upgrade processor or get graphics card?

[caliban7]

Hi, i just got an HP EliteBook 8460p for super cheap and I was planning on upgrading it for some better performance. It currently has the following:
- i5-2520m
- 4gb pc3-12800 RAM ( I'm upgrading it to 8GB )
-Samsung 850 Evo 250gb ssd

From looking at the motherboard specs, it has a G2 socket with the QM67 chipset, which means I can upgrade to a 3rd-gen processor and get all the perks associated with it. However, this laptop has an option for a motherboard with built-in Radeon HD 6470M graphics. After doing a cursory glance at both options, it seems like it'll be about the same cost for getting one or the other. What would be the best way to proceed? I am looking to use this laptop for programming, dual boot Win7 and Linux, and some light gaming. I am looking for better performance but don't want to sacrifice battery life any more than I have to.

 

[Brunostako]

The HD 6470M is actually slower the Intel HD 4000, so it would be better if you just upgrade you CPU to a 3rd gen one.

 

[X79]

Laptops generally aren't worth upgrading. The money used upgrading could've gone to a completely new one, which

would net you a substantially better experience overall. Even if you upgrade to 3rd gen, you'll still be one gen behind and soon

more, when Skylake and co release. A 4th gen is particularly suited for laptops as well. That said, what does light gaming constitute?

 

[velo3100]

I would upgrade the cpu as most of the tasks you are doing are cpu based rather than gpu based. As I don't know what games you will be playing I will assume that you igpu can handle it.

 

[sora]

It is really hard to upgrade a laptop OP so I do not suggest doing it.