Quick Verdict
The BGA i5-580M delivers the same impressive 3.333 GHz turbo as the socketed variant but in a non-upgradeable package, making it solely relevant for repair and preservation of specific laptop models.
Overview
Launch
2010
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
1st Gen Core i5 (Arrandale)
Market
Mobile
The Intel Core i5-580M in BGA 1288 packaging is the highest-clocked soldered Arrandale dual-core mobile processor, combining 3.333 GHz Turbo Boost with a surface-mount package designed for thin 2010-era laptops.
The BGA 1288 version of the Core i5-580M carries the same 2.667 GHz base and 3.333 GHz Turbo Boost as its Socket G1 sibling but in the mFCBGA10 surface-mount package.
Identified by part number SLC29, it was selected by OEMs for premium ultra-portable laptops where maximum Arrandale i5 performance was desired without the thickness penalty of a PGA socket.
Specifications
Performance
Highest single-threaded Arrandale i5 performance helps slightly in office tasks, but the difference from lower SKUs is minimal in practice.
VT-x and VT-d present, but 2 cores and 3MB cache make any serious virtualization impractical.
Identical to the socketed i5-580M. First-gen Intel HD Graphics prevents any meaningful gaming experience with modern titles.
Same 35W TDP as all Arrandale i5s. Higher turbo at same power shows good process binning.
- •Performance identical to socketed i5-580M
- •3.333 GHz turbo irrelevant when GPU is the bottleneck
- •Only viable for very old or lightweight games
- •No AI acceleration capabilities
Architecture
32nm
Process Node
Arrandale
Codename
2C / 4T
Core Config
3 MB
L3 Cache
35 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The BGA 1288 i5-580M is electrically identical to the Socket G1 version—the same 32nm Westmere CPU die with 25x max turbo multiplier and 45nm Ironlake GPU die, just in the mFCBGA10 surface-mount package instead of rPGA988A. The 2.667 GHz base (20x) and 3.333 GHz turbo (25x) represent the highest frequency bin available to any Core i5 Arrandale part.
CPU Design
Two Westmere cores with Hyper-Threading, 64KB L1 and 256KB L2 per core, 3MB shared L3. Locked 20x base multiplier with 25x max turbo.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-800/1066 integrated memory controller, 8GB maximum.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 2.0 lanes from the CPU die.
Overclocking
No overclocking capability on BGA mobile platforms.
- 133 MHz higher Turbo Boost than BGA i5-560M (3.333 vs 3.2 GHz)
- Same 35W TDP
- Best single-threaded performance in any Arrandale i5 BGA variant
- No other changes from lower-binned BGA Arrandale i5s
Key Highlights
- Highest Turbo Boost in any Arrandale i5 BGA variant
- Best-binned 32nm silicon in a compact package
- AES-NI, VT-x, VT-d included
- Same 35W TDP as lower-clocked variants
- BGA package requires professional rework for replacement
- Zero upgrade path
- Only 3MB L3 cache
- No AVX support
- 8GB RAM ceiling
- Launched mere months before Sandy Bridge obsolescence
- Used market pricing may not reflect actual value
History
The BGA 1288 variant of the Core i5-580M represents a curious intersection of Intel's product strategy and manufacturing realities. By September 2010, Intel's 32nm process was mature enough to reliably bin silicon capable of 3.333 GHz turbo within a 35W envelope.
However, rather than reserving these best bins exclusively for the upgradeable Socket G1 market, Intel also allocated them to the BGA 1288 package, designated as part number SLC29.</br></br>This decision made sense from an OEM perspective: manufacturers building premium ultra-portables could offer the highest-clocked i5 without the mechanical overhead of a socket. For the end-user, however, it meant that Intel's finest Arrandale silicon was permanently locked onto motherboards with no upgrade path.
The irony is compounded by timing—Sandy Bridge's January 2011 launch was already public knowledge when the BGA i5-580M shipped, giving it arguably the shortest useful lifespan of any Arrandale variant.</br></br>Today, the BGA i5-580M (SLC29) is primarily encountered during board-level repair of preserved Arrandale-era laptops. Its combination of high bin quality, single part number, and short production window makes it one of the harder-to-find Arrandale parts on the secondary market.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- 133 MHz higher Turbo Boost than BGA i5-560M (3.333 vs 3.2 GHz)
- Same 35W TDP
- Best single-threaded performance in any Arrandale i5 BGA variant
- No other changes from lower-binned BGA Arrandale i5s
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Exact replacement for a failed BGA i5-580M (SLC29) in a specific laptop model during board-level repair
Avoid if…
- Any new system consideration
- Expecting practical performance for modern tasks
- The existing laptop works adequately as-is
- Budget is limited and a lower-binned BGA Arrandale would function identically for your needs
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
Part number SLC29 is one of the last Arrandale sSpecs assigned, indicating very late production lifecycle allocation.
The BGA i5-580M's best-binned 25x turbo silicon was permanently committed to a non-removable package, meaning these high-quality dies could never be repurposed or upgraded by end-users.
The mFCBGA10 package's 1288 solder balls provide both electrical connections and mechanical attachment, with the balls themselves being approximately 0.5mm in diameter.
Some OEMs paired the BGA i5-580M with discrete NVIDIA or ATI GPUs in premium thin-and-light laptops, where the higher CPU clock helped feed the discrete GPU more effectively.
The BGA i5-580M and the Core i7-620M BGA variant share the same 3.333 GHz turbo but differ in L3 cache (3MB vs 4MB), making the cache the sole differentiator in single-threaded performance.
People Also Ask
Is the BGA i5-580M the same as the socketed version?
Electrically identical in terms of clocks, cache, and features. The only difference is the physical packaging—BGA 1288 (soldered) versus Socket G1 (PGA).
What is part number SLC29?
SLC29 is the Intel sSpec number specifically for the Core i5-580M in the BGA 1288 (mFCBGA10) surface-mount package.
Can I upgrade from BGA i5-560M to BGA i5-580M?
Only through professional BGA rework. The CPU must be desoldered and the new one reflowed onto the motherboard, which carries risk and requires specialized equipment.
Why would OEMs choose the BGA i5-580M over the socketed version?
BGA enables thinner laptop designs, reduces manufacturing cost by eliminating the socket, and prevents warranty issues from unauthorized CPU swaps.
What is the turbo boost of the BGA i5-580M?
Up to 3.333 GHz, achieved with a 25x multiplier on a single active core when thermal and power conditions allow.
Does the BGA i5-580M run hotter than lower BGA Arrandale SKUs?
Under turbo conditions it may reach slightly higher peak temperatures due to the higher 3.333 GHz frequency, but the 35W TDP is the same across all Arrandale i5 BGA variants.
Can the BGA i5-580M run Windows 10?
Yes, Windows 10 runs on the i5-580M, though performance will be limited. Windows 11 is not supported.
What is the max RAM for the BGA i5-580M?
8GB of DDR3-800 or DDR3-1066, identical to all Arrandale processors.
Is the BGA i5-580M rare?
Relatively. As a late-cycle, highest-binned BGA variant with a single part number, it was produced in lower volumes than mainstream SKUs like the i5-540M BGA.
What laptops used the BGA i5-580M?
Premium ultra-portable laptops from late 2010 to early 2011 that used BGA packaging. Specific models vary by region and OEM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What package does the BGA i5-580M use?
mFCBGA10, a micro Flip Chip Ball Grid Array with 1288 solder balls for surface mounting.
What is the TDP of the BGA i5-580M?
35 watts, identical to all Arrandale Core i5 processors.
Does the BGA i5-580M support Hyper-Threading?
Yes, 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading providing 4 logical threads.
What is the cache configuration of the BGA i5-580M?
64KB L1 per core, 256KB L2 per core, 3MB shared L3 Smart Cache.
What is the die size of the BGA i5-580M?
81 mm² for the 32nm CPU die, same as all Arrandale dual-core processors.
How many transistors does the BGA i5-580M have?
382 million on the CPU die and 177 million on the 45nm GPU die.
Does the BGA i5-580M support PCIe 3.0?
No, it supports PCIe 2.0 with 16 lanes from the CPU.
What is the multiplier of the BGA i5-580M?
20.0x base (2.667 GHz) with a maximum turbo of 25.0x (3.333 GHz).
When was the BGA i5-580M released?
September 26, 2010.
Is the BGA i5-580M multiplier unlocked?
No, the multiplier is locked. No practical overclocking is possible.