Best Value - Help Please

[BenjaminRD]

Hey guys,
I've read several posts on the A6-3400M vs. i3-2310m topic but for some reason I still can't decide which one to go for. I won't be playing any games. I will be running Microsoft office software, Adobe Photoshop, open many tabs on my browser, use several other software which deal with a lot of real-time data inputs from the internet and occasionally watch movies on it.

Here are two laptops I'm considering: (note - I can purchase either one for $450 CAD after all taxes, I don't mind the 14" screen and 450 is probably the maximum I want to spend on this laptop.)

1) Toshiba 15.6"
Processor 2.1GHz 2nd Generation Intel Core i3-2310M
Cache 3MB L3
Memory 4GB
Memory Type DDR3
Hard Drive 640GB
Hard Drive Speed 5400 RPM
CD-DVD Drive DVD Super-Multi Double Layer
Display Type HD Active Matrix colour LCD with LED backlight
Battery Type 10.8V 48Wh 6-Cell Li-ion
Battery Life Up to 5.5 hours
Bluetooth No
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000
# of USB Slots 2 x USB 2.0
Media Card Reader SD, SDHC, MMC
Keyboard Layout Full Sized 105-Key Canadian Bilingual
Numeric Keypad Dedicated
Colour/Finish Genchaku Back with Tops Design
Weight 5.29 lb.

2) Toshiba Satellite 14"
Native Screen Resolution 1366 x 768
LED Backlit Display Yes
Processor Type AMD A6-3400M
Processor Cores 4
Processor Speed 2.3 GHz ( I think it's 1.4 but can go up to 2.3)
Processor Cache 4 MB L2
Hard Drive Capacity 500 GB
Hard Drive Speed 5400 rpm
RAM Size 4 GB
RAM Type DDR3 SDRAM
RAM Speed 1333 MHz
RAM Slots 2 (1 Available)
Optical Drive 6X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW
Built-in Memory Card Reader Yes
Memory Card Reader - Compatible Memory Type SD; SDHC; SDHX; XD; Memory Stick; Memory Stick Pro; Mini SD; Micro SD
Graphics Chipset AMD Radeon HD 6520G
Video Memory Configuration Integrated
Digital Audio Output Yes - HDMI Digital Audio/Video
Webcam Yes
USB 2.0 Ports 3
HDMI Output Yes
HDCP Compliant Yes
VGA Output Yes
IEEE 1394 Input/Output No
Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11 B/G/N
Integrated Bluetooth Yes
Approximate Battery Life 5
Battery Type Lithium-Ion
Battery - Number of Cells 6
Battery - Capacity 4400 mAh
Laptop Weight (including battery) 2.26 kg

I'm sorry if similar questions have been posted but I'm getting all sorts of feedback from friends and would appreciate a more expert advice on this issue.

Thanks in advance

[Bond007]

If your not doing any gaming then the 2310m is the better bet (more powerful CPU). If you are going to game then the A6 is the one to go for (more powerful graphics).

[BenjaminRD]

Thanks Bond.
I'm still kind of confused as to why websites such as PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End rank the A6-3400M so much higher than the i3-2310M?

"This chart comparing high end CPU's is made using thousands of PerformanceTest benchmark results and is updated daily" - These test can't be all based on game intensive tasks, can they?

Any thoughts?

[Bond007]

Passmark has a large portion of is tests based on visuals that is likely what brings the a6 so high in the charts. I was looking into the exact same thing as you not too long ago (a6 3400m vs 2310m), except I want to do some gaming. The only review I found that was useful is from tomshardware. It compares the A8 3500m to a i5 2420m. If you flip through the pages you will see synthetic tests going one way or the other. Gaming tests favouring the A8 and application performance favoring the i5.

LINK

You really wouldn't go wrong with either, but IMO the i3 better suits your needs.

Since you specifically mentioned Photoshop I will put those pics here from the tomsharware review to show you my point. Again, these are for the A8 vs 2420, but they scale similarly.

[BenjaminRD]

Thanks bond