laptop vs desktop (SFF) processors

[melloyellow]

I'm trying to decide between getting a laptop or a small SFF desktop. It looks like most of the new laptops these days have i5-5200u or i7-5500u processors, and while they seem to be quite low power, am I seeing this right that they are slower than desktop i3 processors? Just trying to get an accurate comparison to try to decide which way to go on the tradeoff. It's looking like laptop is more portable and has lower power consumption, but SFF desktop is cheaper and faster.

Here's what I was looking at (just to get an idea):
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-3...cwst313b&model_id=inspiron-3647-small-desktop
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-15-7548-laptop/pd?ref=PD_OC

 

[jaydee]

Just trying to get an accurate comparison to try to decide which way to go on the tradeoff. It's looking like laptop is more portable and has lower power consumption, but SFF desktop is cheaper and faster.

You've got the idea, I don't know of anyone who has done a direct comparison to quantify the performance diff between i5/i7 ULV and i3 desktop. What programs do you use?



I would probably stay away from the bottom end of every manufactures laptop lines (Inspiron for Dell, Pavillion for HP, etc) unless it's a killer deal. They just look so cheaply made, and I find that you can find better quality if you wait for the right deal.

http://bensbargains.com/bargain/asu...i5-15-6-laptop-499-at-microsoft-store-145800/

http://bensbargains.com/bargain/del...13-3-ultrabook-799-at-microsoft-store-137603/


If you go SFF, I wouldn't worry too much about model line.

 

[Commodus]

The question shouldn't be whether or not one is faster than the other -- it's what you plan to do with your system.

Do you want to use your computer away from a desk, or use a touchscreen? Get the laptop. Are you doing anything that would benefit from a large screen? Get the desktop. I'd say that the processor is a tough call. The desktop chip will have a higher clock speed, but it's previous-generation (5th-gen has faster graphics and other minor tweaks) and isn't hyperthreaded like the mobile i5.

 

[jaydee]

The question shouldn't be whether or not one is faster than the other -- it's what you plan to do with your system.

Do you want to use your computer away from a desk, or use a touchscreen? Get the laptop. Are you doing anything that would benefit from a large screen? Get the desktop. I'd say that the processor is a tough call. The desktop chip will have a higher clock speed, but it's previous-generation (5th-gen has faster graphics and other minor tweaks) and isn't hyperthreaded like the mobile i5.

The i3 desktop does have HT.

With the OP asking the question, it seems to me that using the laptop away from the desk isn't a *must*, but its nice. Just like a faster computer isn't a *must*, but it's nice. Cheaper isn't a *must* but it's nice. Larger screen, etc. It's deciding what's higher priority, which makes the answer not so obvious, but also not real clear how anyone other than the OP can answer, because it's really a matter of personal preference.

 

[melloyellow]

Ok thanks for the confirmation. Sounds like the i3/i5/i7 nomenclature is all marketing BS and to get a real idea of the performance, you gotta look at cores/threads and clock speeds. That gives me a good idea of the tradeoff and I'll have to decide which way to go on the tradeoff. It's just going to be used for web browsing and online videos but I'd like for it to last a good many years, though cheaper would justify more frequent replacements/upgrades.

 

[hemedans]

If you want desktop replacement check lenovo g510. It is thick, allow more airflow and has either haswell m or i7 quad. Version with i7 4700mq can be found around $700 (new) or $500 (refurbished)

 

[jaydee]

Ok thanks for the confirmation. Sounds like the i3/i5/i7 nomenclature is all marketing BS and to get a real idea of the performance, you gotta look at cores/threads and clock speeds.

To put it more simply, it's about the TDP. If you look at the i3/i5/i7 within a TDP range, the performance aspects (comparing the i3 to i5 to i7) make sense. When you compare a 54W i3, to a 15W i7, the 54W part can dissipate almost 4x the amount of heat from power generated by the CPU, so it has to make sense that it (the i3) is going to be faster than the 15W (despite being i7) part.

 

[sm625]

A desktop i3 is not only faster than i5-xxxxU, it is also faster than any i7-xxxxU. If you buy a laptop you are paying a premium for a screen, and a battery. The battery does also serve as a UPS, so if that is important to you then it is worth something extra. But all in all you are grossly overpaying if you are using a laptop as a fixed workstation connected to a real monitor. (Which a great many people actually do.)

 

[fire400]

i7-4xxxHQ/MQ is much stronger in benchmarks than i7-4xxxU/i7-5xxxU, laptop wise. smoother work flow on desktop replacement laptop cpu's.

an i5-3xxxM is almost on par with modern U series in some benchmarks. I notice some OS glitching in U series laptops when multitasking a lot.

also noticed non-thinkpad Lenovo products have control quality issues. yoga lines are built physically better than most other laptops, but the thinkpad line will get far superior quality control than almost any of its other product lines from the same company.

not an avid hp fan, but the spectre is nice and very easy to service.

 

[melloyellow]

To put it more simply, it's about the TDP. If you look at the i3/i5/i7 within a TDP range, the performance aspects (comparing the i3 to i5 to i7) make sense. When you compare a 54W i3, to a 15W i7, the 54W part can dissipate almost 4x the amount of heat from power generated by the CPU, so it has to make sense that it (the i3) is going to be faster than the 15W (despite being i7) part.

Then they should have called that 15w cpu an i3. Or else something indicating the tdp should take higher precedence than the i7 name. Like call it a ULV i7 or something. Sneaking that 15w indicator into that last letter in "core i7-5500u" is marketing bs especially when often times the laptop is just advertised as having a "core i7" processor and the actual part number is buried down in the spec sheet.

 

[piasabird]

Some mobile i5 processors aren't any better than say an i3 with 4 meg of cache and 4600 HD graphics. My last computer, I build a little M-ITX box with an i3 4330. The amazing thing is the price of the processor has not dropped in price in 2 years. I use mine with my TV and it still works great. It was a toss up of a choice between that and an i5. I chose the i3 because I figured in the small case it would heat up less and draw lower levels of power. Might not be suitable for high level gaming.

I have an i5 2500k down in my basement in an ATX case. I thought it was a waste to use a giant case with no video card. Put it in an ANTEC 300 case. Still runs great and I have that hooked up to a TV also.

I am trying to wait till they come out with the new Sky Lake Chipsets and Motherboard before I build a new computer.