CPU Comparison
Core i7-620M vs Intel Core i5-450M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-620M is a standard-voltage mobile processor launched in January 2010. Based on the Arrandale architecture, it features 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.66 GHz and a turbo boost up to 3.33 GHz. With a 35W TDP, it was a popular choice for mainstream laptops. The 32nm CPU die is paired with a 45nm graphics/memory controller, offering 4MB of L3 cache, dual-channel DDR3 memory, and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) for everyday computing and multimedia tasks.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles basic office apps well but struggles with modern web bloat.
Marginally faster than the i5-430M in CPU-bound tasks, but the difference is barely noticeable in real use.
Gaming
Cannot handle modern games; IGP is too weak.
Slightly better than the i5-430M but still entirely dependent on discrete graphics for any gaming capability.
Virtualization
Good for basic VMs but limited by 2 cores.
Slightly more headroom than the 430M but still impractical for serious VM workloads.
Efficiency
Standard efficiency for 32nm, but modern chips are vastly better.
Same 35 W TDP with only ~6% more frequency than the i5-430M, resulting in slightly worse performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- No AI capabilities
- No AVX support
- Completely unsuitable for AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Ironlake IGP is extremely weak
- No modern API support
- Graphics on chipset, not CPU
- GMA HD extremely limited
- Requires discrete GPU for any gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- High single-core performance for 2010
- Turbo Boost up to 3.33 GHz
- AES-NI support
- Good battery life for its era
Cons
- Obsolete performance
- Weak integrated graphics
- BGA soldered
- Limited to 1066 MT/s memory
Pros
- Slightly faster than i5-430M at the same TDP
- Socket G1 allows upgrade to i7-620M
- AES-NI and VT-x/VT-d support
- Reliable and well-tested platform
- Hyper-Threading improves multitasking
Cons
- Minimal performance improvement over i5-430M
- Launched just months before Sandy Bridge made it obsolete
- No on-die GPU
- No AVX instruction support
- DDR3-1066 memory speed limitation
- Only 8 GB maximum RAM
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i7-620M
- AMD Phenom II P920Rival
Mobile
- AMD Turion II Ultra M640Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core 2 Duo T9800Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-520MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-640MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-720QMAlt
Quad-core alternative if multi-threading is needed.
- AMD Phenom II N930Alt
AMD quad-core alternative.
- Intel Core 2 Duo P8800Alt
Older generation alternative for basic tasks.
Intel Core i5-450M
- AMD Turion II N530Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD Phenom II N620Rival
Mobile Performance
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-430MRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-520MRival
Mobile Performance
- Intel Core i7-620MRival
Mobile Performance
Fastest Arrandale i5 with 2.66 GHz base and 3.33 GHz turbo.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-2410MAlt
Sandy Bridge replacement requiring a new laptop but offering on-die graphics and AVX support.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Modern alternative with vastly superior performance for a new laptop purchase.
Our Verdict on Each
A highly popular and capable laptop CPU in 2010, offering excellent single-core performance, but obsolete for modern tasks.
Best for: Legacy laptop repair
Read the full reviewThe i5-450M is a minor clock speed increase over the i5-430M that arrived just months before Sandy Bridge rendered the entire Arrandale lineup obsolete. Only relevant for existing Socket G1 laptop owners considering a cheap upgrade.
Best for: Found in an existing laptop at no additional cost
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i7-620M or Intel Core i5-450M?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-620M comes out ahead with a score of 6/10. 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, Core i7-620M or Intel Core i5-450M?
For gaming, the Core i7-620M leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Core i7-620M and Intel Core i5-450M.
Do Core i7-620M and Intel Core i5-450M use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i7-620M: Intel BGA 1288, Intel Core i5-450M: Intel Socket G1), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-450M posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-450M (3,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.