I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

X200, X201, X220 (including equivalent tablet models) and X300, X301 series specific matters only.
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bonoz
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I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#1 Post by bonoz » Thu Apr 21, 2016 7:48 am

Hi guys,

I have an i5 2.5 Ghz X220 tablet. I love this machine and I am waiting until the next Surface Book comes out. Until then I wanna make this one last. Do you think an upgrade to i7 2.8 Ghz will give noticeable boost in performance?

Thanks

brchan
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Re: I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#2 Post by brchan » Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:50 am

Not unless you are maxing out your cpu, and even then it would not be much faster. The 2520m is still more than enough for general tasks and even android development.
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53

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Re: I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#3 Post by axur-delmeria » Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:31 am

The processor in any X-series Thinkpad is soldered to the system board, and thus not upgradeable.
This means you have to either buy a system board with an i7 processor (and disassemble your laptop in order to install it), or a complete laptop unit.
Daily driver: X220 4291-P79 i5-2520M

In reserve: X61 T7500, X60 T2300
In pieces: X60s CS U1300 [board only], two retired but working X61Ts
RIP: 760XD 9546-U9E

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Re: I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#4 Post by jaspen-meyer » Thu Apr 21, 2016 2:56 pm

It's a very small performance improvement.
Even if you were pushing the processor hard you would hardly notice the difference.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare.ph ... &cmp[]=876
http://ark.intel.com/compare/52229,53464
T420 Ivy Bridge i7 3612QM, x24 xiphmont led, x60s libreboot, led, T400 libreboot, (in progress testing Q9100)

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Re: I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#5 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:09 pm

The only extra attraction might be a USB3.0 port.

brchan
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Re: I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#6 Post by brchan » Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:19 pm

The only extra attraction might be a USB3.0 port.
Unfortunately, the X220 Tablets never came with usb 3.0, only the i7 X220 models did.
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53

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Re: I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#7 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu Apr 21, 2016 4:42 pm

Bugger...
How about upgrading instead to an X230 tablet, then mod the BIOS to accommodate the classic X220 keyboard?

brchan
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Re: I have an i5. Is there a noticeable difference in upgrading to an i7?

#8 Post by brchan » Thu Apr 21, 2016 4:49 pm

If you are using an HDD, I would highly recommend switching to a good solid state drive, such as the samsung 850 PRO. It will make your computer feel years younger.
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53

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