Quick Verdict
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.
Overview
Launch
2010
Status
DiscontinuedGeneration
1st Gen (Nehalem successor)
Market
Desktop
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 Core i5-670 pushed Clarkdale's dual-core architecture to 3.466GHz with a 3.733GHz turbo boost, but at $284 it was $88 more expensive than the i5-750 which offered four physical cores and 8MB of L3 cache.
The pricing made almost no sense for any use case, and the i5-670 quickly became one of the most universally panned Intel desktop processors of its generation.
Specifications
Performance
Slightly better single-threaded performance than other Clarkdales, but still completely inadequate for modern productivity.
Two cores with Hyper-Threading are insufficient for meaningful virtualization.
Even with high clock speeds, the dual-core design cannot run modern games.
73W for a dual-core is acceptable for the era but poor by modern standards.
- •High clock speed cannot overcome dual-core bottleneck
- •Integrated graphics far too weak for any 3D workload
- •Was overpriced for gaming even in 2010
- •No AI capabilities whatsoever
- •Far too slow for any ML workload
Architecture
32nm
Process Node
Clarkdale
Codename
2C / 4T
Core Config
4 MB
L3 Cache
73 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i5-670 uses the standard Clarkdale dual-die package with a 26x multiplier on the 133MHz BCLK for 3.466GHz. The CPU die is identical in architecture to other Clarkdale i5s, just binned for higher frequency operation. Turbo Boost can push a single core to 3.733GHz.
CPU Design
Two Westmere cores at 3.466GHz with Hyper-Threading, 4MB shared L3 cache, and a 26x locked multiplier.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-1333 via the 45nm graphics die memory controller.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 2.0 lanes from the CPU.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier. BCLK overclocking is the only option and affects memory and PCIe simultaneously.
- 133MHz higher base clock
- 133MHz higher turbo boost
- Better single-threaded performance
Key Highlights
- 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
- 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
History
The Core i5-670 launched on January 7, 2010, as the premium Clarkdale dual-core, and it immediately became a case study in misguided pricing. At $284, it sat in an awkward no-man's-land: too expensive for budget buyers who would choose the i5-650 or i3-530, and a demonstrably worse value than the i5-750 at just $176 for anyone who cared about multi-threaded performance. The i5-670's only theoretical advantage was its 3.
466GHz clock speed, which made it slightly faster in lightly threaded applications.</br></br>Intel's pricing appeared to be based on a frequency-first methodology inherited from the Pentium 4 era, when higher clocks commanded premium prices regardless of architecture. But in the Core i5 era, where the i5-750 offered four physical cores, 8MB of L3 cache, and similar per-core performance, this strategy collapsed.
Every major review outlet recommended the i5-750 over the i5-670, and some went further, questioning why the i5-670 existed at all.</br></br>Sales were reportedly very low. OEMs avoided the SKU almost entirely, and retail buyers who understood the landscape purchased the i5-750 instead.
The i5-670 became one of the quietest failures in Intel's desktop processor history, not because the product was defective, but because its positioning made no sense in the market Intel had created. When the i5-680 arrived in April at $294 with even higher clocks, it continued the same pattern, and both processors faded into obscurity.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- 133MHz higher base clock
- 133MHz higher turbo boost
- Better single-threaded performance
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Collecting unusual Intel processor SKUs
Avoid if…
- Any practical computing need
- Any budget-conscious scenario
- Any workload requiring more than two cores
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
At $284, the i5-670 cost 61% more than the i5-750 ($176) despite having half the cores and half the L3 cache.
The 3.466GHz base clock was among the highest of any desktop CPU at launch in January 2010.
A single sSPEC code (SLBLT) suggests limited production volume.
The 26x multiplier produced a non-round frequency (3.466GHz) due to the 133MHz BCLK.
Reviewers consistently recommended the i5-750 over the i5-670, making it one of Intel's easiest skip recommendations.
The turbo boost of 3.733GHz matched or exceeded many Core i7-900 series base clocks.
Despite the premium price, the i5-670 used the same 733MHz integrated graphics as the cheapest Clarkdale i5.
Intel likely priced it based on frequency rather than core count, a strategy that backfired with the i5-750's existence.
The i5-670 was rarely found in OEM systems due to its poor value proposition.
It was one of the shortest-lived Clarkdale SKUs, quickly overshadowed by the i5-680 and then abandoned.
People Also Ask
Why was the i5-670 more expensive than the i5-750?
Intel priced based on clock frequency rather than core count. The 3.466GHz clock was high for the era, but this pricing strategy was widely criticized given the i5-750's superior multi-threaded performance.
Is the i5-670 faster than the i5-750?
In single-threaded tasks, yes. In multi-threaded tasks, the i5-750 is significantly faster due to having four physical cores.
What is the turbo boost of the i5-670?
Up to 3.733GHz on a single core.
Does the i5-670 have integrated graphics?
Yes, Intel HD Graphics at 733MHz, identical to cheaper Clarkdale i5s.
What was the launch price of the i5-670?
$284, making it the most expensive Clarkdale i5 at launch.
Can the i5-670 run Windows 11?
No. It lacks TPM 2.0 and modern instruction sets.
What is the TDP of the i5-670?
73 watts.
How many cores does the i5-670 have?
2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading for 4 threads.
What socket does the i5-670 use?
LGA 1156.
Was the i5-670 a good buy in 2010?
No. Nearly every reviewer recommended the cheaper i5-750 instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base clock of the i5-670?
3.466 GHz.
How much L3 cache does it have?
4MB shared.
Does it support Hyper-Threading?
Yes, 2 cores with 4 threads.
What chipsets are compatible?
Intel H55, H57, and P55.
What is the multiplier?
26.0x (locked).
Does it support ECC memory?
No.
What is the process size?
32nm for the CPU die.
How many transistors in the CPU die?
382 million.
What PCIe version does it support?
PCIe 2.0 with 16 lanes.
What is the part number?
SLBLT.