CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-560M vs Intel Core i5-580M
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.
Highest single-threaded Arrandale i5 performance helps slightly in office tasks, but the difference from lower SKUs is minimal in practice.
Gaming
Identical gaming capability to the Socket G1 variant. First-gen Intel HD Graphics remains the primary limitation.
Identical to the socketed i5-580M. First-gen Intel HD Graphics prevents any meaningful gaming experience with modern titles.
Virtualization
VT-x and VT-d present but 2 cores severely constrain any meaningful virtualization.
VT-x and VT-d present, but 2 cores and 3MB cache make any serious virtualization impractical.
Efficiency
35W TDP is identical across all Arrandale i5 SKUs. No efficiency advantage over lower-clocked variants.
Same 35W TDP as all Arrandale i5s. Higher turbo at same power shows good process binning.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration capabilities whatsoever
- No AI acceleration capabilities
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
- Performance identical to socketed i5-580M
- 3.333 GHz turbo irrelevant when GPU is the bottleneck
- Only viable for very old or lightweight games
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
- Highest Turbo Boost in any Arrandale i5 BGA variant
- Best-binned 32nm silicon in a compact package
- AES-NI, VT-x, VT-d included
- Same 35W TDP as lower-clocked variants
Cons
- BGA package requires professional rework for replacement
- Zero upgrade path
- Only 3MB L3 cache
- No AVX support
- 8GB RAM ceiling
- Launched mere months before Sandy Bridge obsolescence
- Used market pricing may not reflect actual value
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 i5-580M
- AMD Turion II N570Rival
Performance Mobile
- AMD Phenom II N660Rival
Mainstream Mobile
- Intel Core i5-560M BGAAlt
133 MHz less turbo but potentially much cheaper and functionally similar for repair purposes.
- Intel Core i7-620M BGAAlt
Same turbo clock but with 4MB L3 cache if available for the specific motherboard.
- Intel Core i5-540M BGAAlt
Significantly cheaper on the used market with only modest performance reduction.
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 BGA i5-580M delivers the same impressive 3.333 GHz turbo as the socketed variant but in a non-upgradeable package, making it solely relevant for repair and preservation of specific laptop models.
Best for: Exact replacement for a failed BGA i5-580M (SLC29) in a specific laptop model during board-level repair
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-560M or Intel Core i5-580M?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-580M comes out ahead with a score of 3.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-560M or Intel Core i5-580M?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-580M leads with a gaming performance score of 19/100 among Intel Core i5-560M and Intel Core i5-580M.
Do Intel Core i5-560M and Intel Core i5-580M use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1288 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-580M posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-560M (1,960), Intel Core i5-580M (2,070). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.