i3-370 or i5-2430m - Which is best?

Message boards : Number crunching : i3-370 or i5-2430m - Which is best?

Author	Message
jim Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 6 Jan 08 Posts: 55 Credit: 932,140 RAC: 1,398	Message 1179211 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 9:24:30 UTC
	Hello all, I am buying a new laptop soon, and am looking at two, one with an i3-370 processor and one with i5-2430m processor. Can anyone advise me which would be better for crunching seti? Or would a dual core be the better option? It may sound like an obvious question, but I'm not into my computers. Many thanks in advance. ____________ Join Paranormal Seti looking into the unknown
	ID: 1179211 ·

Grant (SSSF) Send message Joined: 19 Aug 99 Posts: 5291 Credit: 41,846,622 RAC: 32,540	Message 1179221 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 11:52:13 UTC - in response to Message 1179211.
	The i3 & i5 have the same base clock speed, but the i5 supports Turbo Boost- it will run the cores at a higher clock speed, up to the chips maximum thermal rating. The i5 also has the better inbuilt graphics. ____________ Grant Darwin NT.
	ID: 1179221 ·

Duane Send message Joined: 23 Jun 08 Posts: 101 Credit: 1,131,797 RAC: 1	Message 1179223 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 12:04:04 UTC
	The i5-2430m is Sandy Bridge while the i3-370m is Arrandale. Sandy Bridge is a bit newer and faster clock for clock, and supports turbo. The i5-2430m should be your choice between the two.
	ID: 1179223 ·

jim Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 6 Jan 08 Posts: 55 Credit: 932,140 RAC: 1,398	Message 1179224 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 12:15:50 UTC - in response to Message 1179223.
	many thanks for the advice:) I think I may go for the I5 ____________ Join Paranormal Seti looking into the unknown
	ID: 1179224 ·

Alex Storey Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 Jun 04 Posts: 465 Credit: 1,408,774 RAC: 1,997	Message 1179228 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 12:26:25 UTC - in response to Message 1179224.
	Do you know about GPU crunching? (Using a graphics card)
	ID: 1179228 ·

jim Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 6 Jan 08 Posts: 55 Credit: 932,140 RAC: 1,398	Message 1179229 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 12:27:14 UTC - in response to Message 1179228.
	i have no idea...... please do tell! ____________ Join Paranormal Seti looking into the unknown
	ID: 1179229 ·

Alex Storey Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 Jun 04 Posts: 465 Credit: 1,408,774 RAC: 1,997	Message 1179238 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 13:35:22 UTC
	Sorry Jim, had to pop out... The quick answer is that you use your graphic card just like you would that Intel processor you are looking at. This "technique" has been around for a couple of years and it's not voodoo:) Watt for watt (on my laptop) the GPU is more efficent at crunching Seti. Let me work on finding you a couple of links to get you started, and meanwhile someone more knowledgable than I will hopefully jump in for more help...
	ID: 1179238 ·

jim Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 6 Jan 08 Posts: 55 Credit: 932,140 RAC: 1,398	Message 1179239 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 13:40:47 UTC - in response to Message 1179238.
	Many thanks. . . But does the GPU have to be NVIDIA? I think my graphics card is intel something or other . . . ____________ Join Paranormal Seti looking into the unknown
	ID: 1179239 ·

Alex Storey Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 Jun 04 Posts: 465 Credit: 1,408,774 RAC: 1,997	Message 1179244 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 13:49:37 UTC - in response to Message 1179239.
	Have you already purchased the laptop? (Intel GPUs won't crunch Boinc atm) http://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/GPU_computing
	ID: 1179244 ·

jim Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 6 Jan 08 Posts: 55 Credit: 932,140 RAC: 1,398	Message 1179245 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 13:51:21 UTC - in response to Message 1179244.
	Ive not bought it yet, just thinking about getting one this week . . .Thanks for the link. Maybe I should look for a NVIDIA graphics as well as the processor ____________ Join Paranormal Seti looking into the unknown
	ID: 1179245 ·

Alex Storey Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 Jun 04 Posts: 465 Credit: 1,408,774 RAC: 1,997	Message 1179249 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 14:14:00 UTC - in response to Message 1179245.
	Maybe I should look for a NVIDIA graphics as well as the processor Highly recommended:) All the top (desktop) computers here at Seti are using them. http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/top_hosts.php If you look at the GPU column the number in brackets is the amount of GPUs each computer has inside. As you can see the top host has 8! If crunching Seti is high on your laptop purchasing wishlist I highly recommend creating a new thread here in Number Crunching titled something like "help me chose a laptop for Seti". You'll get a ton of good advice! Just be sure to describe your other needs (besides Seti) as clearly as possible. For example: "the laptop is for my girlfriend and it's gotta be pink", or "the screen size can't be over 14in", or "I can only spend up to £xxx", etc.
	ID: 1179249 ·

Message boards : Number crunching : i3-370 or i5-2430m - Which is best?