Would you choose an i5-2520m or an i3-5005u

[SPBHM]

well, I used for d3d games, quick sync for decoding and encoding and it all worked,
I think for most users sandy bridge IGP on win10 will be fine.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I have a work laptop with the 2520m, and it is pretty nice. It also has an nVidia workstation card, but in normal use I dont think the discrete card ever kicks in. Sometimes it feels slow, but I think there is a lot of IT stuff going on in the background, including disc encryption and some virus scan that seems to run for hours every few days.

BTW, somehow Bitlocker locked me out of my own laptop the other day. When I started up it asked for the bitlocker key (which I do not have, just log in credentials), and I eventually had to call IT to unlock it for me. Talk about pissed off (me, not IT). Of course it happened at the end of the day when I really needed to use a program on the laptop for a presentation the next day.

 

[MrTeal]

Well, i5 is certainly get on my nerves for it's gonna be louder and hotter and you have to deal with cables all the time. Not to mention that it's probably gonna come in a older heavier body with probably worse screen (tech has advanced, I hope).

I don't think ~30% better performance in some benchmarks or even real world scenarios is worth all the fuss. I get by with an Atom most of the time and don't have to use my desktop.

Comparing like to like, I would agree with you. The difference is that you aren't comparing a similar laptop with an old i5 vs a new i3. You're comparing a refurb laptop that sold originally for probably $1500 that now costs $250, to a laptop that retails new for $300-$400. They're just in different price brackets, and assuming you'd get something like a better screen in a 4 year newer budget laptop vs an older premium model would be a mistake.

 

[gorion]

Not sure about italy, but refurb is pretty much non-existent (or not advertised) in rest of the Europe.

For sure it's not advertised, but you can find 5-6 websites selling them.

 

[MarkizSchnitzel]

For sure it's not advertised, but you can find 5-6 websites selling them.

Would you mind sharing the links? Definitely bookmark worthy.

 

[MarkizSchnitzel]

You're comparing a refurb laptop that sold originally for probably $1500 that now costs $250, to a laptop that retails new for $300-$400. They're just in different price brackets, and assuming you'd get something like a better screen in a 4 year newer budget laptop vs an older premium model would be a mistake.

Tganks for pointing that out, I am not really familiar with refub concept, but I'm catching up now

 

[gorion]

Would you mind sharing the links? Definitely bookmark worthy.

PM'd you some links

 

[DidelisDiskas]

edit: double post

 

[DidelisDiskas]

Not sure about italy, but refurb is pretty much non-existent (or not advertised) in rest of the Europe.

The local stores seem to always have a bunch of them here, but i never looked into it much, as i'm very suspicious of used goods and our criminal retailers.

 

[pauldun170]

A friend is about to buy a cheap craptop with the i3 for about 379€.

Searching a bit I can find off-lease i5-2520m notebook for around 250€. I believe that the older chip would be much better (the notebook will be used mostly at home, so the extra power consumption shouldn't be a problem).

Is the i5-2520m missing any significant feature which is in the i3 for basic usage (web, office, media playback?)

I have a Dell with the i3-5005u. With an SSD, battery life is outstanding.
For the basic usage listed, its fine. Great even...
I highly recommend chucking the 5400rpm drive as soon as possible.

 

[TeknoBug]

I have a Dell with the i3-5005u. With an SSD, battery life is outstanding.
For the basic usage listed, its fine. Great even...
I highly recommend chucking the 5400rpm drive as soon as possible.

Been wondering about the i3 5005U, it seems to be rated higher than my i3 4010U on benchmarks (i3 4010U 2445 vs i3 5005U 2908 Passmark), it seems to be a decent step up if I ever get a new NUC.

 

[coercitiv]

Been wondering about the i3 5005U, it seems to be rated higher than my i3 4010U on benchmarks (i3 4010U 2445 vs i3 5005U 2908 Passmark), it seems to be a decent step up if I ever get a new NUC.

If you ever get a new NUC, go straight for i3 6100U. (2.3Ghz)

The only situation when I would consider a previous generation chip would be an i5 Broadwell/Haswell system at the same price with a new i3 Skylake system.

 

[TeknoBug]

If you ever get a new NUC, go straight for i3 6100U. (2.3Ghz)

The only situation when I would consider a previous generation chip would be an i5 Broadwell/Haswell system at the same price with a new i3 Skylake system.

Yeah that's true, the i3 6100U would be a much better choice, I have that i3 6100U NUC on wishlist on Newegg atm- however the cost of DDR4 SODIMM isn't reasonable right now though.