CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-450M vs Core i7-640LM
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-450M is a slightly higher-clocked Arrandale dual-core mobile processor released in September 2010, offering 2.4 GHz base and 2.667 GHz turbo speeds with the same dual-die 32nm/45nm design as the i5-430M.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Marginally faster than the i5-430M in CPU-bound tasks, but the difference is barely noticeable in real use.
Struggles immensely with modern JavaScript-heavy web pages.
Gaming
Slightly better than the i5-430M but still entirely dependent on discrete graphics for any gaming capability.
Integrated Ironlake graphics cannot run any modern games.
Virtualization
Slightly more headroom than the 430M but still impractical for serious VM workloads.
Technically supports VT-x but lacks the RAM and cores for practical use.
Efficiency
Same 35 W TDP with only ~6% more frequency than the i5-430M, resulting in slightly worse performance per watt.
Poor by modern standards, but efficient for its time.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI capabilities
- No AVX support
- Completely unsuitable for AI workloads
- No AI capabilities whatsoever.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Graphics on chipset, not CPU
- GMA HD extremely limited
- Requires discrete GPU for any gaming
- Ironlake graphics are strictly for display output and legacy 2D/low-end 3D applications.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Good performance-per-watt for 2010
- Included AES-NI for hardware encryption
- Integrated graphics reduced platform footprint
- Hyper-Threading improved multitasking
Cons
- Extremely outdated architecture
- Integrated graphics are unusable for modern tasks
- Soldered to motherboard (BGA)
- Lacks modern instruction sets
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Core i7-640LM
- Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600Rival
Mobile Low Power
- AMD Turion II Neo K625Rival
Mobile Low Power
- Intel Core i5-430UMRival
Mobile Low Power
- Intel Core i7-620UMRival
Mobile Ultra Low Power
- AMD Phenom II P920Rival
Mobile
Modern low-power mobile alternative with vastly superior efficiency and 8 cores.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 5300UAlt
Budget modern mobile chip that outperforms it exponentially.
- Intel Core i7-2620MAlt
The Sandy Bridge successor if looking at historical mobile upgrades.
- Alt
Demonstrates the incredible leap in mobile ARM efficiency over the last decade.
Compare head-to-head - Intel N100Alt
A modern budget chip that crushes this old Core i7 in every metric.
Our Verdict on Each
The 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 reviewAn innovative low-power CPU for 2010 laptops, but completely obsolete for modern computing tasks.
Best for: Nostalgic retro computing
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-450M or Core i7-640LM?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-450M comes out ahead with a score of 4.2/10. 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 i5-450M or Core i7-640LM?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-450M leads with a gaming performance score of 9/100 among Intel Core i5-450M and Core i7-640LM.
Which uses less power?
The Core i7-640LM has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-450M (35 W), Core i7-640LM (25 W).
Do Intel Core i5-450M and Core i7-640LM use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-450M: Intel Socket G1, Core i7-640LM: BGA 1288), 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), Core i7-640LM (1,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.