The personal computer has always felt at home in the office or tucked away in your homes basement study. Current PC’s have broken from the mold and taken on a completely different approach to the home theater as we know it. The problem with using a pc as a home theater has always been overall cost for the right components. Up until now, using integrated graphics boards and onboard sound cards were practically laughable options for streaming HD quality video and surround sound. Intel has taken a stressful leap by stepping out of all of our comfort zones, by combining the power of an Intel CPU, with the raw media power of an Intel GPU; queue in the Core i5 661 (aka Clarkdale) CPU. Before I get too carried away let’s get a look at it:
Provided by: Intel
Price: $209.99
Closer Look:
Specifications and Features:
Essentials |
Status |
Launched |
Launch Date |
Q1’10 |
Processor Number |
i5-661 |
# of Cores |
2 |
# of Threads |
4 |
Processor Base Frequency |
3.33 GHz |
Max Turbo Frequency |
3.6 GHz |
Intel® Smart Cache |
4 MB |
Instruction Set |
64-bit |
Instruction Set Extensions |
SSE4.1, SSE4.2 |
Embedded |
No |
Supplemental SKU |
No |
Processing Die Lithography |
32 nm |
Max TDP |
87 W |
1ku Bulk Budgetary Price |
$196.00 |
Memory Specifications |
Max Memory Size
(dependent on memory type) |
16 GB |
Memory Types |
DDR3-1066/1333 |
# of Memory Channels |
2 |
Graphics Specifications |
Integrated Graphics |
Yes |
Graphics Base Frequency |
900 MHz |
Intel® Clear Video Technology |
Yes |
Dual Display Capable |
Yes |
Expansion Options |
PCI Express Revision |
2.0 |
PCI Express Configurations |
2×8, 1×16 |
Package Specifications |
Max CPU Configuration |
1 |
Package Size |
37.5 mm x 37.5 mm |
Processing Die Lithography |
32 nm |
Processing Die Size |
81 mm2 |
# of Processing Die Transistors |
382 million |
Graphics and IMC Lithography |
45 nm |
Graphics and IMC Die Size |
114 mm2 |
# of Graphics and IMC Die Transistors |
177 million |
Sockets Supported |
FCLGA1156 |
Halogen Free Options Available |
Yes |
Intel® Silicon and Support |
Find Compatible Motherboards |
Advanced Technologies |
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology |
Yes |
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology |
Yes |
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) |
Yes |
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) |
No |
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology |
No |
AES New Instructions |
Yes |
Intel® 64 |
Yes |
Idle States |
Yes |
Enhanced Intel® Speedstep Technology |
Yes |
Execute Disable Bit |
Yes |
Block Diagrams |
|
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Compatible Chipsets
1 Configuration
-
- # of CPUs: 1
- Embedded: No
- System Price: $236
- System TDP: 92.2W
1 Configuration
-
- # of CPUs: 1
- Embedded: No
- System Price: $239
- System TDP: 92.2W
1 Configuration
-
- # of CPUs: 1
- Embedded: No
- System Price: $236
- System TDP: 87W
1 Configuration
-
- # of CPUs: 1
- Embedded: No
- System Price: $240
- System TDP: 92.1W

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