Laptop i7 turbo mode?

So, i'm trying to find a good laptop for gaming and other stuff. I have 2 different computers, otherwise almost identical but the CPU is different.

I was going to buy a laptop that has this CPU:
T9600 (2 x 2,8 GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 35W)

But then i found this:
i7-820QM (4 x 1,73 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 45 W, Turbo mode up to 3,06GHz)
+LED display
+Smaller resolution(better for me)
+The computer looks better
+280m GTX instead of 260M GTX


Obviously the T9600 is better, but when it comes to turbo mode, the i7-820QM easily beats the T9600. or maybe not

My problem is that what the heck is turbo mode? do i have to keep activating and deactivating it? does it have any flaws?

 

Actually the i7 is better. Don't be fooled just because the T9600 has a high clock speed. The T9600 has only two cores giving up to 5.6 GHz. The i7 has four, giving 6.92Ghz.

The main reason with turbo mode on the i7 is to speed up single threaded applications that will run faster on higher clock speeds.
It increases frequency of the CPU when not all cores are in use. This makes it more efficient.

I'm not too familiar with this subject, so I'm not sure how to activate it, or if it has heating issues like overclocking. I'm sure someone else here knows for sure. But even without "turbo mode" the i7 is still the better processor.

 

I am downright shocked that people still think this is how dual and quad core processors work. Do some reading.
Overall I would generally say the T9600 would be the better CPU, unless there is something you want to use that requires a quad core (if you're not sure, you probably don't).

 

I do alot multitasking like msn + winamp + firefox with many pages open + photoshop + livestream or two + some game
So i may need the quad.

The computers come in same price and i'll always use the power cord so battery life is no problem either.

I'm mostly concerned about the turbo mode and how does it work.
If the computer is most of the time running on 1.73ghz quad and the turbo mode activates only when the cpu is about to explode, i wouldnt buy that.

If the turbo mode turns on whenever the performance is getting a little worse, i'd definetly choose it over 2.8ghz dual.

 

Yeah TBO I was guessing that part, at least I know now.

 

My point is, the quad core is a slower processor than the dual core. It just has more cores - so it will be detrimental unless you use all 4 cores, that's not necessarily that likely.
Turbo mode is a speed booster that activates automatically dependant on the load on the CPU and heat. If it detects the CPU getting too hot, it turns down/off to prevent overheating, and if the CPU is sitting idle, it turns down/off to save power and battery life. The T9600 chip also has a more primitive version of this feature.

 

So the cpu wont be running at 1.73ghz when i could use a higher clock speed and the cpu isn't heated up?

I dont want worse performance just because the higher clock speed isn't necessary.

 

Well per mhz, the i7 CPU is faster. I can't see a laptop CPU managing 2.8Ghz on a regular basis though for heat reasons.

 

I just did some research and it seems that the i7 will be running at 2.6ghz when using 2 cores, and 3.06ghz only when using a single core.

In my view that would render the T9600 to be better in all cases.


edit
aw shit i just noticed that for the i7 laptop i could upgrade the 260m GTX graphics card into 280m GTX for just 59€ >_>

It's not even possible to have that on the T9600 laptop..

I thought i already had the decision -_-

 

You do realise a 280m GTX is nothing like the GTX280 right? The mobile GTX280 is an old 8800GT based card.

 

Yes, but i do realise that it's one of the best mobile graphics cards available(without SLI), and a nice improvement from 260m GTX, with that price difference atleast.

 

That is true (and SLI for laptops is best avoided, really). I will just point out that you should be aware of the longevity issues surrounding nvidia's mobile graphics chips - a good warranty is essential. Unfortunately laptops using ATI's high-end mobile chips are few and far between.

 

Why not get a desktop? A corei7 laptop is going to run HOT unless it has some sort of exceptional new cooling system. You will also get alot more bang from the buck in a desktop. Sure it lacks the mobility of a laptop, but if you really need a little bit of mobility for browsing and such get a netbook.

 

Depends on the TDP of the chip. The much lower clock speed implies a real architecture redesign. It may get quite warm, all powerful laptops do, but it's being a bit critical to say it will overheat...

 

I want easy mobility for gaming and stuff like that.
And i want everything on a single computer.

When im going to my grandmom for christmas or a week holiday at home, i woudn't like taking a desktop computer for a 3 hour train trip with a train switch inbetween.

And no, i do not have a life. Thats why i need a computer if im going home for a week+.


ps. My biggest fear with the turbo mode is that the laptop uses 4 cores @1.73ghz just because the application can use them all, even if less cores with turbo mode would perform better.

 

Im not saying it will over heat but im pretty sure any i7 laptop is going to run hotter then any Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad laptop.


@tsun well I can certainly understand why you would want a laptop but with out knowing those details it hard to know which option is better. Most people simply want a laptop and expect it to be a super gaming machine.

 

It will, the T9600 is a 35W chip, the i7 is 45W. Depends on the standard of cooling really.

 

I realize that, what I( was getting at more or less, was the limitations of customizing the cooling system on a laptop.

 

Gaming laptops gethot. No way around it, but they needn't always overheat - most of the laptops I've seen that overheat are actually quite basic.