Is an i3 laptop enough for school, everyday tasks?

[bingaloman]

I am planning on buying a Intel Core i3 laptop for school since it's the cheapest out of the Intel Core i3,i5, and i7. I need it for everyday tasks such as web browsing, YouTube, etc, and Microsoft Office stuff.

Would a laptop with a 3rd Gen i3 chip be good enough? What about a 2nd Gen chip would they basically perform the same?

I'd most likely add a SSD as I have an extra one.



So is an i3 laptop good enough for those purposes? If so, 2nd gen or 3rd gen i3, or does it not matter what gen it is?




Thanks for any help!

 

[jaguarskx]

For everyday tasks either generation is more than enough for what you want to do. The difference in CPU performance (assuming the same clockspeed) is on average 6% in favor of Ivy Bridge (3rd gen).

The biggest difference would be the graphics core. The Intel HD 4000 is on average 35% more powerful than the Intel HD 3000. That can make a difference in games, but not for the tasks you want to do. While the HD 4000 is more powerful, it is still considered weak for games.