MacBook Air 13. I5 or i7?

[AXs]

Nope, not at all. I'd say as long as you've gone at least for the 256GB SSD (preferably 512) and have upgraded the RAM, for you personally the i7 is a good choice (if what you are going to be doing is running two VMs alongside OS X). Since the MBA is core-limited compared to it's siblings the extra MHz would come in handy

But yeah what you do isn't day-to-day stuff, so my arguments don't really target it For you the i7 is a good choice, as long as you've upgraded the SSD and RAM already As long as it isn't breaking the bank go for the upgrade, as you'll actually use the performance (unlike some).

Unlike Zboater this isn't personal/I have no stake in this. For me personally, I could afford the i7 but didn't need it, so didn't get it. I don't have to tell everone else to buy an i5 IN EVERY SCENARIO just to make me feel better. If you are going to use it for high intensity CPU stuff I say go for it Everyday stuff and gaming, no, it isn't going to be used.

As for battery life, they're on par and pretty much matched until you get to the high end stuff (where the i7 goes faster and uses more power relative to the performance boost).

The trend in the industry seems to be that other factors will be the limiting ones which mean that users replace their MacBooks. It'll probably be SSD size/screen quality/battery life that users want more of, as these seem to be what's improving most atm. Either that or people would've just broken their Airs xD

But yeah, ZBoater likes to paint the picture that I just think the i7 isn't any faster. I know that it's faster IN THE HIGH END, meaning that only users who run high end high intensity CPU tasks will ever see the benefit. He, of course, never argues against or replies to this point...

I think this post pretty much covers it accurately.

Get the i7 if you need it, but make RAM and SSD a priority. If you can upgrade all 3, go for it... but do note:

The i7 is more powerful - very noticeable in high task events and WILL save you time no matter how much, albeit at the cost of 1-2 hours of battery VS i5.

The important thing is to buy something that YOU will be happy with - whatever RAM/CPU/Storage... just make sure YOU are content with the purchase then no one can tell you made a bad choice.

I think Anand from Anandtech put it best - if the Air is going to be your primary laptop, going with i7 may be a good idea.

I also think the post by ezekielrage_99 cleverly highlights the main points.
Everything else is basically subjective, and pretty much circular reasoning at this point, from what I'm seeing.
Lets give the debate a rest guys.

 

[jadAce]

Get the i7 if you need it, but make RAM and SSD a priority. If you can upgrade all 3, go for it... but do note:

The important thing is to buy something that YOU will be happy with - whatever RAM/CPU/Storage... just make sure YOU are content with the purchase then no one can tell you made a bad choice.

+1

At the end of the day, what matters is that you should be happy with what you purchase. Really, only *you* can know if something is too expensive or too cheap for you, or if you need something or don't need it - other opinions have some degree of bias that is simply unavoidable.

Many people are happy with the i5. I found it the most cost effective for my needs. Many people are happy with the i7.

It all depends on what you need.

 

[mattferg]

An i7 is faster than and i5, your argument is spurious, rude and puerile.

You may not notice the difference in performance for the basic tasks but it's there, what you've suggested is nothing more than specious reasoning.

Did you even read the sentence before the bit in bold, before resorting to a petty childish comment? I said in everyday scenarios, ie word processing, web browsing, listening to music, the i7 is not faster than the i5. Did you even read any of my other posts?! Out of all of the links you just used, none of them back up your argument, too, as none of them show every day tasks proving the i7 is faster. Why? because it's impossible. None of the tasks you claim are faster are everyday tasks for most users, just for you.

If you take the time to actually read my other posts, and the rest of the one you actually replied to, you'll see I wholeheartedly recommend the i7... to people who will actually use the power (ie for high intensity CPU tasks). For everyone else, the power is a waste, and yes, AS I ORIGINALLY SAID, the i5 is just as fast as the i7 for everyday tasks.


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I've already linked to the Openoffice benchmarks, the ones that simulate EVERY DAY USE, not HIGH END, that prove the i7 is faster even on those. You've already read multiple posts of people relaying their experiences which you have dismissed as "in their heads" and "psychological". So yes, I have argued and replied but you just insist on clinging to an obviously proven false point.

This is not personal, at least not for me. Your point is that for every day usage, the i5 is just as fast as the i7. My point is that no, it isn't. Benchmarks and personal experience prove that it isn't. You insist that because you cant see it, it must be in my head. So be it.

Again fails to target the point at all and just declares it obviously false, wow. Turboboost proves that the i5 is just as fast as the i7 in everyday scenarios, because anything the i7 can do... again I have to remind you that the Ultimate vs base models of the Air have different SSD speeds, sigh.

Yes, multiple posts... from one user, who even said his every day tasks were quite CPU intensive. Yawn. Your wallet must be desperate for that $150. Again with the benchmarks? Benchmarks that run the CPU at full intensity... dude seriously please learn how Intel processors work. The extra speed of the i7 comes from the extra clockspeed at the high end of the processor's operating range. If the processor isn't running there, you don't get the performance. That's it, end, there is no "special magic i7 power"

The Openoffice benchmark on laptopmag.com is defined as "Length of time it takes to perform a complex VLOOKUP operation on 20,000 rows in OpenOffice Calc." because that's an everyday task that every Air user does... I often turn on my Mac, go to facebook, check my emails, perform a complex VLOOKUP on a huge database... do you not even see how this benchmark is CPU intensive? A spreadsheet task that took several minutes to process on both the i5 and i7?

It's all in your head.

 

[DisplacedMic]

Fixed this for you

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Yes, and if you understand how Intel processors work and benchmarks too (which run at full CPU utilisation or else they'd make no sense), you'll know that with turboboost, anything the i7 can do the i5 can too, up to 2.6ghz+. This means that in everyday scenarios that are not CPU intensive, the i5 will be just as fast as the i7 because it can turboboost up to whatever the i7 is running at to get the task done. Please research "turbo-boost" before you post further, you're showing your ignorance here.

The 20% speed increase comes from the extra clockspeed at the high end. As such, if the CPU isn't running at the high end, you don't get this performance.

Yes, however his defence of the i7 is because he bought it. I don't own the i5/8/256, as such my opinion is not personal.

and more condescension and nastiness...over a computer. seriously - how old are you?

 

[CFoss]

The SSD is upgradable so I would go with the 128gb and if you need to later, upgrade the SSD and use the one that came with the MBA as an external SSD in a USB 3.0 enclosure.

This is incorrect, as the latest MacBook Airs use a proprietary PCIe interface. While it is true that there might be third party solutions, they will most likely be few and far between (and expensive).

 

[lamboman]

Christ, still stuck on my decision!

It comes down to:

• The i5 will be powerful enough for my needs. Battery life will be longer under heavier loads, and the same under lighter loads.
• However, many have reported that the i5 is a tad laggy during every day usage. I've played with several i5 MBAs, and they certainly did feel rather laggy to the point where this could irritate me if it persists and turns out not to be a mere software problem.
• The i7's battery life hit under medium and heavy loads is of concern too. I'm worried that while using a VM (whether this be under VirtualBox, Parallels, or VMWare Fusion) for basic programming (probably Visual Studio), the i7 will take a noticeable hit in battery life. The stuff I'll be doing will likely not be CPU intensive as it is of course mainly typing and I'm not going to be compiling massive projects, but the constant load of the VM does concern me.

Any further advice or experience with regards to VMs and battery life with the i5 or i7? Anybody who has had both? Thanks!

 

[PDFierro]

Did you even read the sentence before the bit in bold, before resorting to a petty childish comment? I said in everyday scenarios, ie word processing, web browsing, listening to music, the i7 is not faster than the i5. Did you even read any of my other posts?! Out of all of the links you just used, none of them back up your argument, too, as none of them show every day tasks proving the i7 is faster. Why? because it's impossible. None of the tasks you claim are faster are everyday tasks for most users, just for you.

If you take the time to actually read my other posts, and the rest of the one you actually replied to, you'll see I wholeheartedly recommend the i7... to people who will actually use the power (ie for high intensity CPU tasks). For everyone else, the power is a waste, and yes, AS I ORIGINALLY SAID, the i5 is just as fast as the i7 for everyday tasks.

This. Exactly this.

ZBoater keeps trying to claim that the i7 is faster in everyday tasks such as the ones you mentioned -- web browsing, word processing, listening to music, etc. And then provides no evidence to back that up.

Please. In tasks like this, someone is not going to notice a difference from i5 vs. i7. Yet his whole argument/defense is based on the fact that the i7 is indeed faster for tasks like these, when it's not.

 

[w00d]

If you take the time to actually read my other posts, and the rest of the one you actually replied to, you'll see I wholeheartedly recommend the i7... to people who will actually use the power (ie for high intensity CPU tasks). For everyone else, the power is a waste, and yes, AS I ORIGINALLY SAID, the i5 is just as fast as the i7 for everyday tasks

....

It's all in your head.

WTF are "everyday tasks"??? That is a bad term. It means something different to everyone. I use VMware, IntelliJ, and Photoshop 5 days a week at minimum. On weekends, for fun, I'm using iMovie and Lightroom.

There's not a single day I want to have a slower computer.

Many of us will absolutely notice a difference using an i7 for everyday tasks.

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This. Exactly this.

ZBoater keeps trying to claim that the i7 is faster in everyday tasks such as the ones you mentioned -- web browsing, word processing, listening to music, etc. And then provides no evidence to back that up.

Please. In tasks like this, someone is not going to notice a difference from i5 vs. i7. Yet his whole argument/defense is based on the fact that the i7 is indeed faster for tasks like these, when it's not.

Have you tried them side by side, the i5 and i7? Some of us have, and notice a difference, even for stupid things like web browsing.

 

[PDFierro]

WTF are "everyday tasks"??? That is a stupid term. It means something different to everyone. I use VMware, IntelliJ, and Photoshop 5 days a week at minimum. On weekends, for fun, I'm using iMovie and Lightroom.

There's not a single day I want to have a slower computer.

Many of us will absolutely notice a difference using an i7 for everyday tasks.

Those are clearly not everyday tasks. It's not hard to grasp what are. Anything non-intensive -- web browsing, listening to music, word processing, etc. Yeah, those are really going to push the CPU.

 

[w00d]

Those are clearly not everyday tasks. It's not hard to grasp what are. Anything non-intensive -- web browsing, listening to music, word processing, etc. Yeah, those are really going to push the CPU.

You conveniently forgot to answer my question -- have you tried them both side by side?

 

[Mike in Kansas]

Those are clearly not everyday tasks. It's not hard to grasp what are. Anything non-intensive -- web browsing, listening to music, word processing, etc. Yeah, those are really going to push the CPU.

Maybe your everyday tasks are less intense than typical everyday tasks of others. Even my kids are in iPhoto everyday (processing and loading stuff up to Instagram) and iMovie on weekends (creating "nail and hair tutorials" for YouTube). My middle kid runs Parallels every day so he can play some Windows-only games.

Now, for my wife, it's email, Facebook, Pinterest. She would clearly not see the advantages of the i7. But for the other 4 of us, "every day" usage seems to be those things that a faster processor would help (photo editing, movie rendering, VM, etc.) I daresay my household is "extra-ordinary".

 

[m98custom1212]

Those are clearly not everyday tasks. It's not hard to grasp what are. Anything non-intensive -- web browsing, listening to music, word processing, etc. Yeah, those are really going to push the CPU.

I'm with everyone else.. "Everyday task" is subjective more and more people are editing music, editing photos, editing videos, and using photo shop etc

Me personally I haven't touch word processing or listening to music since until recently when I started graduate school.

Now, the programs I use everyday are outlook, chrome, NX 8.5 (CAD and CAM Program), Inventor 2014, Heavy Excel use, Mathcad.. I would benefit from the I7 but I choose to save the money because I have desktop at home with a 3930K overclocked to 4.3ghz and my workstation at work to use for anything heavy.

 

[w00d]

Those are clearly not everyday tasks. It's not hard to grasp what are. Anything non-intensive -- web browsing, listening to music, word processing, etc. Yeah, those are really going to push the CPU.

If that's all you're gonna do with it, why not just get an iPad with the Bluetooth keyboard and save a ton of money? The only thing clear is that our everyday tasks are much different.

 

[PDFierro]

If that's all you're gonna do with it, why not just get an iPad with the Bluetooth keyboard and save a ton of money? The only thing clear is that our everyday tasks are much different.

Those are not my everyday tasks. I'm not even in the market for an Air, I'm waiting the rMBP refresh. I was bringing those up for examples.

 

[mattferg]

Maybe your everyday tasks are less intense than typical everyday tasks of others. Even my kids are in iPhoto everyday (processing and loading stuff up to Instagram) and iMovie on weekends (creating "nail and hair tutorials" for YouTube). My middle kid runs Parallels every day so he can play some Windows-only games.

Now, for my wife, it's email, Facebook, Pinterest. She would clearly not see the advantages of the i7. But for the other 4 of us, "every day" usage seems to be those things that a faster processor would help (photo editing, movie rendering, VM, etc.) I daresay my household is "extra-ordinary".

The plural of anecdote is not data. Pivotal rule in statistics. What does this mean? It means just because you've experienced something, does not mean it's the norm. For instance, take my family. Father and mother just use their laptops for browsing the web, word, emails. One brother uses his for internet, email, facebook, word, music. The other video edits. I just use my Air for basic stuff.

Does this mean every family is like this? No. However if you look at the actual statistics, not just assume your family is the norm, they generally match this light usage pattern - hence the sudden increase in popularity of affordable tablets.

Also, who uses Parallels for gaming? That's just strange?

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If that's all you're gonna do with it, why not just get an iPad with the Bluetooth keyboard and save a ton of money? The only thing clear is that our everyday tasks are much different.

Because the Air does them better and that's what he prefers. Unfortunately, the i7 Air does his tasks identically to the i5, and that appears to be so for most Air users.

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WTF are "everyday tasks"??? That is a bad term. It means something different to everyone. I use VMware, IntelliJ, and Photoshop 5 days a week at minimum. On weekends, for fun, I'm using iMovie and Lightroom.

There's not a single day I want to have a slower computer.

Many of us will absolutely notice a difference using an i7 for everyday tasks.

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Have you tried them side by side, the i5 and i7? Some of us have, and notice a difference, even for stupid things like web browsing.

I've tried the i5 and i7 side by side. They're identical for non-CPU intensive tasks. Can you even explain to me where the extra performance of the i7 would come from running these every day tasks? Oh, and sure, plenty of you might find the i7 faster for tasks you do everyday, and in that case, the i7 is great for you, however as I've said above this is not true for the majority of Air users.

 

[w00d]

forget it

 

[AXs]

you're just equivocating the term 'everyday use'.

When we say 'everyday use' we are talking about most common usage by apple's largest demographic, especially with the air- browsing, flash, other light usage...

Now if you want to play Sherlock and talk about "everyday use is subjective" then yes, you are right... but not only are you missing the point entirely, you're drawing up a strawman. Why argue for the sake of arguing?

Majority of Macbook Air users DO NOT need the i7 processor, nor 8GB of RAM. That's why apple put i5/4 in stores. You think Apple RnD and Marketing teams are duds? They know exactly what they are doing. And they aren't being opinion-based either, they do extensive research for these kind of things. They employ only the best, and hence deliver the best.

But of course, they know there are people that may need a boost in spec- hence they have the build to order option. Because they understand SOME of the users may need i7 and/or 8gb ram.

But don't get it twisted, the i5/4 is still the norm for the air. Apple also does this to prevent an overlapping of product placement/market segmentation - they want to create a clear distinction between the Air and the Pro lines...

Anyways, in short, if you need the i7/8 then yes please do get the upgrade. If you want to do extensive cpu tasks with the Air, no one is going to stop you. Apple just clearly didn't design their Air line of laptops for heavy duty. That much is obvious - whether i5 or i7. They have the Macbook Pro and MacPros for that.

So let us agree that when we speak about 'everyday use' with the air, we are using the term as a label to describe a specific set of tasks, and we are not being literal nor subjective with it.

Good day.

 

[mattferg]

forget it

Why does this seem to be the typical i7 user response when faced with the fact that the i7 just isn't worth the money for most people?

 

[Dr. McKay]

Also torn between i5/8Gb/256 or i7/8Gb/256

I believe in my case, I'd be VERY disappointed with an i5 when finding myself surfing the web, having multiple apps open (itunes, iphoto, pages, numbers, font book, chrome with multiple tabs, app store, mac games store, textwrangler, textedit, activity monitor, terminal, notes, gTAsks - none of these are resource heavy apps but I DO have all these apps open all the time) and then to see my display rendering stutter when using mission control or launchpad or when scrolling through web pages.

If anyone can assure me from HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE that this WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT HAPPEN with an i5 in the situation mentioned above, then I'll take the money I save on the i7 and get Applecare instead.

 

[ZBoater]

Also torn between i5/8Gb/256 or i7/8Gb/256...I'd be VERY disappointed with an i5 ...to see my display rendering stutter when using mission control or launchpad or when scrolling through web pages.

If anyone can assure me from HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE that this WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT HAPPEN with an i5 in the situation mentioned above, then I'll take the money I save on the i7 and get Applecare instead.

I don't think anyone can give you that assurance. Not with the i5 OR i7. There are just too many variables with your specific usage pattern. It may depend on how many apps you have open, which ones you have open, and what you are doing in each one.

But your case illustrates the point that with the i5, when it happens, you will always wonder if the i7 could have handled it better. With the i7 you have the top of the line system, so if it happens, then you did everything you could short of getting a quad core MBP. The "coulda shoulda woulda" wondering of whether you got too little computer wouldn't bite you.

Now, if you are asking whether the i7 upgrade is "worth" more than Applecare, that's a whole other discussion. That depends on how much worth you put to Applecare, what your tolerance is for computer failure, how often you upgrade, etc.

You seem to have a low tolerance for poor computer performance. My advice to you - get the i7. Its the top of the line MBA processor option. You will then never be left wondering if you saved $150 but didn't get enough computer. If you find yourself with too many performance issues because of your usage pattern, then you are a candidate for a quad core pro. Good luck.

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because you are unwavering, condescending and rude and they give up trying to discuss this issue with you?

Exactly.

 

[Dr. McKay]

You seem to have a low tolerance for poor computer performance.

That obvious, huh...

 

[mattferg]

Also torn between i5/8Gb/256 or i7/8Gb/256

I believe in my case, I'd be VERY disappointed with an i5 when finding myself surfing the web, having multiple apps open (itunes, iphoto, pages, numbers, font book, chrome with multiple tabs, app store, mac games store, textwrangler, textedit, activity monitor, terminal, notes, gTAsks - none of these are resource heavy apps but I DO have all these apps open all the time) and then to see my display rendering stutter when using mission control or launchpad or when scrolling through web pages.

If anyone can assure me from HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE that this WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT HAPPEN with an i5 in the situation mentioned above, then I'll take the money I save on the i7 and get Applecare instead.

I can absolutely assure you from hands on experience that the i5 does not stutter using MC, LP or scrolling through web pages. It's 2013, processors can handle these simple tasks with ease.

Also love how ZBoater implied the i5 was a poor CPU. It isn't. Get AppleCare, not the i7, it's the best choice for you, you won't use or need that performance

 

[ZBoater]

...Also love how ZBoater implied the i5 was a poor CPU. It isn't. Get AppleCare, not the i7, it's the best choice for you, you won't use or need that performance

I am not implying the i5 is a poor CPU. I don't need to imply. I can say what I mean. And what I said was the the i7 is a more powerful CPU than the i5. It is faster, more capable - more CPU. That's what I meant when I used the term "not enough computer".

It's a comparison to a clearly superior CPU, not an indictment of the i5 itself. The i5 is quite a capable little CPU. Just not as capable as the i7.

 

[ML321]

If you want to future proof it and give it better value get the i7. Most applications that are gonna come out are gonna need more CPU and RAM power so it is good to upgrade when you can for a average price.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

and more condescension and nastiness...over a computer. seriously - how old are you?

+1 very well put.

I've already linked to the Openoffice benchmarks, the ones that simulate EVERY DAY USE, not HIGH END, that prove the i7 is faster even on those. You've already read multiple posts of people relaying their experiences which you have dismissed as "in their heads" and "psychological". So yes, I have argued and replied but you just insist on clinging to an obviously proven false point.

This is not personal, at least not for me. Your point is that for every day usage, the i5 is just as fast as the i7. My point is that no, it isn't. Benchmarks and personal experience prove that it isn't. You insist that because you cant see it, it must be in my head. So be it.

Another very good point.

Did you even read the sentence before the bit in bold, before resorting to a petty childish comment? I said in everyday scenarios, ie word processing, web browsing, listening to music, the i7 is not faster than the i5. Did you even read any of my other posts?! Out of all of the links you just used, none of them back up your argument, too, as none of them show every day tasks proving the i7 is faster. Why? because it's impossible. None of the tasks you claim are faster are everyday tasks for most users, just for you.

If you take the time to actually read my other posts, and the rest of the one you actually replied to, you'll see I wholeheartedly recommend the i7... to people who will actually use the power (ie for high intensity CPU tasks). For everyone else, the power is a waste, and yes, AS I ORIGINALLY SAID, the i5 is just as fast as the i7 for everyday tasks.

Again my point, there are plenty in this thread who are constructing well researched ideas validating points for each point of the argument, and are not getting aggressive over it. Yes I had read your previous replies thus the post.

You still are missing the point, your argument though this thread is exerting Hitchen's Razor (or maybe to a lesser extent Reductio ad absurdum) and rather aggressive.

Verisimilitude aside I have stated before the there is a difference with performance with the i5 and i7 processors you may or may not want to openly accept (via external links and personal experience), and from my personal experience it comes down to a bit more grunt or a bit more battery life between and i5 and i7.

I would suggest if you have the budget then the i7 is a better buy for longevity but with that said the i5 isn't a weak performer. If I had my option again I would have upgraded to the i7.

Have you tried them side by side, the i5 and i7? Some of us have, and notice a difference, even for stupid things like web browsing.

I have both, one is my personal home computer while the other is my work machine. Both purchased at the same time the only difference being one is an i5 and the other is an i7. The specs are the same, 8GBRAM and 256GB HDD thus from previous posts I do believe it is a strong example..

In my head or not, there is a difference in h.264 render time, a massive difference with photoshop actions, faster render and overall experience in FCPX/Motion 5 and with a whole heap of browser tabs open the i7 wins.

While with light gaming I do gain a few more frames in D3 and Starcraft (4-9 to be precise).

Again I advocate for most users out there the sweet spot for power/price/performance is still the i5/8GB/256GB, though if budget permits the i7/8GB/256GB/Applecare is the one shoot for.