2.9GHz dual-core intel i7 or 2.3GHz quad-core Intel i7?

i7-3520M dual core is a fast processor, with lower price & power consumption. However, it wouldn't outperform i7-2820QM quad core in most moments, because they have turbo boost. Turbo boost of quad core increases speed of two cores, but dual core increases one core. Only in one core being busy, it is .2 GHz better (if the OS doesn't use other cores). However, if you don't consider turbo boost, the dual core is good for gaming and single or dual threaded tasks, and quad core is good for multi tasking (4 or above threads), like heavy browsing, programmings (in .net and java) and etc. If you want to play games now, it is better, but in the future, there are sayings that games would use four cores and so this won't be the case. As I said, you should know that there is turbo boost.

Thanks!

Taking your specs above..

Want a Computer that will load up Applications fast?

Dual-Core

Want a Computer that will last longer, much longer?

Quad-Core

Them Specs are fairly similar,

If your doing a lot of programming or using program's that are heavy on ram , I would go with the quad-core.

I have a dual-core , its fast , and I have it running 5+ programs, but I know it will get slower as time passes. Should of went quad-core as it will do just the same as dual only slower.

It evens itself out over time

Consider it the race with the rabbit and turtle

Not much help sorry.

I wud recomnd the quad core, since u wnt a lot of apps opnd at the same time. U cn use Adobe Acrobat, photoshop, media player, microsoft excel, etc. all at the same time as long as u have i7 processor. i7 means it cn work for 7 huge programs at the same time without interuption.

The i5 is first-type for video games round starcraft , yet your on the completed not likely to be able to set the game settings to extra then medium. in spite of the indisputable fact that though that usually relies upon upon the photographs card the laptop comes with.. as far as multitasking with video games and youtube and or music, it may be first-type as long as you're alt-tab'n to the vid. I7 for video games like skyrim and battlefield 3, dont hardship if it has a crap video card.

id say quad i went from a 2.8ghz dual core duo to a 3ghz i5 quad core the difference is amazing the quad is just so much better.