Intel Core i7-660UE
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
Integrated GPU
ECC MemoryAt a Glance
IntelIntel Core i7-660UE Specifications
Core i7-660UE Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Core i7-660UE features 2 physical cores and 4 threads, which directly impacts multi-threaded performance in CPU benchmarks. More cores allow the processor to handle parallel workloads efficiently, improving performance in video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking scenarios. Thread count determines how many simultaneous tasks the CPU can process, with higher thread counts benefiting productivity applications and content creation workflows.
i7-660UE Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Core i7-660UE benchmark performance, measured in GHz. The base clock represents the guaranteed operating frequency, while the boost clock indicates maximum single-core performance under optimal conditions. Higher clock speeds translate to faster single-threaded performance, which is essential for gaming and applications that don't fully utilize multiple cores. The Core i7-660UE by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Core i7-660UE Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the i7-660UE processor die. L1 cache provides the fastest access for frequently used data, while L2 and L3 caches offer progressively larger storage with slightly higher latency. Larger cache sizes significantly improve CPU benchmark scores by reducing memory access times. The Core i7-660UE's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
Westmere Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Core i7-660UE is built on Intel's 32 nm manufacturing process, which determines power efficiency and thermal characteristics. Smaller process nodes allow for more transistors in the same space, enabling higher performance per watt. The architecture defines how the processor handles instructions and manages data flow, directly impacting benchmark results across different workload types. Modern CPU architectures like the one in i7-660UE incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
Westmere Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Core i7-660UE by Intel supports various instruction set extensions that enable optimized performance for specific workloads. SIMD instructions like SSE and AVX accelerate multimedia, scientific computing, and AI workloads by processing multiple data points simultaneously. Features like AES-NI provide hardware-accelerated encryption, while AVX-512 (if supported) enables advanced vector processing for data centers and high-performance computing. These instruction sets are critical for software compatibility and performance in modern applications.
i7-660UE Power & Thermal
TDP and power specifications
The Intel Core i7-660UE has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 18W, indicating the cooling solution required for sustained operation. TDP affects both system power consumption and the type of cooler needed. Lower TDP processors are ideal for compact builds and laptops, while higher TDP chips typically offer better sustained performance in demanding CPU benchmarks. Understanding power requirements helps ensure your system can deliver consistent performance without thermal throttling.
Intel BGA 1288 Platform & Socket
Compatibility information
The Core i7-660UE uses the Intel BGA 1288 socket, which determines motherboard compatibility. Choosing the right platform is essential for building a system around this processor. The socket type also influences available features like PCIe lanes, memory support, and upgrade paths. When comparing CPU benchmarks, ensure you're looking at processors compatible with your existing or planned motherboard to make informed purchasing decisions.
Intel BGA 1288 Memory Support
RAM compatibility and speeds
Memory support specifications for the i7-660UE define which RAM types and speeds are compatible. Faster memory can significantly improve CPU benchmark performance, especially in memory-intensive applications and gaming. The memory controller integrated into the Core i7-660UE determines maximum supported speeds and channels. Dual-channel or quad-channel memory configurations can double or quadruple memory bandwidth, providing noticeable performance gains in content creation and scientific workloads.
Intel's Core i7-660UE Integrated Graphics
Built-in GPU specifications
The Intel Core i7-660UE includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU in basic computing scenarios. Integrated graphics are ideal for office productivity, video playback, and light gaming. While not designed for demanding GPU benchmarks, the iGPU in the i7-660UE provides hardware video encoding and decoding capabilities. This makes the processor suitable for compact builds, HTPCs, and systems where power efficiency is prioritized over gaming performance.
Core i7-660UE Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel Core i7-660UE is manufactured by Intel and represents their commitment to delivering competitive CPU performance. Understanding the release date and pricing helps contextualize benchmark comparisons with other processors from the same generation. Launch pricing provides a baseline for evaluating value, though street prices often differ. Whether you're building a new system or upgrading, the Core i7-660UE by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
Core i7-660UE Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this CPU.
About Intel Core i7-660UE
Intel Core i7-660UE is a 2-core, 4-thread mobile processor from Intel’s Arrandale generation, built on a 32nm process. It launched in August 2010 and is now end-of-life, occupying the 50th percentile in the benchmark database, indicating it sits exactly in the middle of all CPUs tracked. The chip features a base clock of 1333 MHz and a boost clock of 2.40 GHz, with an 18W TDP that places it in the ultra-low-power mobile segment.
Benchmark Performance
The Core i7-660UE has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so direct numerical performance comparisons against other processors are not possible from the available data. Its percentile ranking of 50 indicates that it performs better than half of all CPUs in the database and worse than the other half, which places it firmly in mid-pack territory for its generation. This percentile is not adjusted for launch date or architecture, meaning it reflects raw performance against all processors ever tracked, including modern parts.
Given its specifications, the benchmark data suggests this is not a high-performance part. The 2-core, 4-thread configuration with a 1333 MHz base clock and 2.40 GHz boost clock points toward modest computational throughput. The 4 MB of shared L3 cache is reasonable for the era but small by modern standards. The dual-channel DDR3 memory interface with 17.1 GB/s bandwidth further reinforces that this processor was designed for efficiency over outright speed.
Interpretation of the 50th percentile is straightforward: half of all processors in the database deliver higher benchmark scores, and half deliver lower ones. For a mobile chip from 2010, this is a respectable position, as many desktop and server parts from that period would score higher, while numerous low-end mobile and embedded chips would score lower. However, the absence of actual benchmark scores means the percentile is the only quantitative performance signal available.
How It Compares
The nearestRivals field in the database is empty, so there are no direct comparison points with specific competitor processors. This absence of data means the Core i7-660UE cannot be positioned against any particular rival using percentage deltas or score differences. The benchmark database does not list any CPUs that are statistically close in performance to this part.
In practical terms, the lack of nearest rivals suggests that the Core i7-660UE’s performance profile is distinct enough that no other processor in the database falls within the typical comparison threshold. This can occur for parts with unusual combinations of low core count, low clock speed, and very low TDP. Most comparable mobile processors from the same era would have either higher clock speeds, more cores, or different power envelopes, pushing them outside the nearest-rival window.
Without rival data, the only quantitative anchor is the 50th percentile, which indicates that typical competing processors from the same period would likely score both above and below this chip. The empty nearestRivals list does not imply the processor is unique or unmatched; rather, it means the database’s comparison algorithm did not flag any specific CPU as statistically close.
Power and Thermals
The Core i7-660UE has a TDP of 18W, which classifies it as an ultra-low-power mobile processor. This power envelope is characteristic of thin-and-light laptops, fanless designs, and embedded systems where heat dissipation is limited. The 18W TDP means that a simple passive cooling solution or a very small low-profile fan is sufficient to maintain operational temperatures under sustained load.
The 32nm process node from Intel helps keep power consumption manageable, as does the 2-core, 4-thread configuration. The integrated HD Graphics (Ironlake) shares the thermal budget with the CPU cores, so total system heat output stays within the 18W envelope. For cooling, this implies a capable air cooler is more than sufficient — a small heatsink with a low-speed fan or even a purely passive heatsink in a well-ventilated chassis would handle the thermal load without throttling.
Benchmark data indicates that this processor does not require any exotic cooling solutions. The 18W TDP is roughly one-third to one-quarter of what typical mobile performance processors consume, so thermal management is straightforward. The die size of 81 mm² and 382 million transistors are modest figures that contribute to the low heat output. In practice, the data shows that any laptop or embedded system designed for an 18W processor will have no difficulty keeping the Core i7-660UE within its operating temperature range.
FAQ
Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Core i7-660UE have?
A: It has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning it supports hyper-threading for simultaneous multi-threading.
Q: What is the boost clock speed of this processor?
A: The boost clock is 2.40 GHz, while the base clock is 1333 MHz.
Q: Does the Core i7-660UE support ECC memory?
A: Yes, ECC memory support is listed as true, which is uncommon for mobile processors and suggests suitability for specific reliability-focused applications.
Q: What memory type and bandwidth does it support?
A: It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 17.1 GB/s.
Q: Is the Core i7-660UE overclockable?
A: No, the multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not supported.
Q: What integrated graphics does it have?
A: It features HD Graphics (Ironlake), which is the integrated GPU solution for the Arrandale architecture.
Platform and Compatibility
The Core i7-660UE uses the Intel BGA 1288 socket, which is a ball-grid-array package designed for soldered installation on motherboards. This means the processor is not upgradeable or replaceable in a standard desktop sense; it is permanently attached to the system board. The socket is specific to the Arrandale mobile platform, so compatibility is limited to laptops and embedded boards that were manufactured with this socket.
Memory support is DDR3 with a dual-channel bus, delivering 17.1 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is supported, which is a notable feature for a mobile chip and indicates potential use in reliability-sensitive embedded applications. The memory controller is integrated on the die, as is standard for this generation.
PCIe support is Gen 2, which provides adequate bandwidth for the era’s discrete graphics and storage devices. The integrated HD Graphics (Ironlake) is the primary display output for the platform, and it shares the 18W thermal envelope with the CPU cores. The 32nm process node and Westmere architecture (codename Arrandale) are the underlying technology, with the processor containing 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die.
The upgrade path for the Core i7-660UE is effectively nonexistent, given the BGA socket and end-of-life production status. Systems built around this processor are limited to their original configuration. However, the combination of ECC memory support and low power consumption makes this an interesting choice for specific embedded or industrial applications where long-term reliability is more important than performance.
Who Should Consider It
The Core i7-660UE is not a processor for modern gaming or high-end content creation, as its 2-core, 4-thread configuration and modest clock speeds would produce benchmark scores that trail most contemporary parts. The 50th percentile ranking across all CPUs, combined with the lack of recorded benchmark scores, suggests that any workload demanding sustained multi-core performance would be poorly served. Gamers and video editors should look elsewhere.
The data indicates this processor is best suited for office productivity tasks and basic computing. Word processing, spreadsheet work, web browsing, and light email handling are all within the capabilities of a dual-core processor with 4 threads and a 2.40 GHz boost clock. The 17.1 GB/s memory bandwidth is adequate for these workloads, and the 18W TDP makes it viable for fanless or passively cooled designs where silence is a priority.
Embedded and industrial applications are another strong candidate. The ECC memory support is a significant differentiator, as error-correcting memory is often required in server, networking, and industrial control environments. The low 18W TDP, BGA socket, and end-of-life status make it suitable for fixed-function devices that will run the same software for years without modification. The 32nm process and 4 MB L3 cache provide a stable, predictable performance baseline for such systems.
For anyone considering a legacy laptop or embedded system with this processor, the 50th percentile ranking means it will handle everyday tasks without frustration, but demanding applications will expose its age. The data does not support any recommendation for gaming, video editing, 3D rendering, or other compute-intensive workloads. It is a chip for efficiency, reliability, and basic productivity, not for pushing performance boundaries.
The AMD Equivalent of Core i7-660UE
Looking for a similar processor from AMD? The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
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