Intel Core i3/i5/i7 Chips enter "Sweet Spot"

We keep track of laptops in terms of performance versus price -- and we are excited that more of the Intel Core i3/i5/i7 series is entering the sweet spot of performance to price.  BUT what are some of the differences between the i3 and i5 chip (and i7)?

Thermal Design Power (TDP):  The lower the number, the better.  This measures the power, or wattage needed to run and cool the computer's processor.  This is where the i5 shines over the i3.

• The i3 uses about 75 watts of power as compared to 35 watts for the i5.  This means the i5 chip runs cooler and uses less energy.
• This means better performance to energy usage (and more efficient battery usage!) for the i5.
• Currently, tech limitations caps chip clock speed at around 4Ghz -- with many laptops running chips in the 2 Ghz range.
• This is why the chip manufacturers (mainly Intel & AMD) have made dual core and quad core processors (using 2 or 4 processors to improve computing performance).    
• The i5 has a Turbo-boost for better performance when needed.
• The i7 uses about 45 watts of power but has higher specs in terms of number of cores and cache.  
• The i7 is still a bit pricey, but i3 and i5 laptops are currently in our "sweet spot" of laptops.  

We love the i3 -- and especially the i5 chip -- if you are shopping for a laptop.  

Laptop Specs - April 2011

We keep track of laptops that we like for everyday / business use. Some people may like the most powerful laptops -- or more stylish looks -- but the specs shown in the chart below represent the "sweetspot" in terms of performance, price, and value. Here's a record of what you can get for the given price point over recent years.

It's exciting to have the new Intel "breakthrough" Core i3/i5/i7 series of chips in this price category. Other features that we have our eye on include:

• The i5 and i7 chips and 6GB (or 8GB) of RAM memory are a little pricier than the laptops in the chart below.  You can step up to the the i5/i7 and increased memory for about $750 to $800 (about $200 more than our sweet spot below).
• Some of the i5's are starting to edge into $599 laptops!!  (There is an HP i5 with 4GB Ram, 640HD; 6.5 hr battery life for $599).
• Most laptops have around 4 hours of battery life - but a few have up to 8 hours.  Over time, the batteries degrade -- so you will see less than the listed battery life specs...
• Some laptops have increased battery life.  You will have to look for this feature, however, as most do not have the extended battery life.  Extended battery life will cost a bit more.
• LED screens use much less power than LCD screen -- meaning improved battery life.
• Those concerned with battery life might want to consider a slightly smaller screen (14 inches instead of 15 inches means a smaller surface area to light up). (This is a trade-off for smartphones as well: a larger screen means more battery drain.)
• HDMI output is increasingly available.

Date	Processor Speed	Memory	Harddrive	Battery	Price
Apr 11	2.5 Ghz (i3) Win 7	4GB (exp to 8)	500 GB	4.5 hrs	$550
Jan 11	2.4 Ghz (i3) Win 7	4 GB (exp to 8)	500 GB	4.5 hrs / 8 hrs	$500-$600
Nov 10	2.4 Ghz (i3) Win 7	4 GB (exp to 8)	320 GB	4 hrs	$500
Dec 09	2.2 Ghz (x2) Win 7	4 GB	300 GB	4 hrs	$550
Aug 09	2.1 Ghz (x2) Vista	3 GB	320 GB	3 hrs	$500
Dec 08	2.0 Ghz (x2) Vista	3 GB	300 GB	2.5 hrs	$550
Aug 08	1.9 Ghz (x2) Vista	3 GB	250 GB	2 hrs	$550
Dec 07	1.6 Ghz (x2) Vista	1.5 GB	120 GB	1.5 hrs	$550