CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-560M vs Intel Core i5-560M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-560M in BGA 1288 packaging is a soldered dual-core Arrandale mobile processor with 2.67 GHz base and 3.2 GHz Turbo Boost, selected by OEMs for slim laptop designs where socketed CPUs were unnecessary.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Same 5% improvement over the i5-540M, noticeable only in benchmarks.
Marginally better than the i5-540M in office tasks, but the difference is barely perceptible in daily use.
Gaming
Identical gaming capability to the Socket G1 variant. First-gen Intel HD Graphics remains the primary limitation.
The slight clock increase over the i5-540M does not meaningfully change gaming capability. Still unsuitable for any modern title.
Virtualization
VT-x and VT-d present but 2 cores severely constrain any meaningful virtualization.
VT-x and VT-d are present, but 2 cores and 3MB cache severely limit practical VM workloads.
Efficiency
35W TDP is identical across all Arrandale i5 SKUs. No efficiency advantage over lower-clocked variants.
Same 35W TDP as other Arrandale chips. Efficiency is poor by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration capabilities whatsoever
- No AI-specific instruction sets
- Cannot run any modern AI inference workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Identical to socketed i5-560M in gaming performance
- Integrated GPU is the bottleneck, not the CPU
- Unplayable in any post-2012 game
- First-gen Intel HD Graphics remains the bottleneck
- Slightly higher CPU clock has minimal gaming impact
- Playable only in pre-2010 games at low resolutions
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Slightly higher clocks than i5-540M at same TDP
- AES-NI hardware acceleration
- VT-x and VT-d virtualization
- Mature 32nm process meant good binning quality
Cons
- BGA package requires professional rework to replace
- No upgrade path whatsoever
- Only 3MB L3 cache
- No AVX support
- 8GB RAM maximum
- Launched just months before Sandy Bridge made it obsolete
Pros
- Socketed package allows CPU upgrades
- Higher clocks than i5-540M at same 35W TDP
- AES-NI hardware encryption support
- VT-x and VT-d virtualization support
- Inexpensive on the used market
Cons
- Obsolete for any modern workload
- Only 3MB shared L3 cache
- No AVX instruction support
- 8GB RAM ceiling
- First-gen Intel HD Graphics very weak
- Sandy Bridge launched just 4 months later
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-560M
- AMD Turion II N540Rival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Athlon II P360Rival
Budget Mobile
- Intel Core i5-580M BGAAlt
Higher 3.333 GHz turbo if compatible with the specific laptop motherboard.
- Intel Core i5-540M BGAAlt
Functionally similar and potentially cheaper for repair purposes.
- Intel Core i7-640LMAlt
Lower 25W TDP variant if thermal constraints are a concern, though with lower clocks.
Intel Core i5-560M
- AMD Turion II N540Rival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Phenom II N660Rival
Mainstream Mobile
- Intel Core i7-620MAlt
Same socket, higher 3.33 GHz turbo and 4MB L3 cache for a meaningful upgrade.
Slightly higher turbo boost if available at similar price.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-520MAlt
Lower cost option if the marginal clock difference does not justify the price premium.
Our Verdict on Each
The BGA variant of the i5-560M offers identical performance to its socketed counterpart but cannot be upgraded, making it relevant only for repair scenarios on existing hardware.
Best for: Board-level repair of a specific Arrandale laptop that originally shipped with this exact BGA part
Read the full reviewThe socketed variant of the i5-560M holds slight historical interest as one of the last easily swappable mobile Intel CPUs, but offers no practical value for modern computing.
Best for: Upgrading a Socket G1 laptop that currently has a Core i3 or lower-clocked i5
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-560M or Intel Core i5-560M?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-560M comes out ahead with a score of 4/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Do Intel Core i5-560M and Intel Core i5-560M use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-560M: Intel BGA 1288, Intel Core i5-560M: Intel Socket G1 (rPGA988A)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.