CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-655K vs Intel Core i5-670
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-655K is an unlocked dual-core Clarkdale processor launched in May 2010, offering BCLK multiplier freedom for enthusiast overclockers on the LGA 1156 platform.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Two cores are fundamentally insufficient for any modern productivity workload.
Slightly better single-threaded performance than other Clarkdales, but still completely inadequate for modern productivity.
Gaming
Even overclocked, the dual-core architecture and weak iGPU make modern gaming impossible.
Even with high clock speeds, the dual-core design cannot run modern games.
Virtualization
Minimal utility with only two cores and 4GB-friendly memory limits.
Two cores with Hyper-Threading are insufficient for meaningful virtualization.
Efficiency
73W base TDP increases significantly when overclocked, resulting in poor efficiency.
73W for a dual-core is acceptable for the era but poor by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration capabilities
- Completely unsuitable for any machine learning task
- No AI capabilities whatsoever
- Far too slow for any ML workload
Content Creation
Gaming
- Overclocking does not overcome the dual-core limitation
- HD Graphics at 733MHz cannot handle any modern 3D workload
- Was marginal for 2010 gaming even with a discrete GPU
- High clock speed cannot overcome dual-core bottleneck
- Integrated graphics far too weak for any 3D workload
- Was overpriced for gaming even in 2010
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Unlocked multiplier was rare and valuable for LGA 1156 overclocking
- 32nm process allowed impressive frequency headroom
- Interesting piece of Intel's overclocking history
- BCLK-independent overclocking simplified tuning
Cons
- Only two cores even when overclocked
- More expensive than the identical-performance i5-650 at launch
- Clarkdale's dual-die design limited memory controller performance
- No practical use in modern computing
- Overclocking a dual-core provides negligible real-world benefit today
Pros
- Highest stock clock in Clarkdale lineup
- Strong single-threaded performance for 2010
- Integrated graphics eliminate need for discrete GPU in basic builds
- 32nm process kept power at 73W despite high clocks
Cons
- Priced at $284, more than the superior quad-core i5-750
- Only two cores regardless of clock speed
- Poor value at launch and completely obsolete now
- No AVX support
- Integrated graphics too weak for any meaningful 3D work
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-655K
- AMD Phenom II X2 560 Black EditionRival
Unlocked Dual-Core
- AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black EditionRival
Unlocked Quad-Core
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Mainstream Quad-Core
- Intel Core i7-860Rival
Lynnfield i7
- AMD Athlon II X4 645Rival
Budget Quad-Core
- AMD Phenom II X4 955 BEAlt
Unlocked quad-core at a competitive price with better multi-threaded throughput.
- Intel Core i7-870Alt
Eight threads on the same platform if budget allowed.
Intel Core i5-670
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Quad-Core Desktop
- AMD Phenom II X4 965Rival
High-Frequency Quad-Core
- AMD Phenom II X2 570Rival
Dual-Core Desktop
- Intel Core i7-860Rival
Lynnfield i7
- AMD Phenom II X4 955Rival
Quad-Core Desktop
Our Verdict on Each
An interesting novelty for overclockers in 2010, but the unlocked multiplier on a dual-core Clarkdale offered little practical value even at launch.
Best for: Collectors or overclocking hobbyists interested in legacy hardware
Read the full reviewAt $284, the i5-670 was paradoxically more expensive than the quad-core i5-750 while offering inferior multi-threaded performance. A poor value even at launch.
Best for: Collecting unusual Intel processor SKUs
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Do Intel Core i5-655K and Intel Core i5-670 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1156 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-670 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-655K (4,380), Intel Core i5-670 (4,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.