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Core i5-460M vs Core i7-740QM

PCM2

PCM2

PCM2

Soldato
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I am thinking of getting my other half a gaming laptop for Christmas (due to various constraints it needs to be a laptop not a desktop) and wondered which of these processors would be the best options. Its main use will be gaming and battery life should not be a massive issue as it will mainly be plugged into the mains, but is a consdideration nonetheless. The main consideration is the price - performance of these two processors and how they will compare in games. They will be driven by a dedicated GPU (a GT420M or GT435M), as well.

Thanks for any help/advice. I really don't know much about mobile components it seems. Kind of embarrassing. :p
 
I did think it would depend more on the GPU. I don't think either of those GPUs can really handle 1920 x 1080 very well for gaming so I will probably not get such a high resolution screen.
 
Last edited:
PCM2 said:
I did think it would depend more on the GPU. I don't think either of those GPUs can really handle 1920 x 1080 very well for gaming so I will probably not get such a high resolution screen.
Click to expand...

Yeah a lower resolution screen would be better suited to those gpu's, especially if you only want to run at native resolution.

If you don't mind dropping the resolution down then it may be okay.

I know some people will say that dropping the resolution down will make everything look bad but I've done it and have been happy with the quality.

Personal preference though I guess.

Something like 1366 x 768 though would probably be ideal.
 
The i5 is a dual core 2.53GHz (but turbos up to 2.8), wheras the i7 is a quad core but only 1.73GHz, (although it has an aggressive turbo of 2.93 on one core, 2.53 on two cores, but only 1.86 on three or four cores. So a bit of swings and roundabouts - when two cores are used the i5 might actually push ahead, but otherwise, in single core and especially in three+ core apps/games the i7 would win. But as above, for gaming the most important is the GPU.
 
Thanks guys. I've also found out that it's actually the i5 560m that the system comes with and this has a bit of a clock speed advantage (particularly in turbo mode). She has been using a netbook with a 1024 x 600 resolution and she finds it fine for general use (browsing the net etc.). I think the 1366 x 768 would be a decent resolution for her.
 
I'd go the i5 route and save some money - it's unlikely she'll be doing anything too taxing on the CPU (if she finds a netbook ok), and for most games a quick dual core is enough.

Alternatively, you could always go for a MITX SFF system - in something like an SG05/6 - that'd be small, powerful, is easily upgradeable and could be easily tucked away.
 
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