Be Right Back, Uninstalling

Full Version: Question about laptop processors
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
So I'm looking at a new laptop (old one has a bunch of charging problems, and I would likely have to replace the whole motherboard so I'm getting a new one, though if anyone wants to help me with it feel free to ask). One of my requirements is I would like to still be able to play TF2 on it decently, so I'm looking for input on processors. It'll also be my college laptop (CS major, though I don't do much graphics stuff so that's fine).

Is there a benefit for getting an i7-740QM (1.7GHz quad-core) over an i5-2410M (dual-core 2.3GHz) or an i7-2630M (2GHz quad-core). The latter 2 have a ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6550M 1GB and the former has a ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 1GB and a 3D screen (not that I'd use it much).

How do I go about deciding which processor would be best for me basically? Is a higher-clock speed with less cores better than a (significantly) lower clock-speed with more?

EDIT: Also worth noting is that I'm coming from an Intel Core 2 T5800 (2.0 GHz, 2 cores and 2 threads) and a 9300M GS, so these will hopefully be a huge improvement on it.
tbh idk much but in my laptop I have an intel core i7 quadcore. it's base is 1.6 ghz and overclocks itself (turbo boost or whatever they call it) to 2.8 ghz. I can run tf2 at max settings.
also it plays higher end games like mass effect 2 very well
I'd go with the i7-2630M option. It's got a better video card, and with a mobility platform that's going to be v.important, and getting 4 cores over 2 is really just required. Not just for the wheeeeeee factor, but 2 cores can get overloaded very quickly now. TF2 will laugh, and so will a lot of newer games.