Worth the Upgrade? i5-2557m vs. i7-2677m

I currently have a ux31 with a i5-2557m processor in it and am contemplating upgrading to the model with a i7-2677m.

The i7 is 1.8ghz with 4gb L3 cache and gets a 3245 cpu mark.

The i5 is 1.7ghz with 3mb L3 cache and gets a 2358 cpu mark.

Will I notice much of an improvement? Enough to warrant a $400 extra price tag? (256gb SSD also included in the upgrade model vs. 128gb in the entry model)

CPU marks for both here:

i5-2557m:
PassMark - Intel Core i5-2557M @ 1.70GHz - Price performance comparison

i7-2677m: PassMark - Intel Core i7-2677M @ 1.80GHz - Price performance comparison

 

Is the 2557m too slow? What do you use your laptop for?

 

IIRC these CPUs are usually soldered and not upgradable.

 

That's what I was going to post, but:

 

No, not worth it one smidgen.

 

Well, it could be worth it - if the raw performance (at least as defined/measured by the passmark scores) reflects the OP's real world usage for most/all of his time spent on this system.

And, he can configure it with the same (128GB) SSD for up to $67 more than what he's paying/paid now.

($67 amount derived from ark.intel.com $317 vs. $250).

In other words: he is paying $333 for an additional 128GB capacity on the SSD included - I'm assuming it is the same SSD brand/model in both systems. This is definitely 'not worth it' territory.

 

The one I have is quick enough but, more processing power is always helpful because I decompress a lot of files and run macros that can be fairly CPU intensive.

So, not worth it? I might just end up forking over the extra grand and getting the Sony Z series

 

Yeah, to get appreciably better than the i7 2677m, you need to be looking at the i7-2640M in the Sony Z's.

And; the 128GB SSD option is really two 64GB SSD's in RAID0 (bad idea, imo) as is the 256GB SSD option (2x 128GB SSD's) and the 512GB SSD (2x 256GB SSD's).

For 'a grand extra' you're not going forward - you're moving sideways or even backwards imo.

If your usage scenario is cpu intensive (as you note), then just get the fastest cpu you can (while saving a grand! ).

The $$$$ you save can be used to buy a new platform in one or two years and will probably double your performance for the same amount of money paid out.

 

Okay so i guess I'll skip the upgrade to the i7.

Does anyone else have an opinion on the Sony Z? Is the raid configuration of ssds really that bad?

I like that it has the powermedia dock because I can use that when I'm at home with multiple screens.


Also, isn't the i7-2677m the best chip that fits in the Asus? And if it isn't how would I go about finding out if the CPU is soldered to the board without taking the computer apart?

 

Most low wattage processors are soldered in.

 

According to intel they are only offered in BGA packages so yeah they all seem to be.