The Core i5 661 CPU, Core i3/i5 Series

The new Core i5 processors follow the successful launch of the i5 750 terminal year, until now the just processor in the Core i5 family. The pricing strategy is non a straightforward matter in this new mix.

The Core i5 661 will price nearly the aforementioned as the existing Cadre i5 750, but as you know the new processor carries an on-dice GPU. The i5 661 volition besides hum along to the tune of iii.33GHz, while the i5 750 operates at a more modest 2.66GHz. Despite the clock speed reward, the 661 just feature two concrete cores, whereas the Core i5 750 features four.

This applies to all four processors in the Core i5 600 series, which also feature half every bit much L3 enshroud equally the Core i5 750. That said, it is certainly worth noting that while the Core i5 750 does not support Hyper-Threading, all Cadre i5 600 series processors do, assuasive them to handle upwards to 4 threads simultaneously.

Another feature nowadays in all Core i5 600 CPUs is Turbo Boost, which was a very beneficial feature of the Cadre i5 750 processor. The fashion Turbo Mode worked with the Core i5 750 was that when three or four cores were active the default clock multiplier, being 20x, was increased by a single step to 21x, boosting the core frequency by exactly 133MHz.

Still, if only two cores were active the multiplier was boosted to 24x, resulting in a 533MHz clock speed increment. Finally, if just a single core was in apply the multiplier was boosted to 25x, resulting in a huge 667MHz frequency boost, taking the Core i5 750 from 2.66GHz to iii.32GHz.

Turbo Boost is configured a little differently on the Core i5 600 series because these processors tend to operate at higher frequencies and only have ii cores. When both cores are agile the multiplier tin can be boosted by 1x, so for the Cadre i5 661 that would take the multiplier to 26x, resulting in a frequency of 3.45GHz. If just a single cadre is active and then multiplier is boosted past 2x, taking the Core i5 661 to an impressive 3.60GHz frequency.

The Core i5 600 serial feature a 4MB L3 cache with each cadre receiving its own 256KB L2 enshroud. The Integrated Retentiveness Controller (IMC) supports dual-channel DDR3 retention at officially supported speeds of up to 1333MHz. Like the Cadre i5 750 the new 600 serial drops the Front Side Bus in favor of the DMI (Direct Media Interface).

As a side notation, the Core i3 5xx processors that are also debuting this week volition basically feature the same specs as the Cadre i5 Clarkdale CPUs. Similar L2 and L3 cache configurations, aforementioned built-in GPU, slightly lower clock frequencies, with the key difference being the removal of Turbo Boost way. The Core i3 530 (2.93GHz) will cost $113, and the 540 (3.06GHz) will exist a bit more than expensive at $133.