Pentium vs i3

five0hfox · Nov 24, 2012

So I'm looking at two laptops and I'm not sure how much faster one will be than the other.

One has an Intel Pentium B980 2.4ghz(On sale for $250)
The other has 3rd Gen Intel Core i3-3217U 1.8ghz ($400)

Is there a big difference between those two processors? I'm a broke college kid, so cheaper is always better, but I just don't want to be disappointing with the speed. I'm guessing this will be a downgrade from my desktop which I put in an AMD Phenom II x4 975BE.

Summary, which one is the faster of the two, and how much slower will it be compared to my desktop? For the most part, it will be used for Office, iTunes, video playing and web browsing (sometimes all four of those at the same time) Oh, will also be using a TV tuner card with it.

If you care to know what the CPU's are in, it's these two

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+1...3332167&loc=01

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...&skuId=6819675

lyssword · Nov 24, 2012

Well, both are sandy bridge parts, so similar cores, except i3 has hyperthreading. In fact, the cheaper processor should be faster (due to 600mhz advantage) in most tasks, except for highly multithreaded programs, in which i3 would do better.

Those being sandy bridge part, they would have no problems doing tasks like you described, if there's any difference for those tasks between your desktop, it will be due to laptop working in energy conserve mode (when on battery) and slower hard drive speed.

five0hfox · Nov 24, 2012

Awesome, thanks for clarifying that for me. Would highly multithreaded be something like using a video converter? Or perhaps using a program to create a back up of a DVD?

joshhedge · Nov 24, 2012

five0hfox said:
One has an Intel Pentium B980 2.4ghz(On sale for $250)
The other has 3rd Gen Intel Core i3-3217U 1.8ghz ($400)

lyssword said:
Well, both are sandy bridge parts, so similar cores, except i3 has hyperthreading. In fact, the cheaper processor should be faster (due to 600mhz advantage) in most tasks, except for highly multithreaded programs, in which i3 would do better.

Those being sandy bridge part, they would have no problems doing tasks like you described, if there's any difference for those tasks between your desktop, it will be due to laptop working in energy conserve mode (when on battery) and slower hard drive speed.

The i3 is Ivy Bridge, as stated above. I'm not sure what difference that would have on your opinion though.

lyssword · Nov 24, 2012

yes, video decoding/encoding us highly threaded

SPBHM · Nov 24, 2012

Pentium = Intel HD Graphics (HD 2000 without QuickSync)
i3 = Intel HD 4000.

so there is a big different on the integrated GPU,

lyssword · Nov 24, 2012

oh, my bad. Yeah, the ivy bridge should have more energy efficiency/ better video-related stuff then, but I doubt he would notice much difference doing office/internet stuff.

OBLAMA2009 · Nov 24, 2012

the pentium is probably a lot faster but those cheap asus lappies are really junkie and have horrible touchpads, i would still get the hp. or better yet, just get a non-ulv hp laptop. i wouldnt get a laptop without a number keypad either

five0hfox · Nov 24, 2012

In that case, would the i3 be much better for recording tv on it with a tv tuner and burning it to a dvd (external drive) while doing other stuff than the Pentium?

I believe the HP does only have a 4 cell battery where the Asus has a 6 cell, so probably similar batter life, yeah?

ShintaiDK · Nov 24, 2012

Another note is the i3 is a 17W part with HD4000.

The B980 is 35W and slower IGP.

Its basicly a laptop CPU vs a ultrabook CPU.

Something like the i3-3120M would be the i3 alternative to the B980.

five0hfox · Nov 24, 2012

Well, one big question now I guess. Would it really be worth the $150 more for the HP with the i3?

If I'm right, they'd have similar battery life, the Asus might be a little faster for web browsing and iTunes, but the HP would be better for video stuff?

tweakboy · Nov 24, 2012

You definitely need a SSD cuz both of those CPU's blow much goat!

Your going to have a laggy laptop. Buy a SSD and it will be the best upgrade youll ever make in your life. and lappy will be snappy!!!

SPBHM · Nov 24, 2012

five0hfox said:
Well, one big question now I guess. Would it really be worth the $150 more for the HP with the i3?

If I'm right, they'd have similar battery life, the Asus might be a little faster for web browsing and iTunes, but the HP would be better for video stuff?

if you use quick sync the difference for video conversion is huge,
for video playback both should be OK, and for conversion only using the CPU I think both should be close enough (one have higher clock, other slightly higher IPC and hyper threading),

for gaming the i3 is going to have a big advantage (but it's not really a gaming CPU/GPU anyway).

to be honest, $250 is pretty good for that laptop...

joshhedge · Nov 24, 2012

tweakboy said:
You definitely need a SSD cuz both of those CPU's blow much goat!

Your going to have a laggy laptop. Buy a SSD and it will be the best upgrade youll ever make in your life. and lappy will be snappy!!!

If the OP had more money to spend on an SSD he could afford a better laptop.

I would say get the i3. You will notice the benefits of the HD4000.

dragantoe · Nov 24, 2012

my brother has an ivy bridge i3 and i have the ivy bridge pentium and on single threaded applications they perform identically

five0hfox · Nov 24, 2012

Well, I appreciate the reply guys. However by the time I got to the store they sold the last white one and only had two link ones left. Although I'm going to keep my eye open for another deal like that. At least now I know that for me it wouldn't make much of a difference.

lyssword · Nov 25, 2012

well, there's still "cybermonday", keep your eyes open ^^

SickBeast · Nov 25, 2012

That $249 Asus laptop was a really hot deal. I would have bought one for my wife if I lived in the US.

OBLAMA2009 · Nov 25, 2012

lyssword said:
well, there's still "cybermonday", keep your eyes open ^^

and theres also right-before and right-after--christmas sales that are generally cheaper than black friday/cybermundae.

tweakboy · Nov 25, 2012

five0hfox said:
In that case, would the i3 be much better for recording tv on it with a tv tuner and burning it to a dvd (external drive) while doing other stuff than the Pentium?

I believe the HP does only have a 4 cell battery where the Asus has a 6 cell, so probably similar batter life, yeah?

YES YES YES! and YES!

tweakboy · Nov 25, 2012

SickBeast said:
That $249 Asus laptop was a really hot deal. I would have bought one for my wife if I lived in the US.

Wow that's pretty much free!!! Great deal. Sorry you don't live in USA.

Wouldn't they still ship to your country or no ?

five0hfox · Nov 25, 2012

Hmm. To my surprise it's available on the bestbuy website again.

SickBeast · Nov 25, 2012

tweakboy said:
Wow that's pretty much free!!! Great deal. Sorry you don't live in USA.

Wouldn't they still ship to your country or no ?

Maybe but it costs a lot in import fees at the border.

I could have had it shipped to a depot at the US side of the border and then picked it up but that's a lot of hassle.

five0hfox · Nov 25, 2012

They tricked me I guess. You can add it to your cart, but only for in store pickup and no store has it.

RU482 · Nov 25, 2012

the Pentium is a 35W TDP CPU - http://ark.intel.com/products/69669/Intel-Pentium-Processor-B980-2M-Cache-2_40-GHz

The i3 is a 17W CPU - http://ark.intel.com/products/65697/Intel-Core-i3-3217U-Processor-3M-Cache-1_80-GHz

Also, the i3 is a generation newer.
All that said, the i3 will most likely spank the Pentium on battery life.

Pentium vs i3

Member

Diamond Member

Member

Senior member

Diamond Member

Diamond Member

Diamond Member

Diamond Member

Member

Lifer

Member

Diamond Member

Diamond Member

Senior member

Senior member

Member

Diamond Member

Lifer

Diamond Member

Diamond Member

Diamond Member

Member

Lifer

Member

Lifer