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i5 vs i7 with a limited budget

A

AppleTech22

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 10, 2010
548
127
US
Being a high school student who can't get any kind of official discount I was wondering whether or not the extra $100 bucks is worth the i7 processor. I am going to be buying from MacMall where I can get $96 off of the i5, but when I add that i7 I only get $35 off retail. Should I just stick to the i5 or will the i7 make that much of a difference in the long run because this WILL be my main computer.

Here's a link to that discount from the folks over at AppleInsider:
http://www.macmall.com/p/product~dpno~8815565~pdp.giecbbi;jsessionid=809A77D83F052910862D949113BC2305?source=APPINSDRMWB27934
 
You give no indication of how you will use your machine or what applications you will be running so it's near impossible for anyone to answer your question...


Read the many i5 v i7 threads. It's all the same information and has been covered to death...

Basically, If you are video encoding, running processor intensive applications, gaming (as well as the HD3000 can game) then the i7 offers a 25-30% performance increase CPU wise, and possibly a few extra FPS game wise at best.

Will that benefit you? We have no idea.... Is it worth it? Could be, may not be.

I can only answer vaguely because of the lack of specifics in your OP.
 
MacRumorUser said:
You give no indication of how you will use your machine or what applications you will be running so it's near impossible for anyone to answer your question...


Read the many i5 v i7 threads. It's all the same information and has been covered to death...

Basically, If you are video encoding, running processor intensive applications, gaming (as well as the HD3000 can game) then the i7 offers a 25-30% performance increase CPU wise, and possibly a few extra FPS game wise at best.

Will that benefit you? We have no idea.... Is it worth it? Could be, may not be.

I can only answer vaguely because of the lack of specifics in your OP.
Click to expand...

Some video encoding, converting some eyetv and iTunes things. Little bit of Final Cut work, but not too intense. Nothing that my C2D couldn't handle. No gaming though.
 
13" or 11"?

There's nowhere near a 25% increase in anything in the 13" - it's from 4-12%, and most of the time under 8%

Save your money. This is coming from someone who just took that advice and returned the i7 256 for a base 13" with no apple care. I'd rather upgrade next year, take less of a loss, etc..
 
From what I've read (specifically Anandtech's review), the i7 upgrade is worth it if you're going to be purchasing an 11'' Air.
 
h00ligan said:
13" or 11"?

There's nowhere near a 25% increase in anything in the 13" - it's from 4-12%, and most of the time under 8%

Save your money. This is coming from someone who just took that advice and returned the i7 256 for a base 13" with no apple care. I'd rather upgrade next year, take less of a loss, etc..
Click to expand...

13", made this post really quick sorry. :eek: I definitely want to upgrade this year though, I know that there is probably going to be something better, but with technology there always is. I can't make due with 128GB though, I think base on what people have said I'm going to stick with the $96 discount on the i5
 
AppleTech22 said:
13", made this post really quick sorry. :eek: I definitely want to upgrade this year though, I know that there is probably going to be something better, but with technology there always is. I can't make due with 128GB though, I think base on what people have said I'm going to stick with the $96 discount on the i5
Click to expand...

I was referring to the 11" in regards to i5 v i7. The 13" upgrade is far less noteworthy. Keep the extra few $ in your pocket. :)
 
Since you are in high school still i would advise not to get any mac yet. Because once you hit college you are gonna want the new one anyway. But hey if your parents are gonna buy you whatever you want. whats another 100 bucks anyway. always boosts the resale value.
 
go4theko said:
Since you are in high school still i would advise not to get any mac yet. Because once you hit college you are gonna want the new one anyway. But hey if your parents are gonna buy you whatever you want. whats another 100 bucks anyway. always boosts the resale value.
Click to expand...

Already got a mac and don't just go off thinking all high school kids do is screw around on Facebook with a computer, I work with my father here and there on video production and I know the in's and out's on FCP very well. It's not just their money, they might pay 25% if I am lucky, and the reason that I was wondering about the i5 is because it has a discount.
 
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