Is the surface pro 3 i7 overheating a deal breaker?

[TheRealDJDuckVenom]

Hi there,

I'm looking to get a surface pro 3 i7 256gb for music production and performing music live. I'm just wondering if the overheating problem will make the laptop unusable and should opt out and get the i5 model instead. I can't afford a surface pro 4. Note in my music production software, I can disable multicore processing but I fear that would lag my projects and will render the program unusable.

Thanks

 

[jaslion]

Hi there,

I'm looking to get a surface pro 3 i7 256gb for music production and performing music live. I'm just wondering if the overheating problem will make the laptop unusable and should opt out and get the i5 model instead. I can't afford a surface pro 4. Note in my music production software, I can disable multicore processing but I fear that would lag my projects and will render the program unusable.

Thanks

Why not just get a laptop or an alternative device that does not have these issues.

 

[TheRealDJDuckVenom]

Hi there,

I'm looking to get a surface pro 3 i7 256gb for music production and performing music live. I'm just wondering if the overheating problem will make the laptop unusable and should opt out and get the i5 model instead. I can't afford a surface pro 4. Note in my music production software, I can disable multicore processing but I fear that would lag my projects and will render the program unusable.

Thanks

Why not just get a laptop or an alternative device that does not have these issues.

Because I want a surface pro

 

[jaslion]

Hi there,

I'm looking to get a surface pro 3 i7 256gb for music production and performing music live. I'm just wondering if the overheating problem will make the laptop unusable and should opt out and get the i5 model instead. I can't afford a surface pro 4. Note in my music production software, I can disable multicore processing but I fear that would lag my projects and will render the program unusable.

Thanks

Why not just get a laptop or an alternative device that does not have these issues.

Because I want a surface pro

My question is then why do you need the surface pro for what does it do that you couldn't find with others?

 

[TheRealDJDuckVenom]

Hi there,

I'm looking to get a surface pro 3 i7 256gb for music production and performing music live. I'm just wondering if the overheating problem will make the laptop unusable and should opt out and get the i5 model instead. I can't afford a surface pro 4. Note in my music production software, I can disable multicore processing but I fear that would lag my projects and will render the program unusable.

Thanks

Why not just get a laptop or an alternative device that does not have these issues.

Because I want a surface pro

My question is then why do you need the surface pro for what does it do that you couldn't find with others?

It's portability and tablet mode. Also I want a surface pro. Also my original question is that the surface pro 3 i7 overheating a deal breaker

 

[jaslion]

Hi there,

I'm looking to get a surface pro 3 i7 256gb for music production and performing music live. I'm just wondering if the overheating problem will make the laptop unusable and should opt out and get the i5 model instead. I can't afford a surface pro 4. Note in my music production software, I can disable multicore processing but I fear that would lag my projects and will render the program unusable.

Thanks

Why not just get a laptop or an alternative device that does not have these issues.

Because I want a surface pro

My question is then why do you need the surface pro for what does it do that you couldn't find with others?

It's portability and tablet mode. Also I want a surface pro. Also my original question is that the surface pro 3 i7 overheating a deal breaker

It is as the i7 will perform like the i5 version.

 

[Karadjgne]

There are ways around the heating issue, mostly they are laptop coolers/chillers. There's decent designs for $35 or so. But thats not a permanent or mobile solution. Every laptop runs hot, there's no avoiding it, so mobility is questionable at times.
But here's the kicker. The i5 in the surface pro 3 is a 2c/2t cpu. The top line i7 is a 2c/4t. So in my view, you should opt for the i7. When and if you have a semi-permanent station, like at a dj booth or actually working on production, you can sit the laptop on its cooler and run all 4t without overheat issues. If and when you go mobile, you really won't be physically working that hard as your music will be more plug-n-play at which time you can disable the HT, giving you in essence the same cpu as the i5, a 2c/2t cpu. It'll be sometimes slower, but have the availability to be stronger when you need it. It'll also temporarily handle full 4t usage without the cooler. Best of all worlds as it's flexible. The i5, you'd be locked at its top performance, so when really working, the cpu will run just as hot as the i7 because it'll have to work harder, more cpu %.

I'd stick with the i7 and get a mobile cooler base for it, it's a little more of a hassle, but I see the pros outweigh the cons

 

[TheRealDJDuckVenom]

There are ways around the heating issue, mostly they are laptop coolers/chillers. There's decent designs for $35 or so. But thats not a permanent or mobile solution. Every laptop runs hot, there's no avoiding it, so mobility is questionable at times.
But here's the kicker. The i5 in the surface pro 3 is a 2c/2t cpu. The top line i7 is a 2c/4t. So in my view, you should opt for the i7. When and if you have a semi-permanent station, like at a dj booth or actually working on production, you can sit the laptop on its cooler and run all 4t without overheat issues. If and when you go mobile, you really won't be physically working that hard as your music will be more plug-n-play at which time you can disable the HT, giving you in essence the same cpu as the i5, a 2c/2t cpu. It'll be sometimes slower, but have the availability to be stronger when you need it. It'll also temporarily handle full 4t usage without the cooler. Best of all worlds as it's flexible. The i5, you'd be locked at its top performance, so when really working, the cpu will run just as hot as the i7 because it'll have to work harder, more cpu %.

I'd stick with the i7 and get a mobile cooler base for it, it's a little more of a hassle, but I see the pros outweigh the cons

Thanks. I'm mainly going to use it when I'm at school so I can't set up a cooling station but thanks anyway. I didn't know the i7 had 2c/4t I only thought it had 2c/2t so thanks

 

[Karadjgne]

Yep, there's 5 different ways to configure the sp3.
I3-4020Y with 4Gb memory - 64Gb storage
I5-4300U 2c/2t with 4Gb memory - 128Gb storage
I5-4300U 2c/2t with 8Gb memory - 256Gb storage
I7-4650U 2c/4t with 4Gb memory - 128Gb storage
I7-4650U 2c/4t with 8Gb memory - 256Gb storage

Its the HT of the i7 that's causing the heat issues when ppl run the processor hard, thinking it should be fine in tablet mode and sitting in the sun, or on their lap etc.
But it's a tablet, it's a temporary use item, not really designed for the use many put it through