CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-661 vs Intel Core i5-680
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-661 is a dual-core Clarkdale processor distinguished by its faster 900MHz integrated graphics, trading higher power consumption for improved iGPU performance.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Identical CPU performance to the i5-660, inadequate for modern productivity.
Best single-threaded performance in Clarkdale but still insufficient for modern productivity.
Gaming
The 900MHz iGPU was slightly more capable than other Clarkdales but still cannot handle any modern 3D workload.
High clock speed helps slightly but the dual-core design remains a fundamental barrier.
Virtualization
Two cores with Hyper-Threading offer minimal virtualization capability.
Two cores with Hyper-Threading remain inadequate.
Efficiency
87W TDP for a dual-core with basic integrated graphics represents very poor efficiency.
73W for 3.6GHz on 32nm was reasonable for 2010 but poor by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI capabilities
- Completely unsuitable for machine learning
- No AI acceleration
- Unsuitable for any ML workload
Content Creation
Gaming
- 900MHz iGPU was the fastest in Clarkdale but still far too slow for modern games
- Could handle very light 2010-era games at low resolution
- A discrete GPU was still necessary for any serious gaming
- 3.6GHz clock cannot compensate for two cores in modern games
- 733MHz HD Graphics far too weak for 3D rendering
- Even with a discrete GPU in 2010, quad-cores were preferable
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Fastest integrated graphics in the Clarkdale lineup
- Same capable dual-core CPU as the i5-660
- Good hardware video decode acceleration
- Interesting variant for collectors
Cons
- 87W TDP is high for a dual-core with basic iGPU
- GPU improvement was marginal in practice
- Same two-core limitation as all Clarkdale i5s
- No AVX instruction support
- Completely obsolete platform
Pros
- Fastest Clarkdale processor ever made
- 3.866GHz turbo boost was impressive for 2010
- Maintained 73W TDP despite high clocks
- Strong single-threaded legacy performance
- Interesting piece of Intel frequency scaling history
Cons
- $294 price was exorbitant for two cores
- Dramatically outperformed in multi-threaded tasks by the $176 i5-750
- No AVX support
- Weak 733MHz integrated graphics
- Completely obsolete for any modern use
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-661
- AMD Athlon II X4 640Rival
Budget Quad-Core
- AMD Phenom II X2 565Rival
Dual-Core Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Quad-Core Desktop
- AMD 880G Integrated PlatformRival
Integrated Graphics Platform
- NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT + Pentium E6600Rival
Budget Discrete GPU Combo
Same CPU performance with 14W lower TDP for $10 less.
Compare head-to-head- AMD 880G PlatformAlt
Better integrated graphics performance from AMD's platform at lower cost.
Intel Core i5-680
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Quad-Core Desktop
- AMD Phenom II X4 965Rival
High-Frequency Quad-Core
- Intel Core i7-860Rival
Lynnfield i7
- AMD Phenom II X4 970Rival
Fastest Phenom II Quad
- Intel Core i7-870Rival
High-End Lynnfield
Our Verdict on Each
The faster 900MHz iGPU was a notable differentiator in 2010 but did not overcome the fundamental dual-core limitation. The 87W TDP was a significant penalty.
Best for: Running an existing i5-661 system for basic tasks
Read the full reviewThe fastest Clarkdale ever made, but at $294 for two cores, it was a tough sell against the i5-750. Now entirely obsolete.
Best for: Completing a Clarkdale collection or keeping an existing system running
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-661 or Intel Core i5-680?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-661 comes out ahead with a score of 3.5/10. 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 i5-661 or Intel Core i5-680?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-661 leads with a gaming performance score of 7/100 among Intel Core i5-661 and Intel Core i5-680.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-680 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-661 (87 W), Intel Core i5-680 (73 W).
Do Intel Core i5-661 and Intel Core i5-680 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 i5-680 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-661 (4,600), Intel Core i5-680 (5,050). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.