3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 versus 3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5

[brachysclereid]

Hi,
I am looking at buying some iMAC workstations for our lab. We can access larger linux computing resources for big jobs, but this for basic stuff such as alignments & RNAseq (we work with bacterial genomes & the occasional RNAseq experiment on small plant genomes - arabidopsis). We are getting a couple of the new apple quad core machines with 16GB RAM. Would it be worth the $180 to get the 3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 instead of the 3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5?

I am a little worried that I might have more trouble with the 3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 because of the hyperthreading. Does anyone know if this technology would cause any difficulties with openmpi or integration with any other next gen software?

[nilshomer]

I run on a hyper-threaded dual-hex-core, and it can run 24-threads on a well-programmed multi-threaded program. If you can get those specs, go for it.

[brachysclereid]

Thanks Nils. I went with the 3.4GHz i7. Sounds sweet.