Intel Core i3-370M vs i5-460M Processor Comparison and Review

Intel Core i5-460M and i3-370M are used in most of the laptops, they are the new generation Dual Core processors. Intel Core i5-460M has a CPU speed of 2.53 GHz, cache is 3 MB Intel Smart Cache, 2.5 GT/s bus speed, maximum turbo speed of 2.8 GHz, with core ratio of 19, 766 MHz of Graphics maximum dynamic frequency, advanced technologies like Intel Turbo Boost Technology, Hyper threading technology, Virtualization technology, Fast memory access, Enhanced speed step technology, Flex memory access and etc.

Intel Core i3-370M has a CPU speed of 2.4 GHz, cache, bus speed and instruction set are same as Intel Core i5-460M, core ratio of 18, graphics maximum dynamic frequency of 667 MHz, 2.93 GHz of maximum turbo frequency, advanced technologies like Hyper threading technology, Virtualization technology, Fast memory access, Enhanced speed step technology, Flex memory access and etc are present which are also found in Intel Core i5-460M except for Intel Turbo Boost Technology.

The i5 460 offers a reasonable performance boost compared to the i3 370, but to see a considerable performance boost other features of the laptop also needs to be better. If the price difference is more than $50 it doesnt make sense to upgrade to i5 460.

Technical Specifications :

Intel Core i5-460M :
CPU Benchmark – 2569, CPU Speed – 2.53 GHz, Cache – 3 MB Intel Smart Cache, Bus Speed – 2.5 GT/s, Code Name – Arrandale, Thermal – 105 C, Number of cores – 2, Instruction Set – 64 bit, Graphics maximum dynamic frequency – 766 MHz.

Intel Core i3-370M :
CPU Benchmark – 2206, CPU Speed – 2.4 GHz, Cache – 3 MB Intel Smart Cache, Bus Speed – 2.5 GT/s, Code Name – Arrandale, Thermal – 90 C for rPGA 105 C for BGA, Number of cores – 2, Instruction Set – 64 bit,  Graphics maximum dynamic frequency – 667 MHz.

Laptop Processors comparison – Mar 2010

Yet again we are back to one of the popular qustion in the site.. which is the best laptop processor in terms of Price vs Performance. And also a look at the most popular notebook processors.

Below is the list of popular notebook processors and their rating in CPU Benchmarks.

Intel Pentium Dual Core T4300 – 1454
Intel Pentium Dual Core T4400 – 1514
Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 – 1578
Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 – 1576
Intel Core 2 Duo P8700  – 1803
Intel Core 2 Duo T9550 – 1900
Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 – 1914
Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 – 2001
Intel Core 2 Duo T9800 – 2198
Intel Core 2 Duo T9900 – 2329

With the increase in the numbers you can notice the performance numbers not moving significantly up, also for the price vs Performance ration T6600 is still the best bet. Also one should keep in mind that we have entered the post Core 2 Duo era, Intel lists all the core 2 Duo processors as retired versions but still 99% of the laptops are sold with either one of the above processors.

So whats after the core 2 Duo ? Core i3 , i5 and i7 and some high end models of Dell Studio XPS offer the Core i7 processors. The new processors definitely give a huge performance boost compared to the old C2D processors. Below is the two new kids on the block.

Intel Core i7-720QM Quad Core 1.6G (2.8GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
3274
Intel Core i7-820QM Quad Core 1.73G (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
3615

And you can clearly see the performance numbers skyrocketing with these i7 processors.

Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 vs T6600 – Technical Specs Comparison | Notebook processors

Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 vs T6600 technical Specifications - Dexternights.com
Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 vs T6600 technical Specifications - Dexternights.com

From the Festive Season of 2008, the Intel Core 2 T6400 has been the most popular among all the laptops sold, almost all the models had this processor (for mid range). Well Now Intel has launched a upgrade for the Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, with a new Intel Core 2 Duo T6600.

Unlike the last upgrade say from the T5800 to T6400, this upgrade isnt major. Both T6400 and T6600 are almost the same except the Clock speed and that too a difference of only 0.2GHz. The T6400 is clocked at 2.0GHz and the T6600 runs at 2.2GH. Other than this difference everything else is the same.

So if you have a choice between two laptops with T6400 and T6600 and the cost of the newer processor is higher, don’t bother to pay the extra buck, take the one with T6400.(considering you are in Mid-Range Budget)

Both models support Intel 64 technology, package type is Micro-FCPGA.

For your satisfaction here are the Technical Specs

T6400 – CPU Speed – 2.0 GHz , Bus speed – 800 MHz , 2.0 MB L2 Cache , 35 w , 45nm technology

T6600 – CPU Speed – 2.2 GHz , Bus speed – 800 MHz , 2.0 MB L2 Cache , 35 w , 45nm technology

Now as per CPU / Processor Bencmark of the T5800, T6400 and T6600 the following are the results.

Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 –   1099

Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 –  1315

Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 –  1533

Intel Core 2 Duo T9550 –  1857

Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 –  1923