Laptop: i7-7700HQ or i7-8550U?

[OmJo93]

Here's a comparison of them, with benchmarks: http://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-intel_core_i7_7700hq-690-vs-intel_core_i7_8550u-770

 

Right now I have my search for a new laptop down to two Dell laptops: a Dell XPS 15 for $1999 CAD or a Dell Inspiron 15 7000 for $1549 CAD. Price isn't an issue since I'll be likely be financing either one through DFS.

 

The XPS has an i7-7700HQ, the Inspiron has an i7-8550u. I'm not the most knowledgeable person wrt benchmarks, but can they be "misled" due to the i7-8550u having higher single core turbo speeds? From what I understand Intel CPUs aren't designed to be in turbo mode for very long (I could be wrong) so would real performance show any significant differences?

 

Which CPU would you choose for late 2017, for a laptop you'd be using for a few years? 

 

Am I crazy for even considering an Inspiron over an XPS 15? Maybe, lol.

[TheNaitsyrk]

2 minutes ago, OmJo93 said:

Here's a comparison of them, with benchmarks: http://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-intel_core_i7_7700hq-690-vs-intel_core_i7_8550u-770

 

Right now I have my search for a new laptop down to two Dell laptops: a Dell XPS 15 for $1999 CAD or a Dell Inspiron 15 7000 for $1549 CAD. Price isn't an issue since I'll be likely be financing either one through DFS.

 

The XPS has an i7-7700HQ, the Inspiron has an i7-8550u. I'm not the most knowledgeable person wrt benchmarks, but can they be "misled" due to the i7-8550u having higher single core turbo speeds? From what I understand Intel CPUs aren't designed to be in turbo mode for very long (I could be wrong) so would real performance show any significant differences?

 

Which CPU would you choose for late 2017, for a laptop you'd be using for a few years? 

 

Am I crazy for even considering an Inspiron over an XPS 15? Maybe, lol.

i7 HQ is faster, it's TDP it like about 48W? U stands for low power CPUs, so I guess it eats about 15W. Also, the U one is usually 2 cores only.

 

Moreover, laptop is a waste of money, but that's just my opinion.

[aisle9]

I'm watching those Kaby Lake Refresh U-class SKUs very closely. i5 and i7 U-class CPUs are quad core now. If their performance shows a marked increase as a result, I'm all over one. Laptop CPUs over about 35W, in my experience, start to have throttling issues within 18-24 months of purchase. Not a problem if you cycle through laptops like Amy Winehouse through a pharmacy cabinet (too soon?), but if you want it to last, I'd err on the side of a lower power chip.

[OmJo93]

8 minutes ago, TheNaitsyrk said:

i7 HQ is faster, it's TDP it like about 48W? U stands for low power CPUs, so I guess it eats about 15W. Also, the U one is usually 2 cores only.

 

Moreover, laptop is a waste of money, but that's just my opinion.

The 8th generation i5 and i7 ULV CPUs are quad core with multithreading now. Otherwise yeah, this thread wouldn't even exist lol.

 

[TheNaitsyrk]

Just now, OmJo93 said:

The 8th generation i5 and i7 ULV CPUs are quad core with multithreading now. Otherwise yeah, this thread wouldn't even exist lol.

 

I'd take the U one in this case. No brainer here. Especially when you're saving bucks.

[minervx]

I would go with the U, unless you plan on using your laptop like a desktop the majority of the time.

 

For a portable device, battery life is more important than being able to run heavy apps.

[OmJo93]

Just now, minervx said:

I would go with the U, unless you plan on using your laptop like a desktop the majority of the time.

 

For a portable device, battery life is more important than being able to run heavy apps.

I should have clarified, this would be my main computer, I don't have a desktop and aren't home enough to invest in one. I'm a university student so whatever laptop I purchase will also be my "desktop."

 

The XPS model I'm looking at has a 97WHr battery. It's frustrating that there's like a dozen XPS 15 reviews but nothing for the Inspiron 15 just because it's a consumer laptop so no way to compare battery life or even general performance other than by going off what Dell says.

[Imglidinhere]

2 hours ago, TheNaitsyrk said:

i7 HQ is faster, it's TDP it like about 48W? U stands for low power CPUs, so I guess it eats about 15W. Also, the U one is usually 2 cores only.

 

Moreover, laptop is a waste of money, but that's just my opinion.

Your entire comment is irrelevant because of this statement. You're biased against something for personal reasons that have no relevancy.

1 hour ago, OmJo93 said:

I should have clarified, this would be my main computer, I don't have a desktop and aren't home enough to invest in one. I'm a university student so whatever laptop I purchase will also be my "desktop."

 

The XPS model I'm looking at has a 97WHr battery. It's frustrating that there's like a dozen XPS 15 reviews but nothing for the Inspiron 15 just because it's a consumer laptop so no way to compare battery life or even general performance other than by going off what Dell says.

I would steer clear of the Inspiron 15 personally. First, it's as much as the XPS model and has a worse GPU, so unless the build-quality of the Inspiron is on par with their Precision series (highly unlikely) you'll be buying an overpriced, flimsy, poorly-cooled machine when you could go for their premium model that Dell has babied since they released the line and name XPS.

 

Plus, you can configure the TDP-down of the CPU in the power management so that it runs as a 35w CPU and gain another hour of battery life. Kaby Lake is already VERY frugal with managing power. I wouldn't worry about battery life even with an i7. 

[OmJo93]

8 hours ago, Imglidinhere said:

Your entire comment is irrelevant because of this statement. You're biased against something for personal reasons that have no relevancy.

I would steer clear of the Inspiron 15 personally. First, it's as much as the XPS model and has a worse GPU, so unless the build-quality of the Inspiron is on par with their Precision series (highly unlikely) you'll be buying an overpriced, flimsy, poorly-cooled machine when you could go for their premium model that Dell has babied since they released the line and name XPS.

 

Plus, you can configure the TDP-down of the CPU in the power management so that it runs as a 35w CPU and gain another hour of battery life. Kaby Lake is already VERY frugal with managing power. I wouldn't worry about battery life even with an i7. 

The XPS model I'm looking at is $1999 on sale, regular price it was $2299 or something around there whereas the Inspiron at regular price is $1549. The new 7000 series models are intriguing, they seem like really good laptops. The monthly payments are $55/month for the XPS 15 (with the sale) and $43/month for the Inspiron so in that way they're pretty much the same price, yeah. Otherwise significantly different lol.

 

Can you underclock HQ processors? Could I, if for whatever reason, underclock the i7-7700HQ to say 1.8-2.0Ghzand the voltage to 15-20W? Make it behave like the Kaby Lake R i7's? Maybe I'm asking this question in the wrong section. 

[genexis_x]

32 minutes ago, OmJo93 said:

Can you underclock HQ processors? Could I, if for whatever reason, underclock the i7-7700HQ to say 1.8-2.0Ghzand the voltage to 15-20W? Make it behave like the Kaby Lake R i7's? Maybe I'm asking this question in the wrong section. 

Never underclock, undervolt it, less heat less noise more battery life more reliable

 

11 hours ago, OmJo93 said:

Here's a comparison of them, with benchmarks: http://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-intel_core_i7_7700hq-690-vs-intel_core_i7_8550u-770

 

Right now I have my search for a new laptop down to two Dell laptops: a Dell XPS 15 for $1999 CAD or a Dell Inspiron 15 7000 for $1549 CAD. Price isn't an issue since I'll be likely be financing either one through DFS.

 

The XPS has an i7-7700HQ, the Inspiron has an i7-8550u. I'm not the most knowledgeable person wrt benchmarks, but can they be "misled" due to the i7-8550u having higher single core turbo speeds? From what I understand Intel CPUs aren't designed to be in turbo mode for very long (I could be wrong) so would real performance show any significant differences?

 

Which CPU would you choose for late 2017, for a laptop you'd be using for a few years? 

 

Am I crazy for even considering an Inspiron over an XPS 15? Maybe, lol.

Never use userbenchmark

 

The 8th gen ULV CPU only runs at about 2.2 GHz under long heavy loads while the HQ CPUs can maintain the boost clock for a long time (cooling solution is important). If you're planning to game or to do productivity loads, get HQ CPU. If not, go for 8th gen ULV. Keep in mind that 8250U and 8550U perform similarly due to same TDP limitation.

 

Also, XPS line has better build quality compared to Inspiron line

[OmJo93]

19 minutes ago, ZM Fong said:

The 8th gen ULV CPU only runs at about 2.2 GHz under long heavy loads while the HQ CPUs can maintain the boost clock for a long time (cooling solution is important).

Yeah, that's what I figured about the KBR processor and so the benchmarks are kind of misleading when reviewers use them to say the i7-8550u is a faster processor than the i7-7700HQ. Good to know.

 

I'll be gaming and using FL Studio quite a bit. I think the XPS is the obvious choice, I just wish that camera wasn't so bad - I do a lot of Skyping. But I'll have to make due with it.

24 minutes ago, ZM Fong said:

Never underclock, undervolt it, less heat less noise more battery life more reliable

 Undervolting won't result in thermal throttling? Pardon my ignorance.

 

[genexis_x]

24 minutes ago, OmJo93 said:

I'll be gaming and using FL Studio quite a bit. I think the XPS is the obvious choice, I just wish that camera wasn't so bad - I do a lot of Skyping. But I'll have to make due with it.

 Undervolting won't result in thermal throttling? Pardon my ignorance.

In this case, HQ CPUs are more suitable for your needs.

 

Throttling can be caused by many factors, not just thermal only. For instance, poor VRM cooling (XPS 15 common issue, can be fixed by adding thermal pads), poor cooling design (insufficient heatpipes, hot hardware in thin factor, bad thermal paste etc) and BIOS issue (capped clock speed for no reason)

 

However, what I can tell you is, undervolting definitely helps a lot in thermals and it won't damage your computer.