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Intel Core i7-640M vs Intel Core i7-660LM vs Intel Core i7-620LM

Intel Core i7-640M

► remove from comparison Intel 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.

Intel Core i7-660LM

► remove from comparison Intel 660LM

The Intel Core i7-660LM is a fast middle class low voltage dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.27 to 3.07 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).  All features (like Virtualization VT-x and VT-d, Trusted Execution) of the Arrandale core are activated in the 660LM. Compared to the Core i7-620M, the 660LM is slower but more power efficient.

A feature of the new Core i7-660LM is the integrated graphics card (called Intel HD Graphics) 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.

Due to the integrated memory controller, the HyperThreading and Turbo Boost, the  Core i7-660LM is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo in all (us known) applications and benchmarks. The performance should be somewhere on the level of the Core i3-380M and i5-450M. Beware, that some designs may not feature the Turbo Boost or due to small cooling solutions, the TurboBoost may not trigger very often. Therefore, the performance could be worse.

The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. Modern applications that support AES encoding can profit significantly using the new instructions (e.g. the Communications Suite test in the PCMark Vantage boosts up to 70% using AES in the faster Core i5-520M).

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is between 266-566 MHz (Turbo Boost) and therefore the base speed is clearly below the non low voltage versions. The performance should still be a lot faster than the old GMA 4500MHD.

The power consumption of 25 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 25 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo P-series (CPU alone).

Intel Core i7-620LM

► remove from comparison Intel 620LM

The Intel Core i7-620LM is a fast middle class low voltage dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.0 to 2.8 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). Compared to the Core i7-620M, the 620LM is slower but more power efficient.

A feature of the new Core i7-620LM is the integrated graphics card (called Intel HD Graphics) 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.

Due to the integrated memory controller, the HyperThreading and Turbo Boost, the  Core i7-620LM is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo in all (us known) applications and benchmarks. The performance should be somewhere on the level of the Core i5-350M. Beware, that some laptop designs may not feature the Turbo Boost. Therefore, the CPU may be slower than the 350M.

The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. Modern applications that support AES encoding can show a significant performance boost using the new instructions (e.g. the Communications Suite test in the PCMark Vantage boosts up to 70% using AES in the faster Core i5-520M).

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is between 266-566 MHz (Turbo Boost) and therefore the base speed is clearly below the non low voltage versions. The performance should

still be a lot faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. The power consumption of 25 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 25 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo P-series (CPU alone).

ModelIntel Core i7-640MIntel Core i7-660LMIntel Core i7-620LM
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7Intel Core i7
CodenameArrandaleArrandaleArrandale
Series: Core i7 Arrandale
Intel Core i7-640M « 2.8 - 3.46 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620M2.66 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-660LM2.27 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640LM2.13 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620LM2 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-680UM1.47 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-660UM1.33 - 2.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640UM1.2 - 2.27 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620UM1.06 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640M2.8 - 3.46 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620M2.66 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-660LM « 2.27 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640LM2.13 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620LM2 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-680UM1.47 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-660UM1.33 - 2.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640UM1.2 - 2.27 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620UM1.06 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640M2.8 - 3.46 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620M2.66 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-660LM2.27 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640LM2.13 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620LM « 2 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-680UM1.47 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-660UM1.33 - 2.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-640UM1.2 - 2.27 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-620UM1.06 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock2800 - 3460 MHz2267 - 3067 MHz2000 - 2800 MHz
FSB250025002500
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache4 MB4 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 42 / 42 / 4
TDP35 Watt25 Watt25 Watt
Transistors382+177 Million382+177 Million382+177 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size81+114 mm281+177 mm281+144 mm2
max. Temp.105 °C105 °C105 °C
SocketBGA1288, PGA988BGA1288BGA1288
FeaturesTurbo Boost, Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrierte GMA HD 500-733MHz, Dual Channel DDR3 memory controllerTurbo Boost (2.93 GHz max), Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrated GMA HD 266-566MHzTurbo Boost (2.8 GHz max), Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrated GMA HD 266-566 MHz
Architecturex86x86x86
$346 U.S.$346 U.S.$300 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 640M +
min: 2.4     avg: 2.5     median: 2.5 (3%)     max: 2.63 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 640M +
1.1 Points (26%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
1 640M +
min: 3597     avg: 3711     median: 3707.5 (22%)     max: 3792 Points
79%
1 620LM +
2937 Points (18%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
1 640M +
min: 7765     avg: 7987     median: 7906 (6%)     max: 8349 Points
71%
1 620LM +
5640 Points (4%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
100%
1 640M +
min: 9096     avg: 9533     median: 9430 (7%)     max: 10027 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
100%
1 640M +
min: 4455     avg: 4563     median: 4573 (6%)     max: 4606 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 640M +
min: 523     avg: 709     median: 569 (7%)     max: 1173 s
96%
1 620LM +
848 s (10%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 640M +
min: 16.6     avg: 22.1     median: 17.6 (4%)     max: 36.61 s
98%
1 620LM +
26.5 s (5%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 640M +
1763 Points (3%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 640M +
0.1 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 640M +
0.2 GB/s (4%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 640M +
1.3 GB/s (3%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
1 640M +
min: 3094     avg: 3285     median: 3307 (7%)     max: 3442 Points
71%
1 620LM +
2358 Points (5%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
1 640M +
min: 12     avg: 13.1     median: 12.3 (3%)     max: 18 s
99%
1 620LM +
16.2 s (3%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 640M +
min: 30     avg: 32.8     median: 31 (1%)     max: 44 s
100%
1 620LM +
38.1 s (2%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 640M +
min: 735     avg: 758     median: 754 (3%)     max: 815 s
99%
1 620LM +
920 s (4%)
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 620LM +
28100 MIPS (13%)
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 620LM +
24620 MFLOPS (19%)
PCMark 05 - PCMark 05 - Standard
100%
1 640M +
min: 10087     avg: 10706     median: 10706 (22%)     max: 11325 Points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 640M +
min: 6.8     avg: 6.9     median: 6.9 (88%)     max: 7 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 640M +
min: 8589     avg: 8882     median: 8861 (8%)     max: 9216 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 640M +
3356 Points (9%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-640M → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-620LM → 0% n=

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

v1.26
log 28. 09:34:29

#0 checking url part for id 1220 +0s ... 0s

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#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:35:32 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#5 composed specs +0.026s ... 0.027s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.027s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 1220 +0.002s ... 0.029s

#8 got single benchmarks 1220 +0.019s ... 0.048s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 1277 +0.002s ... 0.05s

#10 got single benchmarks 1277 +0s ... 0.05s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 560 +0.002s ... 0.052s

#12 got single benchmarks 560 +0.007s ... 0.059s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.059s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.077s ... 0.136s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.136s

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)