Intel Core i5 661 Review: Now With Built-In Graphics

TechSpot take a look at Core i5 661, one of four new Core i5 processors. The other models include the Core i5 650, 660 and 670. Based on this naming scheme the Core i5 661 doesn't seem to fit quite right. Furthermore, Intel will charge $196 for both the 660 and 661 processors, but we'll break it down for you so you can gain complete understanding of the new processor line-up being announced today. This new series is based on the 32nm Westmere die shrink of the Nehalem architecture and goes by the code-name Clarkdale. Of most relevance, all processors in the series feature a built-in GPU.

The new Core i5 661 may just be a dual-core processor, but it's still incredibly fast at 3.33GHz, even when compared to high-performance quad-core parts. Accompanied with the rest of the Core i5 and Core i3 line-up, we finally have Intel moving completely away from its older Core 2 products. However unlike previous Core i5/i7 launches where AMD had little to no answer to Intel, the green camp is better equipped to fight at the mainstream and budget levels. For the most part, the Core i5 661 is slower than the 3.0GHz Phenom II X4 945 processor, which has a two core advantage. With pricing set at $196 for the Core i5 661, it is more expensive than the Phenom II X4 945 ($166). Same goes for the platforms, if say you wanted to look at some HTPC use, AMD has a good showing with the 790GX. Boards based on that chipset can be had for as little as $75.

The gaming performance of Intel's built-in GPU was nothing spectacular. Although Intel claims that you can do a little gaming with this IGP solution in more modern games, such as Resident Evil 5 and World of Warcraft, do not expect to do so using respectable quality settings at a worthwhile resolution.What the Graphics Media Accelerator HD can do is play 1080p HD movies smoothly, and for now that is all we needed it to do. Combined with full hardware decode acceleration for AVC, VC1, and MPEG-2 formats, dual simultaneous HDMI 1.3a support and DisplayPort 1.1 with audio, means that the GMA is well suited for other tasks other than gaming.

Another aspect that makes the Core i5 661 an ideal candidate for budget systems and HTPCs is its power consumption, which is very low. Whether you want it to run a cool compact system, or for overclocking purposes, we eventually ended up running our Core i5 CPU at a crazy 4.6GHz. Assuming these overclocking abilities transcend to the rest of the series, the Core i5 650 which is clocked at 3.20GHz ($176) should become the value option that overclockers will go after. At the other end of the scale, the Core i5 670 seems a little ludicrous at $284, given that it comes clocked at just 3.46GHz.