i7 2760QM or i7 2640M for business and home use?

[lenojustin]

Hello,
I am about to buy a laptop and need to decide which CPU to get.

I use it only for business purposes but lots of multi tasking like word, net browsing, etc. I do not play any games and barely watch any movies.

Also I want something which is future proof for at least 3-4 years...
So please suggest if I should get a i7 2760QM or i7 2640M. The Quad core is unfortunately a 400 dollar upgrade from Lenovo!
Thanks in advance!

 

[dma0991]

Those tasks that you're performing are hardly CPU intensive and a decent dual core with HT is more than capable if you're not willing to spend the $400 extra. I would prefer to buy a laptop for the sake of its battery life than to future proof it. You'd probably want a laptop that will do 8 hours on average.

 

[khon]

For what you describe, the i7 2640M should be more than enough.

Don't waste $400 on a quadcore that you don't need.

 

[lenojustin]

Dear Guys! Thank you very very much for your reply! It removes all the doubts I had in my head and will save me a fair amount of dollars as well. I have finally decided on i7 2640M with SSD. Since I am a very frugal person and really do not spend much on anything, I thought I treat myself to a high end laptop. Kind Regards Justin

 

[lenojustin]

Dear Guys, Sorry for again bringing this already resolved question up but I just got back the price quotes for my laptop and something interesting has happened:- For a $160 increase, I get an upgrade which includes:

1. from a i7 2640M Dual Core (2.8 Ghz with max turbo frequency of 3.5 Ghz) to a i7 2760 QM Quad Core (2.4 Ghz with max turbo frequency of 3.5 Ghz).
2. increase in screen size from 14 inch HD+ to 15.6 HD+
3. also a NVIDIA NVS 4200M Graphics with Optimus Technology, 1GB DDR3 Memory.

To be honest, I am more gravitated towards the Quad Core due to the following reasons:

1. I need something which lasts a huge while as I will not get a new one for 5 years easily. Right now there are not many programs that use 4 ores but in 2-3 years, programs using 4 cores maybe commonplace.
2. Also I checked that one with the 2640M has maximum of 8 GB RAM that can be installed and the 2760QM has maximum of 16GB of RAM. More RAM certainly will help as this laptop last longer.
3. $160 is not any issue at all as I have been saving for a very long time to get a new laptop.
4. One issue with the Quad core-clocking frequency is a little slower in the Quad Core compared to the Dual Core. But the problem is mitigated by the fact that the max turbo speed of both the processors is same.
5. Another issue with the Quad core is it will drain the battery much faster than the Dual Core. But again has no bearing on my case as I never really use the battery. I just take it out, wrap it in paper towel and keep it aside. I do not travel etc and I am usually plugged in my office. The battery of my current laptop is still in pristine conditions.

So please tell:

1. Does the fact that 2760QM has a slower clocking frequency than the Dual Core (2.4 Ghz versus 2.8 Ghz) make a difference, keeping in mind that in turbo mode both have same maximum frequency of 3.5 Ghz.
2. Should I get the upgrade? Honestly the $160 is not any issue as I have saved a huge time for buying a new laptop. I just want the fastest and most future proof piece of machinery.

Kind Regards
Justin

 

[KayVeeEmm]

Sure... If there will be a need for a quad core CPU down the line, then get one. Computers in general have reached a very good price to performance ratio, except if it's an Apple (not an Apple hater, I'm typing on a Mac Mini 2011 right now).

A quad core laptop purchase today will make your setup relevant enough for the next couple of years.

As for dual core vs quad core speeds - a dual core i7 generally performs better than a quad core in single/dual threaded apps obviously because of higher clock speeds. If you're concerned about your computer's future performance then take the quad core.

As for the screen size - unless you order a 15.6" screen with 1920x1080 resolution, then do not take it. 1366x768 looks terrible on a 15.6" screen.

 

[dma0991]

1. That quad has less single threaded performance than the dual core because of the 400MHz difference. With turbo, we're talking about 1-2 cores at any given time so they can have the same turbo frequency. The quad only shines if you could actually use a program that stresses all 4 cores simultaneously. For multitasking it is quite unnecessary.

2. You're the boss of your money, you decide. Future proofing is not something that you should be focusing especially with a laptop. It is not possible to assume that dual core processors would fall out of favor in the future. The amount of RAM you need is also not a way to future proof as 8GB is more than any average mainstream user would ever need. Bear in mind that Microsoft is trying to make Windows 8 leaner and less of a resource hog so I could assume that a dual core will still be more than enough for stuff like word processing and web browsing in the future. You're better off spending that $160 getting a 128GB SSD for the laptop.

 

[lenojustin]

Hello Guys, thank you very much for the reply! I will get a 2640M only. But just for my information, could you please clear out/confirm the following 2 doubts:

1. the .4 ghz differnce 2.4 ghz quad core and the 2.8 ghx dual core is mitigated by the fact that the max turbo speed of both is the same
2. also is this hypothesis correct- that quad core is oriented towards multitasking, even with single threaded applications, becoase it takes on more RAM then the dual core and hence it makes it fatser.

Kind Regards
Justin

 

[StrangerGuy]

I'm not really following laptops anymore but generally speaking you want just the lowest end SB dual/quad core with enabled turbo. Anything else is a big waste of $.

 

[Hulk]

Hello Guys, thank you very much for the reply! I will get a 2640M only. But just for my information, could you please clear out/confirm the following 2 doubts:

1. the .4 ghz differnce 2.4 ghz quad core and the 2.8 ghx dual core is mitigated by the fact that the max turbo speed of both is the same
2. also is this hypothesis correct- that quad core is oriented towards multitasking, even with single threaded applications, becoase it takes on more RAM then the dual core and hence it makes it fatser.

Kind Regards
Justin

Answer to #1 - Yes. The Quad will always be as fast or faster than the dual.

Answer to #2 - The Quad doesn't "take more RAM." If you are running identical applications then they will both have the same memory footprint. The Quad will just be able to process more concurrent threads, making it faster assuming the applications can provide the additional threads for the Quad to run. As I wrote in #1 above, between these two processors the Quad will always be as fast or faster. It will also use more electricity and probably have slightly less battery life. If you aren't doing intense video editing or 3D animation you won't ever notice the difference between the dual or the quad, which are really quad an oct with hyperthreading anyway. Save your money and don't worry about it. But do make sure you get and SSD because that will provide immediately noticeable performance gains.

 

[lenojustin]

Thank you very much for the replies Guys! Kind Regards Justin

 

[lenojustin]

Dear Guys,
After all your help and advice, I have finally decided on getting a i7 2640M with SSD.
The main reasons I did so are:

1. It has more clock speed than the 2760QM. To be precise 2.8ghz v 2.4 ghz.
2. My apprehension that Quad core will be needed in the future seems baseless. It may happen only if there is a major paradigmatic shift and software programmers start making average consumer software to use 4 cores instead of the current standard of single or dual core.
3. Also I am a novice in this regard and overwhelmingly learned people in this forum have pointed out that Quad core is simply unnecessary.

Another reason that I thought maybe of importance is that I will be using the laptop in country which has a very very hot climate. It easily touches 40 Celsius/ 100 Fahrenheit in for 8 months of the year and my office has no air conditioning most of the time. 90 Fahrenheit is the norm in my office for 8 months of the year. I really do not want to take a chance with the heat generation issue.

What do you guys think of the last point? Any sense there or just again some silly newbie rambling of drivel…

Kind Regards
Justin

 

[RavenSEAL]

MOAR COARZZZ.

Enjoy your lappy

 

[dbcooper1]

Dear Guys,
After all your help and advice, I have finally decided on getting a i7 2640M with SSD.
The main reasons I did so are:

1. It has more clock speed than the 2760QM. To be precise 2.8ghz v 2.4 ghz.
2. My apprehension that Quad core will be needed in the future seems baseless. It may happen only if there is a major paradigmatic shift and software programmers start making average consumer software to use 4 cores instead of the current standard of single or dual core.
3. Also I am a novice in this regard and overwhelmingly learned people in this forum have pointed out that Quad core is simply unnecessary.

Another reason that I thought maybe of importance is that I will be using the laptop in country which has a very very hot climate. It easily touches 40 Celsius/ 100 Fahrenheit in for 8 months of the year and my office has no air conditioning most of the time. 90 Fahrenheit is the norm in my office for 8 months of the year. I really do not want to take a chance with the heat generation issue.

What do you guys think of the last point? Any sense there or just again some silly newbie rambling of drivel…

Kind Regards
Justin

Thermal concerns just reinforce the point that you're making the right choice going with the 2640M and the SSD; I assume the upgraded video with the quad would also generate additional heat. Quit worrying over it and enjoy; given the circumstances you describe, I'd make the same choice.

 

[lenojustin]

Once again thank you very much for the replies and help guys!
Best
Justin