CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-670 vs Intel Core i5-680
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-670 is the highest-clocked dual-core Clarkdale desktop processor at 3.466GHz, launched in January 2010 at a premium $284 price point.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Slightly better single-threaded performance than other Clarkdales, but still completely inadequate for modern productivity.
Best single-threaded performance in Clarkdale but still insufficient for modern productivity.
Gaming
Even with high clock speeds, the dual-core design cannot run modern games.
High clock speed helps slightly but the dual-core design remains a fundamental barrier.
Virtualization
Two cores with Hyper-Threading are insufficient for meaningful virtualization.
Two cores with Hyper-Threading remain inadequate.
Efficiency
73W for a dual-core is acceptable for the era but poor by modern standards.
73W for 3.6GHz on 32nm was reasonable for 2010 but poor by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI capabilities whatsoever
- Far too slow for any ML workload
- No AI acceleration
- Unsuitable for any ML workload
Content Creation
Gaming
- High clock speed cannot overcome dual-core bottleneck
- Integrated graphics far too weak for any 3D workload
- Was overpriced for gaming even in 2010
- 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
- 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
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 i5-670
- 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
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
At $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 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 faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-670 or Intel Core i5-680?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-680 leads with a gaming performance score of 6/100 among Intel Core i5-670 and Intel Core i5-680.
Do Intel Core i5-670 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 i5-670 (4,800), Intel Core i5-680 (5,050). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.