CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-680 vs Intel Core i5-750s
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-680 is the final and fastest Clarkdale dual-core desktop processor at 3.6GHz, launched in April 2010 at $294.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Best single-threaded performance in Clarkdale but still insufficient for modern productivity.
Slower than the standard i5-750 in sustained multi-threaded workloads due to the 2.4GHz base.
Gaming
High clock speed helps slightly but the dual-core design remains a fundamental barrier.
Turbo boost helps in light gaming but the low base clock hurts in sustained loads.
Virtualization
Two cores with Hyper-Threading remain inadequate.
Four cores help but lower clocks limit VM performance.
Efficiency
73W for 3.6GHz on 32nm was reasonable for 2010 but poor by modern standards.
Better efficiency than the standard i5-750 at 82W, though still poor by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration
- Unsuitable for any ML workload
- No AI acceleration
- Far too slow for any ML workload
Content Creation
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
- 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 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
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 i5-680
- 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
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 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 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 i5-680 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 i5-680 or Intel Core i5-750s?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-750s leads with a gaming performance score of 10/100 among Intel Core i5-680 and Intel Core i5-750s.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-680 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-680 (73 W), Intel Core i5-750s (82 W).
Do Intel Core i5-680 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 i5-680 (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 i5-680 (5,050), Intel Core i5-750s (6,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.