Hesitating between Intel(R) Core(tm) i7-4700mq and i7-4500U processors

[shealtiel]

I'm considering the following two cpu models for my next laptop:
Intel(R) Core(tm) i7-4700mq, i7-4500U processors

I understand that the 4700 mq will give me much more computing power,
and that the 4500u should generally give me more battery life

My questions are: is it at all true that the 4500u will give more
battery life (in a web surfing scenario let's say)? If yes, roughly
how much more?
Given all other factors equal.

(I'm reading in several places that having more cores does not create
a battery consumption penalty if the additional cores are not actually
active. I also understand that the hasswell serries are by themselves
very good in power comsumption, even before getting to the U
sub-series)

I also understand that the CPU is only one factor in the power
consumption pattern of a system - the display (15 inch for me), HD (an
ssd), wifi all consume much power.

p.s. (The laptop is intended to serve me in various scenarios, the important of which are:
1. Programming. In this scenarion I will be plugged to a power cord, and willing to have maximal computation
power.
2. Surfing the web, using office and the like, while being
*outside* and wanting lot's of batterly life)

All your thoughts and comments are very wellcome

 

[shealtiel]

subscribing to the thread

 

[SPBHM]

you are comparing 15 to 47w... but idle or low load power usage difference is not going to be as significant I think,

also without knowing about the other components and battery it's impossible to compare...

 

[shealtiel]

you are comparing 15 to 47w... but idle or low load power usage difference is not going to be as significant I think,

also without knowing about the other components and battery it's impossible to compare...

Thanks but this answer doesn't teach me a lot. I want to estimate exactly that: how much more powere is goingto be consumed by the 4cores CPU then by the U cpu, when the usage is: word processing - internet browsing

Can you (or anybody) give an estimation on that?

 

[SPBHM]

Thanks but this answer doesn't teach me a lot. I want to estimate exactly that: how much more powere is goingto be consumed by the 4cores CPU then by the U cpu, when the usage is: word processing - internet browsing

Can you (or anybody) give an estimation on that?

I can't, but it's irrelevant if both don't have the same battery and other components, you need to compare the entire laptops, not just CPUs, the max power usage of the 4700 is way higher, but as I said on light usage it shouldn't be as much.

 

[shealtiel]

Both will have 16GB ram, an SSD drive (by Samsung), 15.6' display

Ok, here are the models:
http://www.pc-online.co.il/item.php?ps=2810
http://www.pc-online.co.il/item.php?ps=2874

* I couldn't easily find the same models on english sites, so some Hebrew is involved, but everything important is in English and seems clear.

** I'm upgrading the ram to 16gb, and the HD to ssd for both (the seller will do)

 

[Techhog]

Both will have 16GB ram, an SSD drive (by Samsung), 15.6' display

Ok, here are the models:
http://www.pc-online.co.il/item.php?ps=2810
http://www.pc-online.co.il/item.php?ps=2874

* I couldn't easily find the same models on english sites, so some Hebrew is involved, but everything important is in English and seems clear.

** I'm upgrading the ram to 16gb, and the HD to ssd for both (the seller will do)

The exact battery capacity isn't mentioned, so it's still not really possible to say for sure.

 

[Roland00Address]

You will almost never find those CPUs in the same form factors let alone the same chassis and the same screen since those CPUs take different motherboards due to the U model having an integrated PCB and it is a true SOC.

The mq model will have about 15% faster single thread and about 104% faster multi threaded. The u model will probably have better battery life, weigh less, and the stock config will posses a ssd.

 

[Headfoot]

What kind of programming?

If you are doing parallel programing, get the 4 core.
If you frequently compile software which is at least partially threaded, get the 4 core.

If you are doing lighter programming (web development, DB development, etc.) then go with the dual core

 

[shealtiel]

You will almost never find those CPUs in the same form factors let alone the same chassis and the same screen since those CPUs take different motherboards due to the U model having an integrated PCB and it is a true SOC.

The mq model will have about 15% faster single thread and about 104% faster multi threaded. The u model will probably have better battery life, weigh less, and the stock config will posses a ssd.

Rolland, any guess about *how much* better battery life? Particularly on relatively lite usage - internet word processing and the like.

 

[shealtiel]

It's amazing it's so hard to answer such a simple question, even on a professional forum

And ok, so I am hesitating between the two above models, trying to understand how much battery life I am sacrificing by buying the computer with the more powerful CPU.

Is there any particular information that I can provide, and it will help you answering the question?

 

[shealtiel]

What kind of programming?

If you are doing parallel programing, get the 4 core.
If you frequently compile software which is at least partially threaded, get the 4 core.

If you are doing lighter programming (web development, DB development, etc.) then go with the dual core

Thank you this was the first helpful answer in this thread
I am doing web and db, indeed. For now at least

 

[homebrew2ny]

If all you will be doing is light word processing work and internet browsing, the U will be the obvious choice. Not only because performance will be identical between the 2 (in your chosen usage) but will have better battery live (to varying degrees) in every application. The delta of battery usage is really irrelevant considering your intended usage, but simply knowing it will be better (again to varying degrees) should be enough.

 

[Burpo]

The Dell will definitely give the most battery life from its 65wh battery & U proc.
The IBM's 48wh battery will have shorter life with a more hungry processor.

Up to you what's important, battery life or performance.

 

[Roland00Address]

It's amazing it's so hard to answer such a simple question, even on a professional forum?

That is like comparing how much miles you can get on your gas tank when comparing a 4 cylinder general motors engine vs a 8 cynilder general motors engine. There are a lot of variables the weight of the car, the intended speed, the gas tank sizes of the two cars, how much energy everything of the car uses (such as ac and radio), how you drive the car, the cars aerodyannimcs, etc.

 

[bullzz]

IMHO only reason to get a U series laptop is if u need a thin n light laptop. if ur going to get a laptop with dPGU, get the mq. i am unable to find battery capacity of the lenovo. but since u mention u will program with power connected, I am assuming u can live with relatively short battery life. u can get a 9 cell if needed

 

[ninaholic37]

Ok, here are the models:
http://www.pc-online.co.il/item.php?ps=2810
http://www.pc-online.co.il/item.php?ps=2874

These 15" Haswell i7s + dGPUs both come with 1366x768 screens. ?

 

[bgt]

Always take a real 4 core cpu +HT. The 4500U is too slow(sold several laptops with them and they are...arghh...true sh.t). Laptop chips are already compromised chips. The 4700MQ feels much better.

 

[shealtiel]

The Dell will definitely give the most battery life from its 65wh battery & U proc.
The IBM's 48wh battery will have shorter life with a more hungry processor.

Up to you what's important, battery life or performance.

Burpo, thank you for that,
wondering what tells you that the Lenovo is 48wh, The linked spec says 6cells.

 

[ironmask]

I've owned both versions of the i7, and the 4700 wins hands down in performance. The u chip shouldn't even be an i7. It's just slow. But the battery lasted an extra hour or two for web browsing, but who needs an i7 for that?