Intel 32nm Clarkdale Core i5 661 Dual Core CPU + GPU Evaluation

Test System and Comments
Processor: Intel Core i5 661
Mainboard: ASRock H55 Deluxe [Supplied by ASRock]
Memory: 4GB Kingston KHX12800D3T1K3/6GX [Supplied by Kingston]
Hard Disk: Kingston SSD Now M [re-badged Intel X25-M 80GB SSD - Supplied by Kingston]
Graphics Card: Zotac GTX 285 AMP! Edition 1GB [flashed to stock BIOS - Supplied by Zotac]
Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 [with an extra fan - Supplied by Cooler Master]
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Drivers: Intel INF 9.1.1.1015, ForceWare 195.62

Processor: Intel Core i7 870, Intel Core i5 750
Mainboard: ASRock P55 Deluxe with P130 BIOS [Supplied by ASRock]
Memory: 4GB Kingston KHX12800D3T1K3/6GX [Supplied by Kingston]
Hard Disk: Kingston SSD Now M [re-badged Intel X25-M 80GB SSD - Supplied by Kingston]
Graphics Card: Zotac GTX 285 AMP! Edition 1GB [flashed to stock BIOS - Supplied by Zotac]
Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 [with an extra fan - Supplied by Cooler Master]
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Drivers: Intel INF 9.1.1.1015, ForceWare 195.62

Processor: Intel Core i7 975, Intel Core i7 965, Intel Core i7 920
Mainboard: ASRock X58 Extreme with P130 BIOS - Supplied by ASRock]
Memory: 6GB Kingston KHX12800D3T1K3/6GX (Supplied by Kingston)
Hard Disk: Kingston SSD Now M [re-badged Intel X25-M 80GB SSD - Supplied by Kingston]
Graphics Card: Zotac GTX 285 AMP! Edition 1GB [flashed to stock BIOS - Supplied by Zotac]
Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 [with an extra fan - Supplied by Cooler Master]
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Drivers: Intel INF 9.1.0.1007, ForceWare 195.62

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
Mainboard: Asus M4A79T Deluxe with BIOS 1604 [Supplied by Asus]
Memory: 4GB Kingston KHX12800D3T1K3/6GX [Supplied by Kingston]
Hard Disk: Kingston SSD Now M [re-badged Intel X25-M 80GB SSD - Supplied by Kingston]
Graphics Card: Zotac GTX 285 AMP! Edition 1GB [flashed to stock BIOS - Supplied by Zotac]
Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 [with an extra fan - Supplied by Cooler Master]
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Drivers: AMD Driver Version 3.0.732.0, ForceWare 195.62

Comments
At first you may wonder why I chose to pit this dual core CPU against a bevy of Intel’s finest and a top performer from AMD. The reason is pretty simple; Clarkdale, in the form of the Core i5 661 represents an extension of the Nehalem architecture into the mainstream and entry level market. Intel is boasting that Clarkdale brings Nehalem performance and power to this market. To see if it truly does we need to see how close to the rest of the family the Core i5 can come. If it is able to hold its own with its bigger brothers then Intel has a real threat to AMD’s mainstream market penetration [especially if it can compete with one of AMD’s higher end native quads].  This showing will also indirectly indicate where it will stand against other dual core CPUs. We chose the ASRock H55M Pro for our testing of the Core i5 611 as it offers a good mix of features [including over-volting the GPU].

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