Surface Pro 3, CPU Choice?

[AMD Lover]

So the Surface Pro 3 looks really cool and im thinking about buying it. If i do you think an i3 or an i5 would be best. I dont need this to be super powerful as i already have a desktop. This mostly would be used for note taking. Some light gaming and Lightroom on the go.

 

 

What do you think?

[antoainb]

I'd go for an i5 if you want to use Lightroom.

[Moredeath]

I'm going to buy an i3 model for s**ts and giggles.

[AMD Lover]

I'd go for an i5 if you want to use Lightroom.

Would the i3 run the general OS fine and smooth. Like no lag?

 

Like ie, and apps?

[antoainb]

Would the i3 run the general OS fine and smooth. Like no lag?

 

Like ie, and apps?

 

8.1 runs well on my PC wich is far worse so yeah, it will.

[Dudenstein]

I'd go i7 so that I can get the most longevity out of it as possible. I don't care about gaming when it comes to mobile so integrated gou won't bother me but I would like the extra horses to keep it relevant as long as possible. I don't upgrade often. Still using s single 560ti and I still use my first gen iPad

[Mao_Zedong]

Would the i3 run the general OS fine and smooth. Like no lag?

Like ie, and apps?

i say go i5, it will be a avalible sooner, will run better (it has a 2560x1600 or so display), and it will last longer. I don't know prices, but it is probably best to go i5.

[AMD Lover]

i say go i5, it will be a avalible sooner, will run better (it has a 2560x1600 or so display), and it will last longer. I don't know prices, but it is probably best to go i5.

i5 is $1000, i3 is 799 (USD)

[Mao_Zedong]

i5 is $1000, i3 is 799 (USD)

then i5 is definatly the better choice. And i3 is probably ok, but with that resolution, it's best to go i5

[TheGosuStandard]

i5 has two model variations, one with 4gb's of ram and 128gb ssd, while the other has 8gb of ram and 256gb ssd. I'm still trying to decide, even with student discount it's still pretty pricey especially with $130 keyboard. 

[tbc]

Would the i3 run the general OS fine and smooth. Like no lag?

 

Like ie, and apps?

 

you literally can't buy a modern x86-64 chip that has trouble running the os and browser.  it's been this way for years now.

 

even the worst smartphone can do video playback no problem and that is many factors more difficult than running a browser which is many magnitudes harder than an os.

[Blood4guts]

I'm also going into college next year for mechanical engineering. I'm hoping to get a surface pro 3 (the $999 version) with a touch cover in addition to my desktop (w/ a student discount from Microsoft that's basically a free touch cover).

[AMD Lover]

I'm also going into college next year for mechanical engineering, I'm hoping to get a surface pro 3 (the $999 version) with a touch cover in addition to my desktop (w/ a student discount from Microsoft that's basically a free touch cover).

Oh, i forgot about student discounts

[TheArium]

Would the i3 run the general OS fine and smooth. Like no lag?

 

Like ie, and apps?

 

Definitely!

 

I'd go i7 so that I can get the most longevity out of it as possible. I don't care about gaming when it comes to mobile so integrated gou won't bother me but I would like the extra horses to keep it relevant as long as possible. I don't upgrade often. Still using s single 560ti and I still use my first gen iPad

 

Chances are, if you don't need the power of the i7 as things are now, the technology used in that specific CPU will be outdated before you get to the point where you could possibly benefit from it in your daily tasks. Buy what you need, not what you think you might need in the future.

 

i say go i5, it will be a avalible sooner, will run better (it has a 2560x1600 or so display), and it will last longer. I don't know prices, but it is probably best to go i5.

 

I cannot see why the i3 should have any problems running perfectly fine - even when playing games from the app store. If Microsoft knew there would be a problem they would have never released that option since bad product experience = bad reputation and bad sales.

 

I would personally get the i3 because I would use it for office (note taking in class primarily), web browsing and e-mails. But it's way too expensive. I really cannot figure out if this kind of product is generally overpriced of if I'm missing something that justifies the 2000$ (minus touch cover) price tag for the most expensive model! In Denmark it's more like 2750$. I think perhaps Microsoft should have ditched the touch cover for this one, put the type cover in the box and sold the pen separately. It's an ultrabook, you need a keyboard for it.

 

On a side note, I was wondering if you can install apps and programmes on a micro SD card in full Windows? I don't believe you can in RT. If you can on the pro models, though, it would help the i3 model's 64 GB SSD.