Most of the new processors today ( as of July 2010) are coming equipped with either the intel core i3 or the intel core i5 processor. The major difference between these two processor is the absence or presence of the Turbo Boost Technology.
What is Turbo Boost Technology - Turbo boost technology is a way to increase the processor core frequency on demand. For example the the nominal core frequency of the intel i5-450M is 2.4GHz while its turbo boost frquency 2.66 GHz. So the processor will normally run at 2.4 GHz, however, should a process demand very high computing power, the processor steps up its core frequency to 2.66 GHz to cope up with the processing power demand.
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The Intel core i5-460M as well as the Core i3-380M are both 2.53 GHz processors. So what is the difference in performance ? Check this out in Core i5-460M Vs Core i3-380M Comparison.
Turbo boost technology helps keep the power consumption low under normal circumstances. This helps save the battery power without sacrificing the peak performance.
Obviously the intel core i5 processor are more expensive that the similarly powered core i3 processors. If you expect to need more processing power occasionally ( for example, if you need to do video encoding or you often need to compile some program), the core i5 processor is more suitable for you. If you however expect to mostly do browsing, wordpress, spreadsheet and presentation kind of thing, you may like to save few dollars by sticking to the i3 processor.
You probably already made the choice when you go and purchase the notebook or the desktop. If a choice exist this article help you in making a choice.
Both Core i3-350M and Core i5-430M are similarly clocked at 2.26 GHz. Checkout the difference in performance in Core i3-350M Vs Core i5-430M
Also noticeable is the fact that the core i5 processors come in the dual core as well as quad core. The dual core i5 are similar to the i3 processors, while the quad core i3 processors are closer to their core i7 counterpart.
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Hello I would like to ask some advice
I recently saw Acer launch the timelineX series with 2 different models.
The main difference between these model are the processors:
Model 1: Intel Core i5-430UM
Model 2: Intel Core i3 330UM
I was wandering if I can experience notable difference between the Core I5 or Core I3 model ?
I want to use the notebook mainly for surfing on the internet, MS-Word, Excel, playing movies and sometimes (not often) edit a video from my digital camera. Can the I5 make my notebook significly quicker for these taks ?
The Intel Core i5-430UM as well Intel Core i3 330UM are nominally 1.2GHz processor. So you should not find any significant difference in surfing on the internet, MS-Word, Excel, playing movies. The difference will come when you plan to edit video from your digital camera.
And here the Intel Core i5-430UM processor’ turbo boost technology comes into play. The Turbo Boost technology will boost the processor frequency in i5-430M to 1.73 GHz when your video editing software will demand one.
If you can live with slower video editing that do not do much often any way you may stick with i3 330UM and save few bucks. If the difference in prices are not much I will suggest upgrade to i5-430UM which will not only speed up the video editing, but also speed up the program loading ( especially if you are running several of them at a time).
Thanks for your advice !!!!
@admin
Hi,
I have a choice between two laptops, it took a bewilderingly large amount of time trying to choose between them all even though i was using simplw websites like which? and cnet.
The choice is between two acer laptops that are almose identical, the aspire 7741g and the aspire 7745g. The only real difference is one has an i3-330 processor, and the other a i5-450m. I plan to use the laptop for usual home office tasks (often running multiple programmes) and maybe gaming as they come with a 512mb graphics card.
Please can you help by telling me whether i’d benefit from the upgrade to the i5-450m processor, I’m so tired of reading complicated jargon about processor power, my head hurts. Please help…
Zaheer,
The intel i3-330M is is a 2.13GHz processor while i5-450M is a 2.4GHz processor. So based purely upon the processor frequency, i5-450 is significantly better than the i3-330M. There is one more difference – with the turbo boost, the frequency of the i5-450M can increase to 2.66 GHz on demand. So, if you are running a processing power hungry process, you are actually looking at 2.13GHz Vs 2.66 GHz. It is not clear what kind of gaming you are on, but, if the price difference are not much the i5-450M is better. If you are budget cautious and your gaming needs do not require significant processing power, you may like to content with i3-330M
wait, are you sure that core i5-430m is 2.4ghz normally?
intel’s website suggest that it is 2.26ghz…
does that mean that without turbo boost core i3-370m is better than core i5-430m? i’m really confused right now what to buy. please help.
dudestarr,
I think that the site mentioned 2.4 GHz for rge core i5-450m. You are correct in that the core frequency of core i5-430M is 2.26 gHz..
Hi,
I’m looking for an 11.6″ sublaptop (NOT netbook) for portability purposes mostly for MS-Office work presentations and use, net surfing and video playbacks. I was hoping that it could also support StarCraft 2 even with lowest graphics play but I realised most laptops around at that range offers Intel chips of i3-330UM with it’s HD Graphics which from my understanding is not sufficient to run it.
Can I get any advice on whether the system is able to run SC2 or is there any other alternatives which won’t cost too much more available in the market? Thanks.
Hi, You can run Star craft 2 with combination of i3-330um and Integrated HD graphics. But in low details. If you need higher details then ATI Radeon 5650
Zaheer, don’t you DARE look at Intel Core i3′s!!! YOU BUY a Core i3 and you will be shopping for a new computer in 8-18 months!!! Go with the fastest CPU your budget can tolerate which in this XMAS season is the Core i5.
Intel is dumping all its junk this season (Pentiums, Dual Cores Celetrons) and YES, you can save $100-200.00 off an Core i5 but over a one year depreaciation, you’re talking savings of pennies on the dollar verses an obsollessant computer you will grow to loath!!! I A-L-M-O-S-T paid $699.95 for a Lenovo Core i5 450 CPU. I mean, I bought it, used it for 4 days and then the price dropped to $545.00!!! Oh, I was mad—it took me three weeks of comparison shopping to buy the Lenovo at $699.95 so I really took a hit to my manhood at the pricedrop. At $699.95, my Lenovo was a mediocre value (most internet sales hover around $650-799.00) but at $545.00, it was/is a screaming good value for what I want—a business computer with a killer keyboard and 15.6″ screen (I fought like hell and got the pricebreak!!!).
If money is tight and there is no GUN TO YOUR HEAD TO GET A COMPUTER NOW—sit it out to January 2011 and you’ll be able to pick up a good Core i5 450 system for sub $500.00. My little Lenovo Core i5 450 should last this road warrior 2 years SOTA, 1 year dull edge of technology and perhaps another 2 years as strictly a word processor/internet surfer for about $0.30 a day amoratized over x5 years—not bad, for being unemployed!!!
hi
i just got a toshiba satellite L655-158 and i am finding that as soon as the laptop has fired up and ready for use …… the fan start making a noise abit like a woooooooooooooo woooooooooooooo then it stop and 2/3 minutes later it does it again and again ……… is this a common thing on a toshiba laptop please help
yours
tony galvin