i7 2630 or i7 2720

Nope, just bragging rights that you're one of only a very few people who own a laptop that has 1600 RAM..In a 14" notebook to boot..

 

@Evil - what about SC2 or BFBC2? I got a huge boost in bfbc2 going from a i3-350 to the i7-720qm .. Granted the GPU was the 5850 and I normally play at 750/1000 or 800/1000.

 

Given that only the frequency is the only difference between the sandbridge CPUs (at least I think it is, is it?), the differences in gaming performance should be quite minute. Especially since we are now is a stage where CPU frequency is no longer the deciding factor when it comes to performance. Since the architecture of these CPUs are the same, I don't think we'd see any performance gains from getting a higher frequency CPU..Well at least this is what I think..Feel free to correct me if I am wrong..

 

Welp, I accidentally said I wanted the 2720 when I was on the phone with the Dell rep not realizing that the performance gain would be marginal at best.

To change it I would have to cancel my order, get everything redone, get the funds back into the account and such a headache to downgrade.

I guess I'm sticking with the slightly upgraded processor

 

If I said I'd send you $150 for nothing right now, would you do it? Of course you would, but you'd still have to wait a few days for it to get from my bank to yours!

Go cancel your order!

 

The CPU will definitely help you in non gaming related areas. I wouldn't be upset about it considering the upgrade wasn't that expensive. If you had bought the highest CPU though, that's another story

 

Ok whatever you guys decide, just buy RAM else where. Even if you get the 2720, get $100 8GB 1600 RAM and save $100 off the $200 4GB>8GB. This leaves the $100 to fund for the processor upgrade. Plus sell the 4GB stock RAM too.

 

and with a Dell $50 discount coupon, you've got the free processor upgrade. (assuming you were planning to upgrade from 4GB to 8GB anyway.)

 

I study psychology and also minored in marketing.

It amazes me how "marketing" is primarily influencing those of you who seem to think the 2630QM isn't enough. Let me say this; if you need to ask, you don't need it. Professionals that fully utilize these processors and benchmarkers already know they're going for the best, the rest of us simply don't need it.

I had mentioned earlier in this topic that the 2630QM is a fair bit ahead of the 940XM. Imagine the 2630QM was rebranded the 960XM (as an extreme processor) and the 2720 the 970XM? How many of you would still be worried if the 2630QM is powerful enough?

I'm not putting anyone down, not in the least. I'm just saying how fascinating I find these little things about human behavior (which I'm guilty of as well). (And yes marketing and psychology go hand in hand).

 

Haha! Very true! If you're going to replace this laptop in 1-2 years, I don't think the 2630QM will make any worthwhile difference.

Also, from a strictly gaming standpoint, the 2720QM doesn't make a whole lot of sense. However, I don't think I'm that much of a gamer (I play 5 to 10 hours of Team Fortress 2 a month). I plan to keep my laptop for at least 4 years, so I went with the 2220QM. Maybe I will never need it. Maybe I'm doing something stupid. I just feel that in the long run, the extra $150 will pay itself off for all the time saved in tasks like programming.

 

Don't have SC2, but BC2 doesn't seem to fully utilise my CPU either. It runs smoothly pretty much maxed out on my system (can't remember the exact settings, might be one or two toned down).

At the same time, the CPU may be bottlenecking it, as it definitely doesn't seem to come close to fully utilising my GPUs. But I just kind of assumed that was bad game coding.

In any case, it'd be expected to see a huge boost from i3-350 to an i7-720, I mean, that's going from a dual to a quad core (correct me if I'm wrong there) and BC2 utilises a quad core very well. Would a 0.2GHz difference between two processors make such a big difference? I rather doubt it.

Think about what that $150 is worth to you. If you'd rather spend it on anything else, go and cancel that order! Is it worth not doing so just so you get your system a few days earlier?

 

This coupon code (GJ05XDSHB0MCCX) gives you 75$ off a laptop of 1399 or more. The laptop is only 1,275 without the processor upgrade, and goes to 1,350 after the upgrade with the coupon.

So I can get the preconfigured 6gb ram 24 hour shipping pc for 1,350
or the i7 2720 (25%) faster cpu with 4gb ram and 2 week shipping for 1,350
and add more ram later.

Here is a review showing 23% gain from the 2720 vs 2630
Review Intel Sandy Bridge Quad-Core processors - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Ahh, I cant make up my mind.

 

I would get the one with the faster CPU, personally. Adding ram is much cheaper than adding a CPU, and the aftermarket RAM you add will have tighter timings.

I think you can live for 2 weeks haha

 

That review is showing a purely synthetic test; of course the 2720 is going to come out on top. In games though, and in the majority of tasks, you're not going to notice the difference.

 

What ram do you recommend?

Something like this?
Amazon.com: Patriot Signature DDR3 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) CL11 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) SODIMM Notebook Memory Kit PSD38G1600SK: Electronics

 

I think Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1866 HyperX Plug n Play Laptop Memory Model KHX1866C11S3P1K2/8G is a good ram, correct me if i'm wrong.

 

Problem is I live in alaska, and newegg charges like $20 shipping, and amazon is free.