Core i5 650 - 660 and 661 processor review - Introduction

Intel Core i5 series 600 Dual-Core processors review

For Intel it's often hard to keep secrets and sure, as such it comes as no surprise that Intel is launching their new dual-core Core i3 and i5 processors and chipset platforms today.

We certainly have a lot to talk about as Intel releases seven new desktop processors, they'll also release no less than two new chipsets that go along with these processors. The new Intel Clarkdale based desktop CPUs have been designed to incorporate both a GPU and a CPU core in the same processor package. Designed on the company's new 32nm manufacturing process, the new chips are expected to replace the company's current line of mainstream processors, ultimately replacing the older Core 2 Duo family of processors.

The dual-core Core i5 series is what this audience will find the most interesting, and to immediately confirm, they can be paired with a P55 motherboard after a BIOS update, but to unleash the maximum capability you really want to place that new processor on a chipset like the new H55, as it opens up embedded graphics (IGP) as well.

Yes my friends, the time has come for Intel to debut a new line of mainstream 32nm processors, which we have all learned to recognise under the codename 'Clarkdale', the new CPUs will be aimed at the mainstream desktop PC segment and will complement the chip maker's Core i3 and Core i5 line of products.

The Intel processor lineup will include the Core i3 530 and 540 models, as well as the Core i5 650, 660, 661, and 670, which will be featured with Hyper-Threading, 4MB of L3 cache and support for dual-channel DDR3-1333 memory.

As far as pricing goes, the new models will range from 100 Euros up to roughly 250 Euros that go along with a variety of CPU and GPU clock speeds, as well as TDP.

From the six new models, the dual-core Core i5 660 / 661 will be the most interesting product from a price-performance point of view. It has a clock frequency of 3.33 GHz, a TDP of 73/87W and will be priced at 196 USD / 159 EUR.

Meanwhile there will be an i5 670 model as well that comes with the highest CPU core clock frequency of 3.46GHz, while the TDP stays at 73W. All very interesting and sure, even a little confusing. Well, you are at guru3d.com, so we'll try to do our best to give you a good understanding of what the new 32nm Clarkdale processors are all about.

Let's head on over to the next page for a feature and specifications overview, but not before you have had a brief introduction with Mr. Clarkdale himself...