i5-8350U o i7-8650U in Lenovo X1-Carbon Gen 6?
i5-8350U o i7-8650U in Lenovo X1-Carbon Gen 6?
So,
I’m considering purchasing a refurbished X1 Carbon with several options. Here are the details:
i5-8350U + 8GB RAM -
$298
i5-8350U + 16GB RAM -
$385
i7-8650U + 16GB RAM -
$460
Which model would you recommend? According to what I’ve heard, both CPUs are almost the same, but there are a few differences that favor the i7:
Memory Cache:
8 MB vs 6 MB
Clock Speeds:
1.9 GHz / 4.2 GHz vs 1.7 GHz / 3.6 GHz
My concern is whether these differences really matter for such a slim, lightweight laptop. I also came across comments from users with Lenovo T480s:
- One said the i7 was not worth it, noting it ran hotter and performed worse under heavy load.
- Another mentioned their T480s with i7 were not worth it due to cooling issues.
- A third suggested sticking to the i5 for better performance and reliability.
They also recommended the i5-8250U with undervolt and power limit disabled to achieve similar performance to the top i7 models without the heat, or sticking with the i5-8350U if you need more power.
The T480s are thicker than the X1 Carbon, so I think their advice might apply even more strongly to this model?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.
Personally, the best choice is the last option if the laptop remains undamaged, as you mentioned it's a refurbished model. Also, the previous comment about i5-8650U + 16GB RAM - $460 should match i7-8650U + 16GB RAM - $460. I discovered these remarks from individuals who own Lenovo T480s. Where did these comments come from? Regarding heat management, you might want to explore ThrottleStop and think about undervolting the processor and graphics card to help reduce power consumption and temperatures, especially since you're using an 8th Gen Intel mobile chip.
You chose the last option mainly due to its resale value, or because of clear, recorded performance variations. Regarding ThrottleStop, it’s something you’d likely need regardless—especially for the i7—to manage heat, and it doesn’t reset once; it affects BIOS settings permanently. Also, since it runs on Windows, you can simply restart your system to ignore it.
because of resale value, or because of measurable, documented performance differences?
Neither. The amount of hardware(with what limited info you've provided since a laptop needs more than just a processor and ram to operate) you're paying for the money.
It's a software that only works when in the OS GUI, no it doesn't alter the BIOS in any way.
All other aspects (hardware-wise) match completely between the two. This means the additional cache and faster clocks justify the $75 differences without affecting performance or battery life. Regarding ThrottleStop, adjusting settings during regular use shouldn't trigger changes—there’s no workaround to apply these modifications in Linux.
won't generate extra heat or reduce battery life, etc.?
It's important to recognize that as time progresses and apps are updated, they generally impose a bit more strain on the system. This can lead to a marginally higher temperature output. You're using a processor from 5 generations ago. The battery shouldn't be brand new—you're right to think so. That means the expected lifespan will be very short when considering a laptop with an 8th Gen processor today.
@Lutfij
Alright, guess I'll be taking the i7. Just for final clarification, you're saying the extra 2mb of cache and higher clocks of the i7
will
have an effect on the X1 Carbon, and that my assumption that they'll both throttle anyway (due to the slim case) and settle on the same performance is wrong?
Thanks again for your generous help <3
Make sure the laptop’s back end is raised slightly using an eraser or small book so cooler air can reach the fan. You might also consider removing the thermal paste and applying a higher-quality alternative such as Noctua, Arctic or Thermal Grizzly. If desired, you can swap in thermal pads with better specifications.
After that, apply ThrottleStop to lower the CPU core and cache voltages, as well as the iGPU. Combined with these adjustments, temperatures should reach a more acceptable level.