Intel i3 vs i5??? Which is a better buy?

Question

So I'm looking to purchase a new laptop for uni and have no idea which processor to get. I'm currently convinced that I'm going for a HP Laptop as they have good specs and fit nicely into my budget, however I don't know whether I should save money on an Intel i3 processor or just pay the extra bob and get an i5??

I'll need it for the basics. So browsing, essays, presentations etc. Not a gamer so not fussed about graphics. I am also looking into video editing software for youtube videos however that is still a huge question mark. I'm planning to keep it for the next 4 years or so too. Anyone have advice on which laptop is a better buy?

i3:
http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=F5B56EA&opt=ABU&sel=PCNB

i5:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/hp-pavilion-15-n297sa-15-6-laptop-21921792-pdt.html

Any/all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Answer 1

i think people are getting there wires crossed with i3 and i5 laptops there practically the same except the i5 gives a bit more grunt when under heavy load and boosts its clock speed up.



now heres were people get confused whats the diffrence between U and M series i3 and i5



U is low powered

M is performance



a u i3 is weaker then the m series i3



so im gonna list 1 laptop thats between the prices you have shown



i3 3rd gen with a nvidia 740m



now video encoding needs a good graphics chip as much as a good proccessor so skimping out on graphics isnt really a option as all it will do is hinder your rendering time



http://www.medion.com/gb/prod/MEDION+AKOYA+P6643+Laptop+%28MD98477%29/30016130A1



this is a decent laptop with a i3 and decent graphics performance that it can even play most of the latest games on medium even though you didnt ask for it this is considered best price for performance laptop i can find that will do everything nicely and under the 500 mark



background about medion is its a germany company and its sourced out in uk by aldi as aldi sells medion in its bigger stores and sometimes its small stores get stock as well

Answer 2

If you need lots of storage, go for the one with the i3. If you want a "future-proof" one and could afford it, go for the one with the i5. You won't regret it since it is already a 4th Generation one.



Good Luck.

Answer 3

Get the i5, you won't regret having faster video encoding etc. You don't need to pay 499 for one.

Cheaper i5 range: http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Computer/cat/Laptops?a00035=Intel+Core+i5&limit=30&sort=price%20ascending&page=1

Whether you get i3 or i5, get one with a model number starting with 4 (like the i5 4200U). These are 4th generation intels & have a lower power consumption.

Answer 4

In general it depends on the model of i3 and i5 in general i5 is usually better but in this case, the i3 is .2 Ghz faster and has 250 GB of extra storage. Buy the Pavilion with the i3. As it is cheaper and faster.