Has a i7-2820QM any advantage over i7-2720QM running Workstation?

[InToGraphics]

Dudes and Dudettes,

I'm going to replace my desktop with either a Sandy Bridge Mac Book Pro 17, or a Sandy Bridge HP Envy 17 3D (if HP ever releases it in The Netherlands).

I have 2 VMware Workstation 6.5 (Win) licenses, which I will upgrade to 7 when I've purchased the notebook.

With Workstation 7 (Windows) in mind, will there be any advantage to go for the i7-2820QM instead of the i7-2720QM ?

I'll be switching between :

3-4 simultaneous 512MB Ubuntu Server VMs (windowed and minimized), and Aptana Studio in a Ubuntu Desktop VM (alternating full-screen or windowed),

and

1 Oracle DB Express with Logic Server in a Ubuntu VM (windowed and minimized), and Oracle Fusion Middleware, Oracle Tuxedo, and Oracle JDeveloper in a Ubuntu Desktop VM (alternating full-screen or windowed).

And I'll also have IBM Client Access running on the host with at most 6 terminal/printer sessions opened at once (negligible impact).

When not running any VMs, I'll be modeling in Cinema 4D Prime with Sketch & Toon, drawing in Illustrator CS4 and a just a little Photoshop CS4, Unity 3D Free, browsing, watching the occasional (3D) movie from the ODD, not the HDD, and not doing any gaming.

[WoodyZ · Accepted solution]

Looking at the specifications from Intel, with the exception of price,  and comparing the differences between the two, shown below, the only significant difference is with the 'Intel® Smart Cache and all the remaining specification not shown below were identical.  The obvious and expected differences, Clock Speed, Max Turbo Frequency and Bus/Core Ratio, are negligible when comparing two processors when there is only a 0.1 GHZ difference between the two.

Processor Number	i7-2820QM	Processor Number	i7-2720QM
Clock Speed	2.3 GHz	Clock Speed	2.2 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency	3.4 GHz	Max Turbo Frequency	3.3 GHz
Intel® Smart Cache	8 MB	Intel® Smart Cache	6 MB
Bus/Core Ratio	23	Bus/Core Ratio	22

So the real question should be are you willing to pay the price difference to gain such a marginal increase in the Clock Speed, Max Turbo Frequency and Bus/Core Ratio for the additional 2 MB of Intel® Smart Cache.

I truly doubt one would be able to perceive a 0.1 GHZ difference at that speed however an additional 2 MB of Intel® Smart Cache is an appreciable amount and for a Power User this can make a difference however lets face it it always comes down to price so I say buy as much computer you can afford while getting the system that has all the other features you need/want.

[InToGraphics]

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I was aware of the minuscule difference in GHz, and the 2MB Smart Cache difference from this comparison I made : ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=52231,52219,50067,52227,

According to Intel, Smart Cache's purpose is to make the CPU better adjust between performance and power saving modes. (Might be truth, or just marketing. I do not know.) I didn't know whether the extra 2MB would also impact desktop virtualization. And couldn't find anything conclusive on the net about "Smart Cache and virtualization".

That's why I asked if picking the i7-2820QM would have any advantage over picking an i7-2720QM.

But from the last paragraph of your reply it looks like the differences between the 2, shouldn't influence my CPU choice.

Thanks.