Which is faster - i7 2.5GHz or i5 3.1GHz?

[Anonymous Freak]

The non-TouchBar models use a lower-power CPU than the TouchBar models. Their "base frequency" is lower, but their "turbo frequency" is about the same, all else being equal.

Among other things, this means that under "light load" or when it has sufficient cooling, the "slower" non-TouchBar systems will run about the same as the TouchBar systems. But for extended high-CPU-load use (such as exporting video,) or high-GPU use (gaming,) the non-TouchBar systems will hit a heat limit sooner, throttling down more often.

The non-TouchBar with the CPU upgrade to an i7 has a higher "turbo" than the TouchBar with base i5. (4.0 GHz vs. 3.5 GHz,) but even the base nTB i5 has a higher turbo (3.6 GHz.) That means for "light" loads, the nTB with i7 upgrade will be faster than the TB model. But the much slower "base frequency" means that under sustained heavy load, the nTB will slow down to be slower than the TB.

 

[MacClueless]

All other things being equal, which is likely to be faster?

i7 for sure. More cache. More MHZ. Hyperthreading. And an insignificant price difference over the life of the machine.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

That's really helpful information that you've both posted. Thanks very much.

Not helpful they were both wrong in numerous ways.

All the cpu's in a 13 inch MacBook pro are dual core and hyperthreaded for 4 virtual cores, the differences in clock speeds mean very little in day to day use. Get the i5.

Similar question:

Choosing between Macbook Pro 13" models, based on my needs.

It will be used for electronic music production/mix editing (along with real estate work)

Budget is 1800 or so, but preferably closer to 1500. Where do I place my focus? Based on what I've read, there's not a whole lot of difference between the 2.3 i5 and 2.5 i7, although my friend advised me to get an i7 if possible. I imagine I'll be using ableton Live, which asks for 4gb of ram minimum.

If it comes to music production, would it be more advantageous to increase the ram from 8gb to 16gb for $180, or upgrade the chip from 2.3 i5 to 2.5 i7 for $270?

The third option is to go with the Touch Bar model, which adds $450 to the base price of $1250, but adds the Touch Bar, takes the storage from 128gb to 256gb, and upgrades the processor from a 2.3 i5 to a 3.1 i5. But the ram upgrade is still another $180 (I'm not too concerned about storage, because music will be stored externally)

Is any of this even necessary? I'm tempted to abide by my friend's advice to get an i7, but it doesn't seem to do much for me for the $270, and I'm not sure what to prioritize.

Well for music production the Touch bar may well be brilliant for you in certain apps, mixing sliders on your laptop and other controls and at the tips of your fingers without using a mouse or trackpad.

I'd go with more RAM for all those instrument plugins and lots of tracks over CPU anyday of the week.

The Touchbar CPU is a quite a bit more powerful in sustained performance has far better cooling and the 2 extra ports may be a must for music production as well.

My recommendation for all these reasons therefore is the base model touchbar MBP.

 

[Tech198]

I'm looking at buying a 13" MBP. Just deciding between touchbar vs non-TB, and comparing specs, but clockspeed is confusing me.

All other things being equal, which is likely to be faster?

Intel Core i7 - 2.5 GHz (Non-TB)
Intel Core i5 - 3.1 GHz (TB)

Both will be 16Gb RAM and 512Gb SSD.

Thanks.

[EDIT: I'll be using my Mac for Photoshop and coding. No audio or video production. Maybe watching some Netflix. Also just noticed the graphics cards differ - the i5 uses Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650, the i7 uses a 640. Not sure whether that makes much of a difference...]

i7 would be.. more cores, but that's also based on apps which use them.. so when these things all come into play,, the only 'real' answer is "neither really win"

Remember, its not how CPU can be 'hit' at the max speed, because you will never run your intensive apps 100% of the time to keep the CPU there.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

i7 would be.. more cores, but that's also based on apps which use them.. so when these things all come into play,, the only 'real' answer is "neither really win"

Remember, its not how CPU can be 'hit' at the max speed, because you will never run your intensive apps 100% of the time to keep the CPU there.

All the cpu’s in the MBP 13 are dual core with hyper threading the i7 just gives an extra meg of cache and a slightly faster chip that’s it.

 

[Braveshock]

I want to use extrnal 4K monitor. Do you think that TB i5 3.1 MBP would be a better solution than nTB i7 2.5? Secondly graphic card is better in TB model 650vs640.

 

[kschendel]

I want to use extrnal 4K monitor. Do you think that TB i5 3.1 MBP would be a better solution than nTB i7 2.5? Secondly graphic card is better in TB model 650vs640.

Solution to what problem? Both models will drive a 4K monitor just fine. Yes, the onchip Iris Plus 650 is supposed to be marginally faster than the 640, but will it matter to you? no idea, since you haven't given any requirements.

 

[Braveshock]

Solution to what problem? Both models will drive a 4K monitor just fine. Yes, the onchip Iris Plus 650 is supposed to be marginally faster than the 640, but will it matter to you? no idea, since you haven't given any requirements.

Right. Basically ms office work with mutiple files. Browsing with multiple tabs, music at the same time. Some video work but not professional, only for my priv purposes.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Right. Basically ms office work with mutiple files. Browsing with multiple tabs, music at the same time. Some video work but not professional, only for my priv purposes.

There is practically no difference between the two of them gpu wise buy what you like.

 

[ZapNZs]

I want to use extrnal 4K monitor. Do you think that TB i5 3.1 MBP would be a better solution than nTB i7 2.5? Secondly graphic card is better in TB model 650vs640.

Both can drive a 4k display - the TB model will be quieter, especially if performing more CPU-intensive work while connected to a 4k display (at least based on my own toying with display 2017 MBP units and a 4k60hz display). Additionally, the two extra ports make a much more flexible situation for a display (i.e., you don't have to rely on a dock or monitor with charging hub in order to get power, 4k/60hz, and USB 3 data simultaneously.) So, IMHO, the TB can be a better solution depending how you wish to use it. Both are awesome computers.

 

[MikeSweden]

I'm looking at buying a 13" MBP. Just deciding between touchbar vs non-TB, and comparing specs, but clockspeed is confusing me.

All other things being equal, which is likely to be faster?

Intel Core i7 - 2.5 GHz (Non-TB)
Intel Core i5 - 3.1 GHz (TB)

Both will be 16Gb RAM and 512Gb SSD.

Thanks.

[EDIT: I'll be using my Mac for Photoshop and coding. No audio or video production. Maybe watching some Netflix. Also just noticed the graphics cards differ - the i5 uses Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650, the i7 uses a 640. Not sure whether that makes much of a difference...]

Here is the real answer.

http://uk.pcmag.com/cpus-components.../which-cpu-should-you-buy-intel-core-i5-vs-i7

 

[Braveshock]

There is practically no difference between the two of them gpu wise buy what you like.

Thanks for answer.
One more question regarding eGPU. What CPU would be the best for GF 1080 if I’d like to connect to my MBP? Will 2.3 i5 cpu become a bottlenec or not?

 

[green86]

Here is the real answer.

http://uk.pcmag.com/cpus-components.../which-cpu-should-you-buy-intel-core-i5-vs-i7

Wow that article is terrible. All of that applies to the desktop i5s and i7s. NOT to the laptop versions. There is very little difference anymore between laptop i5s and i7s.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Thanks for answer.
One more question regarding eGPU. What CPU would be the best for GF 1080 if I’d like to connect to my MBP? Will 2.3 i5 cpu become a bottlenec or not?

It won’t make much difference you would want a quadcore processor to get the most out of the egpu and that’s not available in a 13 inch but probably will be next year.