i5-3230M / Radeon 8850M - ok for video editing?

[Aitch]

I'm planning to buy a Samsung Chronos touchscreen laptop. The i5-3230M / Radeon 8850M version is tempting, vs. i7-3635QM / Radeon 8870M, for reduced power consumption and lower cost.

Will the i5 version perform adequately at editing and playing AVCHD movie footage?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Enigmoid]

If you plan on doing a lot of editing the i7 is the way to go. Approximately twice as fast.

The i5 will perform adequately (as long as you are not really loading it)..

 

[Ventanni]

If I'm not mistaken, aren't most video editing programs pretty well threaded? If so, then the quad core would definitely be a better choice in the long run.

 

[Aitch]

Thanks Enigmoid and Ventanni.

Of course. I wasn't thinking too well, was I? Vegas Movie Studio allows 'max rendering threads' to be set between 1 and 4.

i7 it is, then.

 

[RussianSensation]

The 15.6 inch version of the Chronos 7 has a better screen than the 17 inch and it is more portable. The GPU can be HD8770M or HD8870M on that model and it has the same CPU as the 17 inch model. The problem is the 17 inch laptop has the same power supply - 90W and as a result the HD8870M GPU throttles when both the CPU and GPU are loaded. Have you considered the 15 inch version instead since it'll be cheaper, more portable and has a better quality screen?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+...%207&cp=1&lp=5

The 17 inch has a TN panel:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Samsung-Series-7-Chronos-770Z7E-Notebook.89376.0.html

The 15.6 inch has a PVA panel:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-series-7-chronos_Laptop_review

Also, Haswell CPU is coming really soon. You sure you do not want to wait for laptops with i7 4000 series CPU?

 

[Aitch]

Thanks RussianSensation.

It was the 15.6 touchscreen I had in mind. Problem is that I'm in the UK where the i7 version doesn't seem to be available yet and I can't wait much longer. That's why I was hoping to get away with the i5.

Having said that, I expect the i7 to be GBP 1300 in the UK when first available - http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/comput...6-touchscreen-laptop-silver-20797676-pdt.html

At $1200 (less than GBP 800) in the US, the price difference would pay for a return flight, as long as I didn't get stung for duty and vat on the way into the UK. I could live with the US keyboard layout - have done so in the past - and am now seriously contemplating a US trip!

Where do BestBuy ship from (so that I can visit another state and avoid state tax)?

I'd love to wait for Haswell but I'm guessing it could be some time before Haswell laptops (1920x1080, preferably touchscreen) hit the streets. The motherboard on my two-year-old Vaio is failing fast.