i3-4010u vs. i5-4210u for gaming (GTA IV, GTA 5) + multitasking, what should i get?

[BorealMind]

Hi, i need your advice cause i'm very divided on what hardware to purchase. I just btw gave back my Kabini-based A4-5100 laptop (2.120 on Passmark) with 8670m dual graphics, which was great (even amazing) for everyday work but i couldn't run games like GTA IV fluently. It scored in average from 15 to 25 fps (30+ on water, shadows disabled) although ELFC seemed to run noticeably better. I'm looking at a rig that can play GTA IV at around 30+ fps and GTA V between low and medium settings. Here's the choice:

1 - Asus X555LN, i3-4010u, 4GB RAM, 840m graphics
2 - Exact same configuration and computer, only with i5-4210u processor

The difference in price is 150$, for what i guess i could buy a second-hand console. I'm a very periodic gamer and 90% of the time the PC will be used for work AND hard multitasking, that is why the A4-5100 quad-core suited me so well. I hope the dual-core i3-4010u would not be inferior in regards to that.

What is your advice, what should i get?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Gaidax]

Both i3-4010u and i5-4210u are dual-cores and both clocked at 1.7Ghz, difference is that i5 one has Turbo Boost feature that allows it to boost clock up to 2.7Ghz when set to performance mode (and if heat allows it), so definitely take i5 out of 2 as 1.7Ghz is piss poor really.

That said, both parts are ULV parts - Ultra-Low Voltage - this means this CPU is made for efficiency - not performance. I personally have i5-4200u laptop from work (basically same as i5-4210u, just 100Mhz less clock) and the CPU is nice for work, but it's not a performer really, I reached it's limits on some occasions and those limits did not impress me much.

So I'd say if you want to purchase laptop specifically for (some) gaming, you are just wasting your money there, if it's for work then it's pretty good and battery lasts a decent while too.

 

[BorealMind]

Thank you for your answer. The thing is, i'm not sure if the difference is worth the 150$, that's the essence of my question.

 

[Gaidax]

Definitely yes, 1.7Ghz is just too low for anything besides office work, really.

 

[velo3100]

Get the i5 as it will benifit you when you need to multi task. The gt 840 should be able to play gta 5 on low settings ok.

 

[BorealMind]

Thank you guys. I think to have found a Lenovo with the same specs but with the i3-4030u processor (1.9Ghz) for the same price so i think i'll take that one as a compromise between the i3 (1.7Ghz) and i5. Also, the casing quality seems A LOT better, Asus has really gone down in the past couple of years with the use of recycled materials, the keyboard flex etc. Again, thank you all for your advices. The models that were being discussed:

1, 2 - http://www.winwin.rs/laptop-i-tablet-racunari/laptop-notebook-racunari/laptop-asus-f555ln-xx005d-15-6-intel-core-i5-4210u-4gb-1tb-gt-840-2gb-hdmi-bt-4755175.html (2 - same PC with the i3-variant)
3 - http://www.winwin.rs/laptop-i-tablet-racunari/laptop-notebook-racunari/laptop-lenovo-ideapad-z50-70-59432060-15-6-fhd-intel-core-i3-4030u-4gb-1tb-gt840-2gb-4751585.html

 

[Samuel Kosunen]

Hi!
I can say that 4010u is terrible cpu for gta 5.

I have laptop inside i3-4010u and it cant handle gta 5 cause my cpu, i have so bad stuttrring.

I recommend you to take that i5 laptop

 

[Samuel Kosunen]

Do not i repeat DO NOT take that 4010u laptop!

I have laptop with 4010u and it cant handle gta 5

I say this to you: take that laptop with i5 !

 

[James Mason]

Check the dates bro, this is 2 months old.

 

[BorealMind]

Hi!
I can say that 4010u is terrible cpu for gta 5.

I have laptop inside i3-4010u and it cant handle gta 5 cause my cpu, i have so bad stuttrring.

I recommend you to take that i5 laptop

Thank you, i bought the laptop (Lenovo) with i3-4030u and i am very happy with it. A guy with similar specs is getting very high fps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R_ceciHp6I

 

[BorealMind]

Do not i repeat DO NOT take that 4010u laptop!

I have laptop with 4010u and it cant handle gta 5

I say this to you: take that laptop with i5 !

What is your graphic card?