Intel: i3, i5 or i7?

[havass]

So basically, I'm FINALLY changing my laptop soon. Now I've never really been keeping track of these cores since I bought this laptop of mine in 2007-2008 (I know, I know)...so thus I need your help. I need suggestions on which Intel core is the better one for decent gaming on a laptop.

Suggestions?

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

For decent gaming - get the i5. The difference between the i5 and i7 is hardly noticeable or worth all the hoohah that the massive fanboys will no doubt brag about.

If you have the money get an i7 if you must (especially if you intend on doing video editing and other multimedia related stuff) BUT the i5 is the more economical option for gaming, considering it is equivocal to the i7 if not arguably better at processing speeds.

 

[Zipa]

I3 is designed for laptops so that is fine to go with. I5 is for desktops and can handle pretty much anything game wise (i use one) and I7s are more for processor intense usage like creating 3d renderings and such.

 

[mindlesspuppet]

Kind of goes without saying but i7s are the best performance wise.

Though for a laptop, i5 is probably the smartest way to go.

 

[Bloodastral]

Long story but I got a free i7 Alienware machine. I'd go with the i7 as my processor rocks.

 

[Hoplon]

Clock speed is still king. the Core i series have some clever tricks but getting games to use more cores than the software allows isn't on of them.

In the end it is about budget and usage.

For gaming you want a good GFX card and a big screen. get the most of those two for your budget you can, because you don't want some ripping CPU when you only have integrated graphics.

I personally have had a very good experience performance wise out of my Envy 15 (Core i7 2.8ghz, 4 gb ram and a 4850 1 gb gfx, the key board and track pad drive me mental) but I am pretty sure it could be an i3 and the difference would be minimal.

 

[Malyc]

My gaming laptop has an i5 in it, and my brother went with an i7. So far, I am unable to really tell if there is a difference between the 2.

 

[YawningAngel]

Since you aren't likely to be gaming on a laptop, go with an i3.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Since you aren't likely to be gaming on a laptop, go with an i3.

You didn't read the OP did you?

 

[JediMB]

My laptop has an i5 (while my 2 year old desktop PC has an i7). I see no real reason to go with an i3 due to the negligible price difference, so go for the i5 unless you plan to do some *heavy* gaming.

 

[Fraught]

Since you aren't likely to be gaming on a laptop, go with an i3.

You didn't read the OP did you?

Pfffffft, who the fuck reads the OP? That's just nonsense, right?

 

[CCountZero]

Since you aren't likely to be gaming on a laptop, go with an i3.

You didn't read the OP did you?

His point is that "decent gaming on a laptop" is... not a realistic prospect.

At least not without a docking station, external keyboard, line connection, mouse and an external screen.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Since you aren't likely to be gaming on a laptop, go with an i3.

You didn't read the OP did you?

His point is that "decent gaming on a laptop" is... not a realistic prospect.

At least not without a docking station, external keyboard, line connection, mouse and an external screen.

Really? The Dell, Alienware and other gaming laptops must be woefully undersold then.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

i5 for gaming and regular PC usage. i7 if you're doing more, very few "gamer" applications requires(or can use) that many threads. i5s tend to do a better job at games.

 

[Hoplon]

What games are you playing and which socket does your motherboard have?

I don't know if you're asking about Lynnfield or Sandy Bridge so I can't really help.

I read 2007-2008, so I'm guessing you've got 1156. In that case, wait till later this year and get something based on the Ivy Bridge because the SB requires a new motherboard anyway and it's a big performance leap over the old stuff for about the same price. If you're in a rush, the Core i5 760 is cheap and effective but given no other details (PSU is very important) I don't even know if your laptop can handle it.

EDIT: Woops, thought you were upgrading your laptop not replacing it. In that case I'll repeat this: wait till later this year and get something based on the Ivy Bridge.

Upgrading a laptop? are you mental?

also all laptop are prebuilt. your thinking of desktops.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Since you aren't likely to be gaming on a laptop, go with an i3.

You didn't read the OP did you?

His point is that "decent gaming on a laptop" is... not a realistic prospect.

At least not without a docking station, external keyboard, line connection, mouse and an external screen.

Really? The Dell, Alienware and other gaming laptops must be woefully undersold then.

I hope they are.

They're not. They usually do better than standard netbooks in sales. Desktops are the clear favorites, yes, but there is no such notion that one can't use a laptop to play a decent game.