Intel Core i5-3230M vs Intel Core i7-660UM

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3230M and Intel Core i7-660UM processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i5-3230M

Intel Core i7-660UM

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3230M

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 4 month(s) later
Around 33% higher clock speed: 3.20 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
4x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 8 GB
Around 71% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1578 vs 925
2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2562 vs 1284

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	1 January 2013 vs 1 September 2010
Maximum frequency	3.20 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 8 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1578 vs 925
PassMark - CPU mark	2562 vs 1284

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-660UM

Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 94% lower typical power consumption: 18 Watt vs 35 Watt

L3 cache	4096 KB vs 3072 KB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	18 Watt vs 35 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3230M
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-660UM

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1578

925

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2562

1284

Name	Intel Core i5-3230M	Intel Core i7-660UM
PassMark - Single thread mark	1578	925
PassMark - CPU mark	2562	1284
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	576
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1263
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	5.705
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	6.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.233
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.25
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.305
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2846
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2846

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3230M	Intel Core i7-660UM
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Arrandale
Launch date	1 January 2013	1 September 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$225
Place in performance rating	2384	2377
Price now	$249.65
Processor Number	i5-3230M	i7-660UM
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.65
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.60 GHz	1.33 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	118 mm	81 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	512 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB	4096 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	105°C
Maximum frequency	3.20 GHz	2.40 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	4
Front-side bus (FSB)		2500 MHz
Transistor count		382 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	12.8 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	8 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600	DDR3 800
Graphics
Device ID	0x166
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	166 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz	500 MHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	500 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 4000	Intel HD Graphics
Intel® Clear Video technology
Graphics interfaces
CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3	2
SDVO
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA988B)	BGA 34mm x 28mm
Sockets supported	FCPGA988	BGA1288
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt	18 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4	1x16
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
4G WiMAX Wireless
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)