CPU Comparison
Core i7-640M vs Intel Core i5-450M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-640M (BGA) is a high-end mobile dual-core processor launched in September 2010. Based on the Arrandale architecture, it features 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.8 GHz and a turbo boost up to 3.46 GHz. Unlike its Socket G1 counterpart, this variant utilizes the BGA 1288 socket, meaning it is soldered directly to the motherboard. It includes 4MB of L3 cache and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) for everyday multimedia tasks.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
High clocks help with legacy office apps.
Marginally faster than the i5-430M in CPU-bound tasks, but the difference is barely noticeable in real use.
Gaming
Weak IGP cannot handle modern games.
Slightly better than the i5-430M but still entirely dependent on discrete graphics for any gaming capability.
Virtualization
Basic VMs are fine but limited by core count.
Slightly more headroom than the 430M but still impractical for serious VM workloads.
Efficiency
Standard 35W efficiency for the era.
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 graphics are too 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
- Extremely high clock speeds
- Soldered package for durability
- Integrated HD Graphics
- Strong single-core performance
Cons
- Cannot be upgraded (BGA)
- Obsolete by modern standards
- Weak integrated graphics
- Limited memory speed
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 i7-640M
- AMD Phenom II N930Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-620MRival
Mobile
- AMD Turion II Ultra M640Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-720QMRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-540MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-640M (rPGA)Alt
Socketed version if upgradeability is needed.
- AMD Phenom II P920Alt
AMD quad-core alternative.
- Intel Core i7-2640MAlt
Newer Sandy Bridge alternative.
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 top-tier Arrandale processor offering excellent 2010 performance, but the BGA package means no upgrades are possible.
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 i7-640M or Intel Core i5-450M?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-640M 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 i7-640M or Intel Core i5-450M?
For gaming, the Core i7-640M leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Core i7-640M and Intel Core i5-450M.
Do Core i7-640M and Intel Core i5-450M use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i7-640M: 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.