5i3 or 5i5 NUC to replace AMD A6-3400M laptop

[PBzeer]

First off, this is to run 7 Pro x86. I've had limited and unsatisfying success with XP Mode on my x64 machine, so plan on keeping a 32bit to run legacy programs that won't install on x64, primarily graphics editors. Secondly, as I live on a boat, space is at a premium, thus the NUC (as I run through a USB hub for monitor, speakers and keyboard/mouse).

While I could probably go with an older model NUC and get similar performance to the laptop, I have a 5i5 NUC running my x64 Pro and find it a good machine for my use, so would like to stay with the 5th gen NUC. My question is, given the use stated above, is it really worth the extra bucks for the i5 over the i3?

(I should note, I'm not running any games or other "intensive" applications) (Also, if and when I go 10, I plan on getting a 6th gen NUC and keeping my 7 machines)

 

[whs]

" My question is, given the use stated above, is it really worth the extra bucks for the i5 over the i3? ".

I am not sure I understand your use. As a rule of thumb, an i5 would only be an advantage for CPU intensive applications. For so called "office applications". the extra i5 CPU power is not needed.

 

[PBzeer]

Other than web browsing, my main use is with PicturePublisher8, Photoshop7, FotoMorph (PP8 won't install on x64, and I want them all on one machine), and FrontPage 2003. PP8 is my main tool, with PS7 for doing transparencies (.png & .ico) and using some of the filters. While FotoMorph involves video production, they aren't generally long enough for it to matter.

 

[whs]

Picture and video manipulation can require a good amount of CPU power. Having some extra muscle is therefore not a mistake.

I do a lot of those manipulations myself and prefer the i7s for the task - but a good i5 is probably OK (watch out, the different i5 models have varying performance specs).

 

[PBzeer]

The NUC uses the low power dual core chips, i5-5250U, 1.6 GHz, 2.7 Turbo Boost with 3MB cache. While the i3 is the 5010U, 2.1 GHz, 3MB cache. The i7 is the 5557U, 3.1 GHz, 3.4 Turbo Boost, 4MB cache, 25W instead of the 15W for the other two.

I'm running PowerDirector 13 suite on my i5, and it seems to handle it okay. About a $150 difference from the i3 to the i7.