CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-661 vs Intel Core i5-750s
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.
Slower than the standard i5-750 in sustained multi-threaded workloads due to the 2.4GHz base.
Gaming
The 900MHz iGPU was slightly more capable than other Clarkdales but still cannot handle any modern 3D workload.
Turbo boost helps in light gaming but the low base clock hurts in sustained loads.
Virtualization
Two cores with Hyper-Threading offer minimal virtualization capability.
Four cores help but lower clocks limit VM performance.
Efficiency
87W TDP for a dual-core with basic integrated graphics represents very poor efficiency.
Better efficiency than the standard i5-750 at 82W, though still poor by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI capabilities
- Completely unsuitable for machine learning
- No AI acceleration
- Far too slow 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
- 2.4GHz base clock is too low for modern games
- Turbo boost to 3.2GHz helps slightly in lightly threaded scenarios
- Requires a discrete GPU for any gaming
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
- Lower power consumption for small form factor builds
- Same turbo boost ceiling as standard i5-750
- Four real cores with 8MB cache
- Lower thermal output simplifies cooling
Cons
- 2.4GHz base clock was slow even in 2010
- Significant performance drop in sustained multi-threaded workloads
- No integrated graphics requires discrete GPU
- No AVX support
- Completely obsolete platform
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 i5-750s
- AMD Phenom II X4 910eRival
Low-Power Quad-Core
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Standard Quad-Core
- AMD Athlon II X4 605eRival
Low-Power Quad-Core
- Intel Core i3-530Rival
Budget Dual-Core with iGPU
- AMD Phenom II X4 810Rival
Budget Quad-Core
If integrated graphics and low power were priorities over core count.
Compare head-to-head
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 reviewAn interesting low-power variant that traded clock speed for efficiency, but the 2.4GHz base clock limited performance even in 2010.
Best for: Maintaining an existing SFF Lynnfield build
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-661 or Intel Core i5-750s?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-750s 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 i5-661 or Intel Core i5-750s?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-750s leads with a gaming performance score of 10/100 among Intel Core i5-661 and Intel Core i5-750s.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-750s has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-661 (87 W), Intel Core i5-750s (82 W).
Do Intel Core i5-661 and Intel Core i5-750s use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1156 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-750s has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-661 (2 cores), Intel Core i5-750s (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-750s posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-661 (4,600), Intel Core i5-750s (6,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.