Quick Verdict
A landmark processor that offered excellent quad-core value in 2009-2010. Completely obsolete today but historically significant as the processor that established the Core i5 brand.
Overview
Launch
2009
Status
DiscontinuedGeneration
1st Gen (Nehalem derivative)
Market
Desktop
The Intel Core i5-750 is a quad-core Lynnfield desktop processor that defined mainstream performance in 2009, offering four real cores on LGA 1156 without Hyper-Threading or integrated graphics.
The Core i5-750 brought four Nehalem-derived cores to the LGA 1156 platform at an aggressive price point, undercutting the older LGA 1366 Core i7-920 while offering competitive performance in most workloads. With 8MB of L3 cache, a 2.666GHz base clock, and turbo boost to 3.
2GHz, it became the recommended processor for gamers and general users who did not need Hyper-Threading or triple-channel memory.
Specifications
Performance
Four cores help with basic multitasking but modern productivity apps will feel sluggish.
Four real cores provide usable virtualization for lightweight VMs.
With a discrete GPU, can handle older games but cannot run modern titles at acceptable frame rates due to CPU limitations.
95W for four 45nm cores is inefficient by modern standards.
- •Cannot run modern AAA games at playable frame rates
- •With a capable discrete GPU, older titles (pre-2015) run adequately
- •The 2.666GHz base clock is a significant bottleneck
- •No AI acceleration instructions
- •Far too slow for any ML workload
Architecture
45nm
Process Node
Lynnfield
Codename
4C / 4T
Core Config
8 MB
L3 Cache
95 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
Lynnfield was a refined Nehalem derivative designed for the mainstream LGA 1156 platform. Unlike the flagship Bloomfield on LGA 1366, Lynnfield moved the PCIe controller onto the CPU die and removed the QPI link, instead using a DMI connection to the PCH. The i5-750 disabled Hyper-Threading compared to the i7-860/870, differentiating it as the mainstream quad-core option.
CPU Design
Four Nehalem-derived cores on a single 45nm die (296mm², 774 million transistors) with 8MB shared L3 cache. No Hyper-Threading means four threads for four cores. Base clock of 2.666GHz with turbo boost to 3.2GHz.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-1333 with the memory controller integrated on-die. Simpler than Bloomfield's triple-channel but sufficient for mainstream use.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 2.0 lanes from an on-die PCIe controller, a first for Intel's mainstream platform. Could be configured as x16 or x8/x8.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier. BCLK overclocking was popular, with many samples reaching 3.5-4.0GHz, though this affected memory and PCIe frequencies.
- First Core i5 quad-core for mainstream platform
- On-die PCIe controller
- Better value than LGA 1366 i7 for gamers
- Lower platform cost than Bloomfield
Key Highlights
- Four real cores provided strong 2009-era performance
- 8MB L3 cache was generous for the price
- Turbo boost significantly improved single-threaded performance
- Excellent value that redefined mainstream desktop pricing
- Overclockable via BCLK with good headroom
- No Hyper-Threading limits multi-threaded vs i7 Lynnfield
- No integrated graphics requires a discrete GPU
- 45nm process is obsolete
- No AVX instruction support
- LGA 1156 platform is dead with no upgrade path
History
The Core i5-750 launched on September 8, 2009, and immediately became the processor that defined mainstream desktop computing. It arrived alongside the Lynnfield-based Core i7-860 and i7-870, but the i5-750 was the model that mattered most. By stripping Hyper-Threading from the Lynnfield die and pricing it aggressively, Intel created a quad-core processor that offered 80-90% of the i7-860's performance at a much lower price point.
</br></br>The timing was critical. AMD's Phenom II X4 lineup was competitive on price but could not match Lynnfield's per-core performance or the efficiency of Intel's integrated memory controller with turbo boost. The i5-750 consistently outperformed the Phenom II X4 965 in gaming while consuming less power, and it offered a dramatically better upgrade path than the aging LGA 775 platform.
Reviewers at every major outlet recommended it as the best value in desktop computing.</br></br>The i5-750's success also validated the LGA 1156 platform itself, which Intel had initially positioned somewhat awkwardly between the consumer LGA 775 and the enthusiast LGA 1366. By proving that a mainstream platform could deliver enthusiast-class performance, the i5-750 set the template that Intel would follow for over a decade: a single mainstream platform serving both gamers and general users, with enthusiast features reserved for the HEDT line.
The LGA 1156 platform's direct descendants, from LGA 1155 through LGA 1200, would dominate desktop computing until the LGA 1700 transition in 2021.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- First Core i5 quad-core for mainstream platform
- On-die PCIe controller
- Better value than LGA 1366 i7 for gamers
- Lower platform cost than Bloomfield
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Keeping an existing LGA 1156 Lynnfield system functional for light tasks
Avoid if…
- Building any new system
- Gaming at any modern standard
- Any productivity workload beyond basic office tasks
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i5-750 was arguably the most recommended desktop processor of late 2009 and early 2010.
It lacked both integrated graphics and Hyper-Threading, making it the most 'pure' quad-core of its generation.
The 296mm² die was nearly four times larger than Clarkdale's 81mm² CPU die.
At launch, it was significantly cheaper than the i7-920 while offering comparable gaming performance.
The on-die PCIe controller was a major architectural innovation that all future Intel CPUs would adopt.
BCLK overclocking to 3.8-4.0GHz was common, making it a favorite of budget overclockers.
The i5-750's success arguably saved the LGA 1156 platform from being overshadowed by Clarkdale's poor reception.
It was one of the last Intel desktop processors to lack integrated graphics entirely.
The 95W TDP was identical to the Core 2 Quad Q9400 it replaced, despite significantly better performance.
Many i5-750 systems are still in operation today, a testament to the platform's longevity.
People Also Ask
Is the Intel Core i5-750 still good in 2025?
No. While it was excellent in 2009, it cannot handle modern software, games, or workloads with any reasonable performance.
Does the i5-750 have integrated graphics?
No. It requires a discrete graphics card for display output.
Does the i5-750 have Hyper-Threading?
No. It has 4 cores and 4 threads. Hyper-Threading was reserved for Lynnfield i7 models.
Can the i5-750 run Windows 11?
No. It lacks TPM 2.0 and required instruction sets.
What is the turbo boost of the i5-750?
Up to 3.2GHz on a single core, with 3.066GHz on two cores and 2.8GHz on four cores.
How much cache does the i5-750 have?
8MB of shared L3 cache.
Can the i5-750 be overclocked?
Yes, through BCLK adjustment. Many samples reached 3.5-4.0GHz with adequate cooling.
What socket does the i5-750 use?
LGA 1156.
What is the TDP of the i5-750?
95 watts.
Is the i5-750 better than the i5-650?
Significantly. The i5-750 has four physical cores and 8MB cache versus the i5-650's two cores and 4MB cache.
Frequently Asked Questions
What generation is the i5-750?
First generation Intel Core i5, based on the Lynnfield architecture.
What is the base clock?
2.666 GHz (20x multiplier on 133MHz BCLK).
Does it support DDR3-1600?
Officially DDR3-1333, but higher speeds were achievable through BCLK overclocking.
What PCIe version?
PCIe 2.0 with 16 lanes from the CPU.
Does it support ECC memory?
No.
What chipsets are compatible?
Intel P55 primarily. H55 and H57 also work but are designed for Clarkdale.
What is the die size?
296mm².
How many transistors?
774 million.
What is the part number?
SLBLC.
Does it support VT-x and VT-d?
Yes, both hardware virtualization technologies are supported.