Q: How do they compare? i5-2467M vs i7-2637M

[axio]

the i7 has larger cache, clocked higher, turbo boosts higher, with some added hardware security and direct i/o virtualization features

but in practice, is the i7 faster? does it run hotter and consumes more power?
I suppose the hardware security feature is useless on the Air?
and the direct i/o virtualization is definitely useless if I run only the host OS.

 

[PaulWog]

the i7 has larger cache, clocked higher, turbo boosts higher, with some added hardware security and direct i/o virtualization features

but in practice, is the i7 faster? does it run hotter and consumes more power?
I suppose the hardware security feature is useless on the Air?
and the direct i/o virtualization is definitely useless if I run only the host OS.

Google it up If there aren't any benchmarks found on any websites (or numbers which answer your questions on Intel's website), then you're likely only going to be given anecdotal answers at best.

Here's my assumption: The 17W i5 and i7 chips should run approximately at the same temperature and at the same power consumption levels. However, the i7 chip should consume a little more power, and produce a little more heat, when it is being stressed (as compared to the i5 being stressed). That's because both of these chips are based on the same technology, on the same CPU socket. However, the tell-tale evidence is in a properly done benchmark in a properly set up benchmarking environment.

 

[axio]

I am trying to rule out the advantages on the i7 when put on the Air

the slightly higher clock is neglectable;
the higher boosts seems useless under Air's limited cooling ability;
the added hardware security seems useless (probably just because i don't know how it will be used on the Air).
the direct i/o virtualization is useless if you only run the host OS.

so the only possible advantage offered by the i7 apparently is the larger cache, and whether it translates into practical improvement is unknown though unlikely based on other similar benchmarks.

Comments?

 

[Krevnik]

Google it up If there aren't any benchmarks found on any websites (or numbers which answer your questions on Intel's website), then you're likely only going to be given anecdotal answers at best.

Here's my assumption: The 17W i5 and i7 chips should run approximately at the same temperature and at the same power consumption levels. However, the i7 chip should consume a little more power, and produce a little more heat, when it is being stressed (as compared to the i5 being stressed). That's because both of these chips are based on the same technology, on the same CPU socket. However, the tell-tale evidence is in a properly done benchmark in a properly set up benchmarking environment.

I'd actually expect the i7s to draw a detectable amount of power more than the i5 (much like with the first set of i5/i7 MBPs). The extra features mean more transistors to keep powered, and the i7s run at higher clocks than the i5s do on average, which requires more power. Even though they have the same power rating. It's possible the drain is similar while 100% idle, but that's rare.

 

[Eidorian]

I am trying to rule out the advantages on the i7 when put on the Air

the slightly higher clock is neglectable;
the higher boosts seems useless under Air's limited cooling ability;
the added hardware security seems useless (probably just because i don't know how it will be used on the Air).
the direct i/o virtualization is useless if you only run the host OS.

so the only possible advantage offered by the i7 apparently is the larger cache, and whether it translates into practical improvement is unknown though unlikely based on other similar benchmarks.

Comments?

You have it down pat.

 

[halledise]

larger cache usually speeds things up a bit i.m.h.o - so 6mb of L2 cache is way better than 3mb.

core i-anything will be faster than C2Duo anything but as you know it all comes down to speed of frontside bus, speed memory, speed of HDD and other potential bottlenecks.

Apple seem to have the knack of marrying components together to produce great speed - witness the RevD MBAir - and I don't think the possible inclusion of Intel graphics over nvidia will be as big an issue as some are making out.

 

[Robosagogo]

Honestly, I have trouble understanding the difference between the 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duos and i5/i7.

From what I've read on the forums, the Sandy Bridge processors won't seem faster than the Core 2 Duo unless I'm doing something more intensive than web-surfing, using Word, or watching HD-movies. Since I don't game or use anything else resource-intensive, should I just get an Ultimate Core 2 Duo series, then? I'd obviously rather have Thunderbolt than not have it, but I don't want to pay a few hundred dollars more for the privilege.

 

[Scarrus]

Honestly, I have trouble understanding the difference between the 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duos and i5/i7.

From what I've read on the forums, the Sandy Bridge processors won't seem faster than the Core 2 Duo unless I'm doing something more intensive than web-surfing, using Word, or watching HD-movies. Since I don't game or use anything else resource-intensive, should I just get an Ultimate Core 2 Duo series, then? I'd obviously rather have Thunderbolt than not have it, but I don't want to pay a few hundred dollars more for the privilege.

Trust me, internet-surfing as well as anything else(apart maybe from heavy graphic processing which the Air is anyway very bad at) will run better on an i-xxxxx processor than on a Core 2 Duo. It's just that you can still use a Core 2 Duo for internet-surfing and not have a bad experience. Now you won't be paying more for the new ones when they arrive than you'd for the actual ones now but instead the actual ones will get cheaper as refurb models.
It's just that the new ones will last longer than the current models in terms of performance assuming you're also maxing out the Ram.

 

[Davidkoh]

It's just that the new ones will last longer than the current models in terms of performance assuming you're also maxing out the Ram.

It's stuff like this that makes me want to get the 2010 model right now. I get the Nvidia 320m and all. Theres no reason to keep a laptop longer than 8-11 months anyhow.

 

[KillerTree]

It's stuff like this that makes me want to get the 2010 model right now. I get the Nvidia 320m and all. Theres no reason to keep a laptop longer than 8-11 months anyhow.

What reason is there to get a new laptop every 8-11 months? I'm buying a refreshed Air on release day and plan to use it for years.

 

[Davidkoh]

What reason is there to get a new laptop every 8-11 months? I'm buying a refreshed Air on release day and plan to use it for years.

After a year you have to get Apple Care which is a few hundred ($400 where I live) so the cost is not that much greater compared to selling it and getting a new one.

Laptops get filled with dust and other things that will affect cooling and whatnot so having a new one every year makes it always snappy. You also get the satisfaction of getting a new computer every year.

EDIT: The idea is that if you sell your laptop just before a refresh many people who buy used will not know about the refresh. So say we get a new MBA this month and a new one is released in April next year. I will most likely sell mine off a few weeks before they are rumoured to be released and take a very small loss compared to after the refresh.

Now I took a larger loss than normal due to the fact that I had the 2010 MBP and sold it a few weeks ago (after the refresh due to the fact that I was getting an Air and not a MBP), but I usually have to pay what the Apple Care would have cost + 0-$200 on top of what I got from my sale.

 

[Scarrus]

He has a point there

 

[striker33]

After a year you have to get Apple Care which is a few hundred ($400 where I live) so the cost is not that much greater compared to selling it and getting a new one.

Laptops get filled with dust and other things that will affect cooling and whatnot so having a new one every year makes it always snappy. You also get the satisfaction of getting a new computer every year.

EDIT: The idea is that if you sell your laptop just before a refresh many people who buy used will not know about the refresh. So say we get a new MBA this month and a new one is released in April next year. I will most likely sell mine off a few weeks before they are rumoured to be released and take a very small loss compared to after the refresh.

Now I took a larger loss than normal due to the fact that I had the 2010 MBP and sold it a few weeks ago (after the refresh due to the fact that I was getting an Air and not a MBP), but I usually have to pay what the Apple Care would have cost + 0-$200 on top of what I got from my sale.

Such a weak argument. Saying a laptop runs better without dust in it is like saying your GF does her "thing" better when she's had a shower. At the end of the day, everything works the same, it just may be a little dirtier.

Of course if you go years on the same laptop it will affect the cooling, but that takes years. My mate lived in a ridiculously dusty dorm for a year in uni and when he cracked open the back of his 09 15" MBP there was still very little dust in there.

 

[Davidkoh]

Such a weak argument. Saying a laptop runs better without dust in it is like saying your GF does her "thing" better when she's had a shower. At the end of the day, everything works the same, it just may be a little dirtier.

Of course if you go years on the same laptop it will affect the cooling, but that takes years. My mate lived in a ridiculously dusty dorm for a year in uni and when he cracked open the back of his 09 15" MBP there was still very little dust in there.

No it's not. Any dust effects the cooling system. It might not be noticable in day to day use, but it still has an effect. For a small cost of a few hundred extra per year I think it's a no brainer.

I am getting the SB now, and will most likely get the Ivy Bridge MBA when it is released. Apple usually do 8-12 months between their refreshes so it's a good time to switch.

 

[striker33]

No it's not. Any dust effects the cooling system. It might not be noticable in day to day use, but it still has an effect. For a small cost of a few hundred extra per year I think it's a no brainer.

I am getting the SB now, and will most likely get the Ivy Bridge MBA when it is released. Apple usually do 8-12 months between their refreshes so it's a good time to switch.

By the time it becomes noticeable or irritable, the machine will be years old.

And there really is nothing stopping you spending a few pennies getting a screwdriver off ebay and wiping the insides down.

 

[Davidkoh]

By the time it becomes noticeable or irritable, the machine will be years old.

And there really is nothing stopping you spending a few pennies getting a screwdriver off ebay and wiping the insides down.

Yeah, but the really small extra cost of selling and buying new compared to buying Apple Care makes it worth it. A fresh and up to date computer every year for a really small extra cost is great.

 

[JusChexin]

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By the time it becomes noticeable or irritable, the machine will be years old.

And there really is nothing stopping you spending a few pennies getting a screwdriver off ebay and wiping the insides down.

Yeah, but the really small extra cost of selling and buying new compared to buying Apple Care makes it worth it. A fresh and up to date computer every year for a really small extra cost is great.

I love that with Apple laptops, it seems more financially viable to update each year, if you time your selling right and get a good price for your old laptop, as opposed to holding onto an older laptop for many years and running it into the ground. Before reading these forums, I always thought it was most financially intelligent to keep your old laptops as long as possible, but it's nice to see that, once you make the initial investment, you're better off just updating each year and -- bonus -- you get a new laptop! My only questions are (a) what do you use as a computer while you wait for a new rev release, assuming you sold before the new rev comes out and (b) where do you sell to maximize your resale value? (eBay? Craigslist? Forums?) Thanks for any tips on this method, I hope to get the new rev of the MBA when released soon!

 

[onthecouchagain]

I wonder how well the new Airs will run Starcraft II... >__<

 

[smchan]

No it's not. Any dust effects the cooling system. It might not be noticable in day to day use, but it still has an effect. For a small cost of a few hundred extra per year I think it's a no brainer.

I am getting the SB now, and will most likely get the Ivy Bridge MBA when it is released. Apple usually do 8-12 months between their refreshes so it's a good time to switch.

So you downgraded from a MBP to a MBA and you're still worried about dust affecting the performance?

 

[Davidkoh]

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I love that with Apple laptops, it seems more financially viable to update each year, if you time your selling right and get a good price for your old laptop, as opposed to holding onto an older laptop for many years and running it into the ground. Before reading these forums, I always thought it was most financially intelligent to keep your old laptops as long as possible, but it's nice to see that, once you make the initial investment, you're better off just updating each year and -- bonus -- you get a new laptop! My only questions are (a) what do you use as a computer while you wait for a new rev release, assuming you sold before the new rev comes out and (b) where do you sell to maximize your resale value? (eBay? Craigslist? Forums?) Thanks for any tips on this method, I hope to get the new rev of the MBA when released soon!

Yeah, the most money I ever had to put in (i've been a student for the last years though so I do get the 10% off) would be $600 now if I would get the MBP again. And that is just because I did not sell it before the 2011 refresh because I was waiting for the MBA refresh. The Apple Care is $400 and the MBP starts at $1700 here. So when mine was an old rev I had to add 50% more then Apple Care would have cost me, that is a worst case scenario.

To answer your question:

a) I currently have a HTPC running Win 7 im using. It is my main gaming station as it is connected to my projector. I am getting awfully pissed at not having a laptop though, think I've gone about 1 month without it now, I usually just go 2-3 weeks without it.


b) I am not from the US but I sell it on a site which is our equivalence of craigslist. I don't use our Ebay because I like face to face deals to make the buyer feel secure and able to check out the computer before buying it.

So you downgraded from a MBP to a MBA and you're still worried about dust affecting the performance?

Im worried about dust affecting the performance of the cooling system. Even my 11 month old MBP had a fair amount of dust in it and when running at full load you get that faint smell of warm dust if u smell the exhaust air.

 

[flynz4]

After a year you have to get Apple Care which is a few hundred ($400 where I live) so the cost is not that much greater compared to selling it and getting a new one.

I think there is a little problem with your math. Per your reasoning... you are saving $400 on AppleCare every 8-11 months... on each computer that you purchase.

By contrast...someone who keeps their computer for 3 years... would amortize that AC contract over 3 years. Therefore I think you are underestimating your "real cost" of an upgrade by an additional $267.

Having said that... there is still good reason to upgrade often if your needs or desires demand it. In my case, I do upgrade every cycle, but I waterfall my existing computer to other family members. My computers typically have 3-4 years of useful life... plus I get the enjoyment of a new computer every cycle. The same goes with my iPhones and iPads. I tend to waterfall the iMacs less frequently.

/Jim

 

[Jessica Lares]

Does this mean that the MBA will finally be able to run things like Maya, ProTools, Logic, and CS5 with no big issues? I'm trying to decide between a 8GB RAM MBP vs a 8GB MBA. Of course I guess it's more of a graphics card issue still.

And RE: Dust. That is a pretty lame excuse. There are better ways to combat that problem. Like using a case.

 

[Davidkoh]

I think there is a little problem with your math. Per your reasoning... you are saving $400 on AppleCare every 8-11 months... on each computer that you purchase.

By contrast...someone who keeps their computer for 3 years... would amortize that AC contract over 3 years. Therefore I think you are underestimating your "real cost" of an upgrade by an additional $267.

Having said that... there is still good reason to upgrade often if your needs or desires demand it. In my case, I do upgrade every cycle, but I waterfall my existing computer to other family members. My computers typically have 3-4 years of useful life... plus I get the enjoyment of a new computer every cycle. The same goes with my iPhones and iPads. I tend to waterfall the iMacs less frequently.

/Jim

Nothing is wrong with my math. You are on the other hand failing to take all the variables into account. If you keep your computer 2 years there will be a new rev out meaning a big price cut on the used market, keeping it for 3 years means its 2 revs old meaning a even bigger price cut. If you want to count that the AC makes it so you can switch after 3 years you need to include the additional variables.

 

[radiohead14]

Im worried about dust affecting the performance of the cooling system. Even my 11 month old MBP had a fair amount of dust in it and when running at full load you get that faint smell of warm dust if u smell the exhaust air.

do you live in a desert? if not.. then you just need to vacuum your place. even a duster would save you the $$. you're actually spending more each year as opposed to saving. it's not like your computer will just die after a year or won't be able to do what it's intended to do. but hey.. you must be some rich dude, so whatever floats your boat

 

[da3dl3us]

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I love that with Apple laptops, it seems more financially viable to update each year, if you time your selling right and get a good price for your old laptop, as opposed to holding onto an older laptop for many years and running it into the ground. Before reading these forums, I always thought it was most financially intelligent to keep your old laptops as long as possible, but it's nice to see that, once you make the initial investment, you're better off just updating each year and -- bonus -- you get a new laptop! My only questions are (a) what do you use as a computer while you wait for a new rev release, assuming you sold before the new rev comes out and (b) where do you sell to maximize your resale value? (eBay? Craigslist? Forums?) Thanks for any tips on this method, I hope to get the new rev of the MBA when released soon!

That's a good question about reselling your macbook. Which is the best medium for selling?