPU.

The Gateway is after than the Acer, which is why I ask for a comparison to it's CPU.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jaydee]

This is an older thread, but I am looking for info on the i7 640UM. Specifically, as it is used in the Fujitsu P770.

I currently have a Gateway mx6627 with a Centrino M 1.73Ghz CPU. How will the i7 640UM compare, specifically for apps that are single threaded and tied to one core?

A bit more detail - this laptop will be for DJing. My software, DJPower 2008, does not run in a multi CPU or hyperthreading environment. I tied it to one CPU with a utility called Set Affinity II. This works very well on my Acer Aspire One AOD250 netbook. However, it does mean that the application is dependent on the single core speed of a CPU.

The Gateway is after than the Acer, which is why I ask for a comparison to it's CPU.

Thanks in advance!

If you don't need the thinness, lightness and power savings, you could probably get a comparable laptop for half the cost (as far as processing power goes). It's your money. I guess the big question is, if it runs fine on a lowly netbook, why on earth even consider a Core i7? You could probably buy 6 of those for the same cost.