21.5": i5 2.7 vs i7 2.8???

[sbb155]

hardest core thing I do is imovie editing for this computer
no gaming
what do you think?

 

[Hellhammer]

i5. iMovie isn't even properly multi-threaded so i7 won't make a difference. Besides, even if it was, I would say i5 because iMovie suggests you aren't doing any pro stuff. Save the money for RAM and SSD.

 

[sbb155]

i do harder core final cut on my mac pro, but this would be for minor family projects.

 

[bniu]

main difference is i5 has no hyperthreading and i7 has hyperthreading. So 4 cores vs 8 cores.

 

[tempusfugit]

main difference is i5 has no hyperthreading and i7 has hyperthreading. So 4 cores vs 8 cores.

That might be an oversimplification. Benchmarks aren't affected that much by hyperthreading abilities, and the i7 clearly beats the i5 when it comes to benchmarks.


If you're doing FCP stuff I'd be more worried about the GPU than whether or not you go with the i7.