CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-560M vs Core i7-620M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-560M is a socketed dual-core Arrandale mobile processor featuring a 2.67 GHz base clock with 3.2 GHz Turbo Boost, Hyper-Threading for 4 threads, and an integrated GPU die, designed for upgradeable mainstream laptops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Marginally better than the i5-540M in office tasks, but the difference is barely perceptible in daily use.
Struggles with modern web and office software.
Gaming
The slight clock increase over the i5-540M does not meaningfully change gaming capability. Still unsuitable for any modern title.
Can run very old games, but lacks modern instructions.
Virtualization
VT-x and VT-d are present, but 2 cores and 3MB cache severely limit practical VM workloads.
Can run basic VMs but lacks RAM support.
Efficiency
Same 35W TDP as other Arrandale chips. Efficiency is poor by modern standards.
35W for 2 cores is inefficient by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI-specific instruction sets
- Cannot run any modern AI inference workloads
- No AI capabilities.
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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
- Ironlake graphics are too weak; relies on discrete GPUs. Lacks AVX2.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Very high clock speeds for 2010
- Good single-threaded performance
- Socketed design allows replacement
- Included AES-NI
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- Obsolete integrated graphics
- High 35W TDP for a dual-core
- Lacks modern instruction sets
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Core i7-620M
- Intel Core 2 Duo P9700Rival
Mobile
- AMD Phenom II P920Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-430MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-640MRival
Mobile
- AMD Turion II Ultra M640Rival
Mobile
Modern mobile alternative with massive multi-core gains.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5625UAlt
Modern efficient mobile chip.
- Intel Core i7-2620MAlt
Sandy Bridge successor.
- Intel N100Alt
Modern budget alternative.
- Alt
Modern ARM comparison.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The 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 reviewA high-performance standard-voltage mobile CPU for 2010, but completely obsolete by modern standards.
Best for: Legacy laptop repair
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-560M or Core i7-620M?
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.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-560M or Core i7-620M?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-560M leads with a gaming performance score of 17/100 among Intel Core i5-560M and Core i7-620M.
Do Intel Core i5-560M and Core i7-620M use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-560M: Intel Socket G1 (rPGA988A), Core i7-620M: Socket G1 (rPGA988A)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i7-620M posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-560M (1,960), Core i7-620M (2,200). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.