Which ivy bridge should i get

Let's take a look at the components you need for this system. Can't decide between the Core i5 and Core i7 processors? Let me simplify things for you by pointing out the two key differences between the two lines. If you plan on making heavy use of applications that can leverage Hyper-Threading -- for example, multimedia software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or HandBrake -- then the extra cost of the Core i7 is worth it, otherwise I recommend picking a CPU from the cheaper Core i5 range.

It's worth bearing in mind that games don't benefit from Hyper-Threading, so you're better off saving money on the CPU and putting what you save towards a better graphics card. You'll also notice that some processor model numbers have K and S suffixes. Parts with the K suffix feature unlocked multipliers and are excellent for overclocking, while parts with the S suffix are "performance-optimized" low-power parts, all with a TDP below 65W. If you want performance -- or the opportunity to overclock your system -- then I recommend that you go for either the Core iK or the Core iK.

If you want a more power-efficient part -- which will have the advantage of needing less cooling, so it's better suited to situations where you don't want too much cooler noise -- then the Core iS or Core iS are the parts you want to look at. While you are free to pick whichever part for your system you want, I'm going to go with the cheapest processor in the list, the Core i This processor is clocked at 3.

New products are appearing daily and older models are being upgraded or replaced. These are the four things that are important about Ivy Bridge in a notebook:. More details about the Ivy Bridge processors here. If you can get a sweet deal as the manufacturers clear their shelves to make room for Ivy Bridge notebooks, you might want to do that. But make no mistake, this is a complete turnover of the market.

It will be different tomorrow. Models and features are being updated constantly. The Inspiron 14z is a very appealing Ultrabook! One of my current favorites. The XPS 13 Ultrabook has not yet been refreshed with the new processors.

Then again, prices of the new Ivy Bridge processors are pretty much in line with the older Sandy Bridge processors, so any progress could be classed as a freebie. And there are some dramatic differences. For starters, Ivy Bridge chips are built using Intel's new 22nm production process. Smaller transistors usually make for lower power consumption and better performance. Intel says this is especially true of this latest 22nm node thanks to what is known as 3D Tri-gate transistors.

The details are pretty techy, but the upshot is said to be better current flow and control. The other big news is a majorly revised integrated graphics core.

As we'll see, it comes in two versions and the most powerful, the Intel HD Graphics , gets an extra four execution units for a grand total of The entry level HD sticks with six units.

That should ensure wider compatibility with games. However, even the more powerful HD model isn't really up to the job of proper gaming on the desktop. Things are a little different in laptops, but we'll come back to that in a moment. Of more immediate relevance is the revised QuickSync video transcode engine that comes with both models of the HD Graphics adapters. The idea here is hardware acceleration of jobs like transcoding your favourite videos for use on a smartphone for instance.

With QuickSync, preparing a full hour-long TV episode takes just a few minutes. Using a conventional CPU takes at least four or five times as long. If that's the broader back ground to Ivy Bridge, this is how the range lines up. Closely related is the Intel Core i which is identical save for MHz base clockspeed at 3. Then there's the Intel Core iK. It's still a quad-core model, but doesn't get HyperThreading so can crunch just one software thread per core instead of two.