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General discussion

Difference between processors, and how to choose.

Mar 22, 2011 7:23AM PDT

Hi,

I am thinking about getting a new laptop. I see a few that I like, but they have different processors. One has an i3 processor and the other has an i5. I go to the intel site and look up both. They both run about the same speed and have the same amount of threading. So my question is, how should I go about choosing between the two processors? Lets assume that on an average day I will be watching/editing videos, surfing the web, and attending classes online.

Discussion is locked

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i3 vs i5, Not Quite Like You Think...
Mar 22, 2011 9:37AM PDT
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Thanks
Mar 22, 2011 10:21PM PDT

Thanks! This definitely helps. I'm still a little confused as to how they differ though. I understand that the i5 can have 2 or 4 cores, but if I get an i5 with 2 cores what makes it different from and i3 with 2 cores?

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Each Will Be Different
Mar 23, 2011 12:02AM PDT

Check the clock speed, the L2 cache, and anything else you want, for the specific version you're interested in. Generally, Googling the specific processor number will tell you what you want to know..

As just an example, the first link at the search below gives you what you want to know for comparisons.:

Google Search for: i3-350M

Hope this helps.

Grif