T5600 (1.83GHz 2MB L2) vs. T7200 (2.0GHz 4MB L2)

[DyslexicHobo]

I'm customizing a T60p laptop, and I have three main choices for my CPU. All are Core 2 Duos:

T5500 (1.66Ghz 2MB L2)
T5600 (1.83GHz 2MB L2) +$35.63 from T5500
T7200 (2.0GHz 4MB L2) +99.75 from T5500

I'm probably getting either the 5600 or 7200. I can't decide if the extra cache will make enough difference for it to be worth the money.

I really only need the computer to be strong for CAD. Will the extra cache make a lot of difference? Thanks!

 

[IlllI]

t5500 vs 77200... i'd guess probably around 10% difference. and also, more cache is always better for modeling programs

 

[maluckey]

I don't know how hard CAD pushes a processor versus software video rendering, but the difference in video rendering between the two CPU is large. Video encoding while multi-tasking is also large.

Pretty much anything the T5600 can do the T7200 does better.

You just have to ask yourself how much is it worth to you...

 

[happyhelper]

From what I've read, this type of application is where the larger cache of the Core 2 Duo line actually makes the most difference. Not to mention the increased processing speed.

When I saw a comparison of the T2700 (2.33Ghz 2MB Core Duo) vs the T7600 (2.33Ghz 4MB Core 2 Duo), there was not much difference between the two except in multimedia rendering, mp3 conversion and stuff like that (which I think must include CAD modeling). Whether that difference is due to the larger cache on the Core 2 Duo chip or other factors (enhancements of Core 2 chips) isn't really addressed or explained, but I would think the larger cache is probably a pretty big factor (or the main factor). If that is the case, then the Core 2 Duo's that only have 2MB cache like their Core Duo predecessors are probably significantly slower for 3d aplications than the Core 2 Duos with 4MB of cache (the T7x00's and L7x00's).

I would probably go for the T7200.