Latitude E7240 and E7440

So are you saying the i7 is worth it? What about the 16gb ram? Thanks.

 

Only you know your use case. in 4th gen I believe i5 to i7 is the same CPU just faster clocked (they are both dual core with HT so they show up as 4 core internal to the OS, 4 threads)

Depending on what you are doing you may or may not notice CPU speed advantage - if you do rendering or a lot of mathematical calculating in some application you may notice it's faster.

Memory it also only depends on you. Windows won't use near 8GB of memory. If you have an app that regularly uses 10GB of memory, you should get 16. If you are surfing the web and facebooking, you will be fine with 8GB and you should just save your money.

The biggest thing you will do to notice quicker speeds is invest in the SSD model. This will make everything "appear" to be faster. Faster loading times on anything that uses the disk. Which is literally, everything.

/$.02

 

Well said although I would clarify:
The clock speed and CPU cache size are the key differences in the ULV CPUs (as in these notebooks). At higher power ratings the i7s are usually quad core. I reckon that less than a 20% difference CPU speed isn't noticeable in normal usage.

I'm using 12GB RAM since my E7440 came with 1 x 8GB and I had a suitable spare 4GB module. While this RAM configuration is slightly slower in benchmarks than a full dual channel arrangement it also means that the hibernation (if you use it) is smaller than if I had 16GB RAM.

John

 

Thanks for the advice. Yeah, no question I'm getting an SSD -- had it on my last laptop and loved it. I am most concerned with future-proofing -- the screen just cracked on my e4300, but other than that and a fan I had to replace, the thing was still going strong after 5.5 years (in fact I'll probably still use it as a makeshift HTPC). Sounds like an i5 is good enough. As for RAM, it seems like applications (especially browsers) just keep taking what is available. I can remember when people were angry about Firefox taking up 200mb!

John, are the 8gb normally 1x8gb stick instead of 2x4gb sticks?

 

It can be both, so you'll need to verify the specs.

 

if you're not going to get more than 8gb RAM though, you want 2 matched 4gb sticks
Thanks for correcting me about the cache, I forgot about that. and you are correct that there are higher end i7's, but there is nothing available as a true quad core in e7440 models. The difference between the 4300u and 4600u is what I would consider quite small.

 

There are some options in the outlet if you keep an eye open. I was able to snag a i5 4310, 8gb (single stick) 256 SSD, intel ac wireless, web cam, 4 cell battery, 1080 touch screen for $650 after coupon today. I think you would be hard pressed to notice any difference between an i-5 and i-7 outside of synthetic benchmarks. For me, the 1080 screen,256 ssd, 4 cell battery, web cam, single stick of 8gb memory, were more important than going to an i7.

 

Good to know! I'll keep an eye out. Was that a e7440 or a e7240? I'm wavering back and forth on whether I need 1080p or a touchscreen. I don't game or do graphic editing at all and both those together seem to increase the price ~$300, plus you get glare and a little extra weight.

Can someone tell me how side-by-side windows look on 1366 x 768 and/or on a 12"? That is what concerns me most, I do that a lot when typing up documents.

 

It's really cramped, I had an E6220 with 1366x768 and upgraded to an E7440 with 1920x1080 non-touch.

 

Very good to know, thanks again.