New Laptop: PC i5 or i7 - what are your good reasons for either one?
My hard disk is on its last breath.
on a limited budget... but wanting to significantly speed up my logos performance, both the regular stuff, as well as searches esp.
Is there much performance difference between i5 and i7?
Thanks...
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the price difference is $150.
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Logos 4 is resource intensive on Mac & PC – benefits from fast processor, graphics, and disk along with adequate memory (i.e. newer hardware since Logos 4 being designed for use over 5 to 8 years).
Fast processor: 2nd Generation Intel i5 or i7
Graphics: Intel HD 3000 included with 2nd Generation i5/i7 is usable; better is faster graphics with dedicated video
Disk: Solid State Disk (SSD) can be much faster than hard drives. Caveat: SSD has smaller storage capacity.
RAM: 4 GB or more
For a laptop, wonder how often plan to carry ?
If looking at an ultrabook, Apple has refurbished 2011 MacBook Air models => http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_air (same warranty as new)
Logos 4 Mac forum has recent thread => Mac Air 11 vs.13
Upcoming stable Logos 4.5 release has substantial feature parity between Mac and PC.
Keep Smiling [:)]
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David, it might be helpful to take a look at my article on "New Year, New Hardware for L4", which includes information about i7 vs i5 vs i3 CPUs.
"I read dead people..."
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Besides the other good advice here, I'd add that a quad core i7 will make indexing a lot faster and easier. I have watched as all eight of my cores are put to work while indexing but have yet to see total CPU use go above 50%. Close but not above. That might mean an i5 with four cores will max out the CPU while indexing.
I really think you'll be happy with either as long as they are not at the low end of the speed range.
Pastor, North Park Baptist Church
Bridgeport, CT USA
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David Mitchell said:
My hard disk is on its last breath.
on a limited budget... but wanting to significantly speed up my logos performance, both the regular stuff, as well as searches esp.
Is there much performance difference between i5 and i7?
Thanks...
I'll only add to what's already been said here.
Some research (my son, the computer geek) suggests that the cost difference between the i5 and i7 doesn't justify the gain. Another problem with the i7 is that it runs hotter than the i5, so make sure that your laptop has a good fan, and you have a place to put it (not your lap!) that will allow ventilation all the way around the computer. You may want to by a cooling pad just for that purpose.
Help links: WIKI; Logos 6 FAQ. (Phil. 2:14, NIV)
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David Mitchell said:
Is there much performance difference between i5 and i7?
Be sure to check out the Intel site for info on the specific CPU you are considering. Some of the i7 laptop chips are not quad core: they support hyperthreading, but that's not the same as having 4 cores.
Depending what else you are doing at the same time, a 2.8 GHz dual-core might be okay, or you may want some spare processing power to do other things while Logos is indexing, in which case a quad-core (which actually runs at a slower frequency) would be better.
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I bought a
Gateway NV75S17u laptop recently and think it's a lot of computer for the money. It uses an AMD A8 Fusion chip with discrete graphics. I paid $549.
NovaBench Score: 522
I also bought a Gateway SX2370-UB30P desktop which also uses an AMD Fusion chip. I paid $349.
NovaBench Score: 541I also purchased a 24" monitor for the desktop from Sam's Club for about $180.
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On a lean budget, if you can postpone something else for the long-term gain of a better machine consider that. More RAM, faster drive and better discrete graphics might actually do you more good than a faster CPU.
The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter
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The new Ivy Bridge processors that will be in laptops in a few months (or sooner) will significantly increase battery life and graphics processing speed for laptops over the current Sandy Bridge 2nd-generation i5 and i7 quad-core processors that came out last Spring - if you can wait a few months. They should also have better cooling and reduced heat output for the i7 processors.
I.e., spend a little money now for a replacement hard drive to carry you for a few months, and then get a new laptop with the Ivy Bridge i5 or i7. While I've been waiting a year to get my first laptop - financial priorities postponed that idea - I intend to get an Ivy Bridge laptop soon after they come out for the above reasons.
Optimistically Egalitarian (Galatians 3:28)
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Richard DeRuiter said:
Another problem with the i7 is that it runs hotter than the i5, so make sure that your laptop has a good fan,
I have not found any problem with heat on my Dell i7 quad laptop. Perhaps they use a good fan, but it doesn't run that much. No problem holding it in my lap. And it does run fast.
"In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley0 -
Michael Childs said:
I have not found any problem with heat on my Dell i7 quad laptop. Perhaps they use a good fan, but it doesn't run that much. No problem holding it in my lap. And it does run fast.
I'd say that has been my experience also. My old core 2 duo got a lot hotter.
As to speed, my computer rarely runs at its full speed. (It is 2.0 GHz with a boost to 2.9 GHz). During major indexing operations (think Perseus) the Intel Boost Monitor only showed occasional boosts above 2.6 GHz. The fan is running on high for part of that time, but seems to be doing its job.
Pastor, North Park Baptist Church
Bridgeport, CT USA
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Michael Childs said:Richard DeRuiter said:
Another problem with the i7 is that it runs hotter than the i5, so make sure that your laptop has a good fan,
I have not found any problem with heat on my Dell i7 quad laptop. Perhaps they use a good fan, but it doesn't run that much. No problem holding it in my lap. And it does run fast.
Some Dell's do better than others for this. But not all laptops are created equal.
Help links: WIKI; Logos 6 FAQ. (Phil. 2:14, NIV)
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