Advice: Dual-core vs i3 vs i5 - New Notebook

[nic777]

Hi everyone,

Buying a new laptop after last one of 3 years is busy dying and can't work on it, no time to wait to fix it right now and suspect the worst has happened.

I am busy shopping and comparing but need advice.

I am not the most knowledge on hardware but know there is some new intel CPUs now so want to go with that so I am not stuck with very old tech after a year or 2.

Is my reasoning correct or is the current crop of intel chips (dual core) fine for now and should be good for 2-3 years more?

Or is it much better to get an "i" series chip?

Then, whats the major difference between i3 and i5?

Google says "The i5 is quad core, the i3 isn't. The i5 has Turbo Boost, the i3 doesn't. The i3 has hyper-threading, while i5 doesn't."

but what is it like in everyday use?

I do normal things on it, music and watch movies, largest process right now is CAD program. Run Linux on it.

Thanks in advance

Nick

 

[Grim147]

i3 is alright
i5 is amazing
i7 is mind blowing in price and performance

personaly i would go for the i5

 

[sand_man]

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/Buy...85V-Asus-N-Series-N53SV-Notebook-lp-42057.php

 

[Libertas Computers]

I suppose it all comes down to how much you are willing to spend. I do email, sql, surfing and invoicing on mine and I got it for R3500. Something for CAD would use a bit more.

I'd definitely prefer an i-series chip as well. Core2 etc is on the way out and few laptops are left that actually do have these chips.

Regards,
Fred

 

[Brawler]

the Core i5 in the notebooks is a dual core..

 

[nic777]

Thanks everyone for the advice