When Microsoft introduced the Surface Pro 3 on May 20, it announced the many new features that this generation would bring. Leaving aside the improvements over the predecessors, they explained that for the first time the user would have the ability to decide the processor that the tablet would carry, and therefore, choose the model that best suits their economic capacity. Intel Core i3 or i5. Is the performance versus budget difference worth it?
Although they announced that there would be the possibility to choose, they only launched the version with Intel Core i5 in the first instance, the same processor (updated) that included the previous Surface Pro (without the possibility of choosing). This version is now available in the United States and Canada for priced at $ 999 (128 GB of storage) and will soon arrive on the old continent. The model with Intel Core i3 is currently in the reserve phase in these North American countries from $ 799, but the results of the first performance tests have already been shown.
CPU Benchmark
The soon-to-be-available Intel Core i3 processor features a dual core clocked at 1,5 GHz and it lacks Turbo mode. Intel's i5 CPU also has two cores but this time at 1,9 GHz and thanks to the turbo mode can reach up to 2,9 GHz. Comparing both alternatives, tests of the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 are also included, we see that the model with Intel Core i3 is logically behind, but not too far behind. How much difference can you tell when squeezed? This is where the key is. What is clear is that it is more than capable of solving the most common situations.
GPU benchmark
Surface Pro 3 with i3 has integrated graphics Intel HD graphics 4200, model lower than GPU Intel HD graphics 4400 version with i5. This time, the model with i3 outperforms the original Surface Pro in almost all the tests carried out, and noticeably shortens the distance with the rest. It even surpasses the Surface Pro 3 with i5 in one of the tests, the reason: it works at lower temperatures and therefore it overheats less, maintaining a better performance after a period of use.
Conclusions
It is difficult to assess whether the difference of 200 dollars (approximately 200 euros when it arrives in Spain) it is worth it or not, since it depends a lot on the user profile. If it is an average user who is looking for a powerful computer but does not use heavy programs or applications, the version with i3 will be more than enough. If, on the other hand, you are one of those who uses programs that require great computing power, the i5 or i7 (although we do not have the data and we would have to ask ourselves the question again), they would be your most appropriate options even if you have to pay a little more, in the end, 800 dollars / euros is not an affordable amount either for all pockets.
Vía: TabTec
Well, really the problem is not the difference between these 2 versions, but the real difference is between a surface pro and a laptop, in the commercial surface it says, "the tablet that can replace your laptop", but both in power and in price At the moment it is impossible, $ 999 dollars for an i5 of 1.9 ghz, for 300 dollars less there are laptops with i5 of 2. ghz up to 3.0 ghz, and there the real problem of the entire surface family, the price vs what they offer, Surface does not compete with ipad or Android, Surface competes against Windows 8 and all laptops
In my experience, although the surface seems expensive (I have the 2gb pro 8 and 256gb ssd) it has replaced the laptop and the tablet. So, in the end, I even save. Like everything, it depends on how you use it. Microsoft advertises it as a substitute for both teams and in my case it is. Of course, I do not record the children's functions with the tablet, nor do I work with the computer on my lap. In short, it is a different concept and it is surely not for everyone. The problems of this equipment come from the confusion of the buyers and even more the sellers, about what it can or cannot do, and that the microsoft tablet is the surface 2, to dry, not the pro 2 and pro 3, which are notebooks with tablet functionality. Also that it is a one-time disbursement, instead of 2 disbursements, which added really is easy to be higher. Just add that the performance and construction of the equipment is spectacular, the battery is very good, and we are talking about a team that I think is 900 gr of mine and 800 of the new one, plus whatever the keyboard weighs, which will be about 150.
Hello, you have to understand one thing, first of all I also have the Surface Pro, but the 1 with 128 GB of ssd, and I do not replace my lap at 100%, since to do heavier work I use the lap, and my surface I just take it to school or work for the convenience. As a technological expert, I know that Surface PRo is not expensive, it is worth what it is worth, making a device like this is expensive, new technologies always cost, as now with 4k screens, but what I mean is that if you you compare a Surface Pro 3 with an i5 processor, 8 gb of ram and a 128, 256 or 512 gb ssd with any laptop, the SP3 loses, for the same price of a SP3 with 5 ghz i1.9, you can buy one laptop with i7 processor, 8 gb of ram and at least 500 gb of disk, in addition to the graphics card, that is the problem of the surface both the pro and the RT, the RT according to MS its rival is ipad or android, when its The main nemesis are the economy laptops with W8 since for a lower price you can buy a good laptop, for example the Surface 2 in Mexico is worth 7599 of 32 GB, taking into account that it has WRT and the keyboard is separate, but for 6999 you can buy an HP laptop with 4 gb of ram, pentium processor, 500 gb of disk and touch screen, in addition to being h ibrida, I'm talking about the HP X360.
The new SP3 is a beast, the best device there is possibly, but when buying, you see the other options and comparing it is much more expensive than laptops, and I tell you because I work in an Office Depot, I am technology advisor, and although I recommend the Surface, I tell you all the advantages, many times they take a laptop, for the reason that I explain, fortunately in my store Surface has a good sale.
In conclusion, personally, MS should try to reduce the cost of its equipment, or get an inexpensive surface RT, a surface with a pentium processor and windows 8 and the surface pro, but at competitive prices, greetings
Hello, where is your store?
Acapulco Guerrero
Rikardo, how about a question, by mistake they bought me the sfp 3 but the i3 I wanted the i5 since I am going to put animation
digital 2d and 3d, do you think the i3 supports and is practical for the programs that I will use?
Look, your question is very good and simple but the answer is complex, of course it can serve you, since it has a 3th generation core i4 and 4 gb of ram (correct me if I'm wrong), the new intel processors run very Well the graphics, the problem you are going to have is the ghz, since the sp3 processor does not run the same as the processor of a lap or a pc, even though it is an i3, you must understand that there are levels between the processors even if they are the same. So it may be that you have some fps drop or your animation slows down, I give you an example, at least on my surface pro that has i5 I do an X activity and it takes me 2 hours to do it, but when I do it on another laptop with i5 and even i3, I do it in 1 hour, you wonder why ??? If my surface pro has an i5, the answer is that my processor runs only at 1.40 ghz, while that of the laptop runs at 2.70 ghz, it seems absurd, but that's right, why do you think that Acer sells cheaper equipment, if they have the same feature as other brands, because their i7, i5 and i3 processors run at 1.70 ghz, even if they have 4 or 8 cores, while Toshiba's for example run at 2.4 and even reach 3. Ghz.
The surface pro with i3 will serve you very well, do not hesitate, but you should know that it will do it with a little less force vs other PCs, if you can change it for the i5, greetings
What Surface Pro offers you is not power, it is good functionality with great portability. What many spend to buy a decent laptop and tablet meets or exceeds the cost of a Surface Pro, only it gives you the comfort and convenience of having it all in one device.
You are right, what it offers is not power but portability, having a pc in a tablet, but I return to the same thing, the cost to the public is what kills it, taking into account the options you have in the different laptops, at a price smaller and with higher capacity, when Microsoft finds a balance between cost and utility or capacity, the Surface will sell much better