The rated CPU speed is nearly meaningless for machine responsiveness or even bursts of heavy usage (Photoshop edits; compiling changed files) given the dynamic

The rated CPU speed is nearly meaningless for machine responsiveness or even bursts of heavy usage (Photoshop edits; compiling changed files) given the dynamic voltage and frequency scaling ("Turbo"). Both the "1.7 GHz" 4650U in the Air and the "2.8 GHz" turbo to the same peak of 3.3 GHz, have the same sized cache, same memory interface, same base GPU clock, nearly the same peak turbo GPU clock, and cost the exact same number of dollars. They are the "same" CPU, with different tuning for sustained thermal allowances.