Intel Core i7-640M

The Intel Core i7-640M is a high end dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.8 to 3.46 GHz. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westmere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Therefore, the i7-640M is related to the other i5 and i3 dual core CPUs and not the quad-core i7 CPUs.

A feature of the new Core i7-640M is the integrated graphics card called Intel HD Graphics (GMA HD) and memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. Compared to the slower i5 versions without AES features, the 3DMark Vantage Communication Score showed a significant increase with AES enabled CPUs.

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is clocked with 500-733 MHz and performs clearly faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. A GeForce 9400M (ION) should still be a bit faster (especially as Nvidia and ATI cards have a better driver support than Intel up to now).

The power consumption of 35 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 35 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo T-series (CPU alone).

The Core i7-640M should not be mistaken with the similar named but slower low voltage Core i7-640LM and Core i7-640UM models.