Discontinued1st Gen (Nehalem derivative)

Intel · Core i5

Intel Core i5-760

The refined Lynnfield quad-core that cemented LGA 1156 as the mainstream gaming platform.

Gaming (2010-2012 era)General Desktop UseLegacy SystemsBudget Overclocking

Cores / Threads

4/ 4

Base / Boost

2.8/ 3.333 GHz

PCIe Lanes

16

L3 Cache

8MB

TDP

95W

Socket

LGA 1156

Verdict

5.5/ 10

55

Quick Verdict

A solid refresh of the i5-750 that offered meaningful performance improvements. The best Lynnfield i5 for gamers, though entirely obsolete today.

Best for:Gaming (2010-2012 era)General Desktop UseLegacy SystemsBudget Overclocking

Overview

Launch

2010

Status

Discontinued

Generation

1st Gen (Nehalem derivative)

Market

Desktop

About this CPU

The Intel Core i5-760 is a refreshed Lynnfield quad-core desktop processor clocked at 2.8GHz, offering improved performance over the i5-750 while maintaining the same 95W TDP.

The Core i5-760 raised the Lynnfield i5 base clock from 2.666GHz to 2.8GHz with a corresponding turbo boost increase to 3.

333GHz. The 95W TDP remained unchanged, indicating improved 45nm binning. It became the go-to recommendation for budget-conscious gamers in mid-2010 and overclocked exceptionally well, with many samples reaching 4.

0GHz+.

Specifications

ArchitectureLynnfield
Manufacturing Process45nm
Cores / Threads4 / 4
Base Clock2.8 GHz
Boost Clock3.333 GHz
L3 Cache8 MB
TDP95 W
SocketLGA 1156
Memory TypeDDR3
Memory SpeedDDR3-1333
Memory ChannelsDual-Channel (2)
Max Memory16 GB
PCIe Version / LanesPCIe 2.0 × 16
Integrated GraphicsNone
Dual-Channel16 PCIe Lanes
Target Audience
GamersStreamersContent CreatorsDevelopersWorkstation UsersOffice UsersStudents

Performance

Productivity
27Limited

Noticeably faster than the i5-750 in multi-threaded tasks, but still inadequate for modern productivity.

Virtualization
22Limited

Four cores at higher clocks provide usable virtualization for lightweight VMs.

Gaming
14Limited

The best Lynnfield i5 for gaming, but still cannot handle modern AAA titles.

Efficiency
26Limited

95W for four 45nm cores at 2.8GHz is inefficient by modern standards.

GamingVery Poor
  • Was a capable gaming CPU in 2010-2012 with a good discrete GPU
  • Cannot run modern AAA games at playable frame rates
  • Overclocking to 4.0GHz helps slightly but does not overcome architectural limitations
Creator
AI / ML

Key Highlights

2.8GHz Base Clock
133MHz higher than the i5-750 for improved sustained performance.
Turbo Boost to 3.333GHz
Higher turbo boost ceiling for better single-threaded performance.
Excellent Overclocker
Mature 45nm process and 21x multiplier allowed many samples to reach 4.0GHz+.
Same 95W TDP
Higher performance at the same power envelope as the i5-750.

History

Launch Date
2010
Status
Discontinued
Generation
1st Gen (Nehalem derivative)
Market
Desktop

Should You Buy It?

Not Recommended for the right buyer

Use Cases

Gaming (legacy)
Good for 2010-2013 games with discrete GPU
Overclocking
Excellent BCLK overclocking potential
Multi-Tasking
Four cores handle basic multitasking
Modern Gaming
Unusable for modern titles
Content Creation
Too slow for modern tools