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Page 1 of 4   Intel continues the tradition of releasing of weaker models of their current CPU generation right after a serie of the most representative models, so now we finally have Core i3, the weakest but the most attractive CPU of the Nehalem architecture. As before, when after a serie of expensive Core 2 processors, we got a serie of weakened models for the masses, now we have the latest derivatives which differ significantly from the strongest i7 series, but are perfect for most needs of an average customer.
Arrandale & Clarkdale
Core i3 arrives for both desktop and laptop computers. The characteristics are very similar, and most noticeable difference is the consumption. Mobile version codenamed Arrandale is part of series 300 with the suffix M, while the desktop variants of members of the Clarkdale family, series 500, and besides the differences in size and processor base, there is a difference in the amount of level 3 cache: 4 MB in desktop, and 3 MB in mobile variant. Also, consumption of mobile Arrandalea officially goes up to 35 W, and Clarkdale processors up to 75 W.
What makes the difference between Core i3 and i5 (without a GPU) is the number of cores. Core i5 without GPU is the quad-core, but without HyperThreading, which means that they are officially able to execute four software thread at a time. All Core i3 and new Core i5 (with GPU) are dualcores but with HyperThreading, so that the user, if this technology is turned on in BIOS, in Task Manager or a similar program sees four "cores" or threads. Furthermore, the new Core i3/i5 package contains two separate silicon substrates connected via QPI link: 32-nm processor and the other part manufactured in 45 nm, which contains a number of components transferred from the former northbridge of the chipset (memory controller and PCI Express, DMI connection and an integrated graphics core), which resembles the concept of the mobile platform Pine Trail. Core i3 also integrates an expanded instruction set brought by the first Core i5, which can speed up programs that use the AES algorithm for data encryption. Of course, if they are compiled to use these new instructions.
Similarly to what happened with the Core 2 generation, when after a few years Pentium processors were "resurrected", which were actually the Core 2 Duo with a greatly reduced cache, soon will appear further weakened Pentium Core i3 variations, with 3 instead of 4 MB of cache and the absence of HyperThreading, which will officially be dualcore solutions for cheap computers. Finally, models of new i5 Core processors are 670, 661, 660 and 650, Core i3 is presented in two variants 540 and 530, while the Pentium be labeled G6950.
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Intel Core i3 530 |
Intel Core i5 670 |
| Codename |
Clarkdale |
Clarkdale |
| Working freq. / with Turbo Boost [GHz] |
2.93 / - |
3.47 / 3.73 |
| Cores / threads |
2/4 |
2/4 |
| Socket |
LGA 1156 |
LGA 1156 |
| L1 / L2 / L3 cache [kB] |
2 x 32 / 2 x 256 / 4096 |
2 x 32 / 2 x 256 / 4096 |
| Max. memory |
DDR3 1066/1333 (16 GB) |
DDR3 1066/1333 (16 GB) |
| Technology [nm] |
32 |
32 |
| TDP [W] |
75 |
73 |
| GPU |
Intel GMA HD |
Intel GMA HD |
| GPU technology [nm] |
45 |
45 |
| GPU freq. [MHz] |
733 |
733 |
| Price [EUR] |
about 110 |
about 260 |
| Contact |
www.intel.com |
www.intel.com |
Core i3 models are designed for socket LGA 1156 and will work on the existing P55 boards (with refreshed BIOS), but in this case you cannot use the new graphical core. For this, you must use chips H55, H57 and Q57, which contain all the necessary video-out connectors.
Integrated graphics core is slightly modernized previous generation of X4500, but in practice it's still too weak for most of the use of which you should have a discrete graphics card. New Media Intel HD chip in mobile processors uses TurboBoost technology that changes the frequency of the core between 133 and 500 MHz, depending on the load, while the desktop version works on 733 MHz (core i5 661 has a GPU running at 900 MHz).
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Processors 
