Intel Core i5-661

The Intel Core i5 661 carries an on-die GPU, it also hum along to the tune of 3.33GHz, despite the clock speed advantage, the 661 only feature two physical cores. Another feature present in the i5 661 is Turbo Boost. When both cores are active the multiplier can be boosted by 1x, so for the Core i5 661 that would take the multiplier to 26x, resulting in a frequency of 3.45GHz. If just a single core is active then multiplier is boosted by 2x, taking the Core i5 661 to an impressive 3.60GHz frequency.
2
Cores
4
Threads
3.33 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz
Boost Clock
Socket LGA 1156
Socket
87 W
TDP
Intel HD Graphics
Integrated Graphics
Release date:Jan 7, 2010Price at Launch:$196
Cores:2Threads:4
Base Clock:3.33 GHzBoost Clock:3.6 GHz
Type:DesktopMultithreading:Yes
L2 Cache:512 KBL3 Cache:4 MB
Box Cooler:YesTDP:87 W
Socket:Socket LGA 1156Memory Support:DDR3-1333
Codename:ClarkdaleProcess Size:32 nm
Integrated Graphics:YesiGPU Model:Intel HD Graphics
NPU:NoPCIe Support:PCIe 2.0, 16 Lanes

Reviews and Ratings

81

Average Score

Based on 28 reviews

Reviewers Liked

  • Good performance
  • Turbo Boost technology
  • HyperThreading technology
  • Integrated GPU provides excellent Windows Aero and HD content performance
  • 32nm process gives great overclocking headroom
  • Low power draw (when not overclocked)
  • Perfect for HTPC or nongaming rig
  • Very Affordable
  • Lower Thermal Output
  • Turbo Technology
  • Cheaper Dual Channel Memory Support

Reviewers Didn't Like

  • Overpriced for the level of performance provided
  • Integrated GPU inadequate for even lowend gaming
  • Requires new motherboard to use integrated GPU
  • Very high power draw when overclocked
  • IGPU requires 32M128M of memory for a frame buffer
  • Socket 1156 Motherboard Upgrade Needed
  • Different CPU cooler Needed (in most cases)
  • Lots of rendering issues in games due to drivers
  • No support for Anti Aliasing
  • No duallink DVI output
  • No support for DirectX 10.1, 11
  • No support for CUDA

The new Core i5 661 may just be a dual-core processor, but it's still incredibly fast at 3.33GHz, even when compared to high-performance quad-core parts. Accompanied with the rest of the Core i5 and Core i3 line-up, we finally have Intel moving...

By TechSpot on
80

Back in mid 2006 Intel released their Core 2 range of processors, which went on to dominate the CPU market for about three years. Their combination of price, performance and availability, particularly the mainstream Core 2 Duo lineup, made them...

By PCWorld New Zealand on
70

The Intel Core i5 661 is the first CPU we've seen of a new series based on the new Intel Clarkdale design and for want of a better description it lies somewhere towards the top end of the bottom half of Intel's current CPU line-up. In other...

By Trusted Reviews on
84

Even at its arguably inflated price, the Core i5-661 represents the sweet spot in the Clarkdale Core i5 lineup. The Core i5-670 adds fractionally more speed (3.46GHz vs 3.33GHz) and Trusted Execution Technology, but drops iGPU speed from 900MHz to...

By Benchmark Reviews on
100

So where do the Core i5 600 series processors fit into the scheme of things? Well, if it means anything, a quick look at my favorite online retailer found 20 H55 motherboards. Out of the 20, 19 were mATX boards. There was one H57 board, and it was...

By ThinkComputers on
90

– How Does Clarkdale 32nm Measure Up? The objective of the Dual Core i5 and i3 aren’t to compete with the stronger Quad Core processors per se. Their purpose is to take what we as consumers appreciate about Dual Core processors and almost...

By FutureLooks on
80

The Intel range The Core i5 600 were introduced in January 2010. This series is solely made up of 2 core models with hyperthreading (see body of article). They also benefit from turbo mode that allows clock increases of 133 or 266 MHz depending on...

By DigitalVersus on
80

With the Core i5-661, Intel has released a CPU that can just about do it all: it’s a CPU, graphics controller, memory controller and PCI Express controller in one. It performed fast during our tests and its integrated graphics and reasonably cool...

By Good Gear Guide on
80

Really low power, decent performance. Integrated GPU seems to affect overclocking initially, as...

By Atomic MPC on
80

By the way, to use the display output from the integrated GPU, you need the new Intel chipsets, the H55 or H57, the latter having storage acceleration. I used two new motherboards to try out the CPU. Intel's DH55TC is a decent well featured...

By The Inquirer on
80

If you took a look at our gaming benchmarks you quickly realize that Intel's Clarkdale IGP is definitely not made for gaming. Its performance is one order of magnitude below that of even the cheapest discrete graphics cards like the Radeon HD 4550...

By techPowerUp! on
70

The Clarkdale Core i5 and Core i3 CPUs are worthy successors to the Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo and if you're looking to buy a new Intel system, there's really no way you ought to be looking at Core 2 chips any more, especially as the i3-530...

By Bit-tech.net on