Quick Verdict
The i5-580M is the best Arrandale Core i5 you can buy for a Socket G1 laptop, offering the highest turbo frequency in the lineup, though it remains obsolete for modern use.
Overview
Launch
2010
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
1st Gen Core i5 (Arrandale)
Market
Mobile
The Intel Core i5-580M is the highest-clocked dual-core Arrandale mobile processor in Socket G1 packaging, featuring a 2.67 GHz base clock with 3.333 GHz Turbo Boost, representing the peak of first-gen Core i5 mobile performance before Sandy Bridge.
As the flagship of the Arrandale i5 lineup, the Core i5-580M shares the same 2.667 GHz base clock as the i5-560M but pushes Turbo Boost to 3.333 GHz—a 133 MHz advantage that makes it the fastest dual-core Arrandale i5 available.
In its Socket G1 rPGA988A form, it represents the ultimate upgrade for compatible laptops, though Sandy Bridge would surpass it within months.
Specifications
Performance
The highest single-threaded performance of any Arrandale i5 translates to slightly better responsiveness in office applications.
Still fundamentally limited by 2 cores and 3MB cache, but the higher clock helps slightly in CPU-bound VM tasks.
The extra 133 MHz turbo provides a negligible improvement in gaming, as the first-gen Intel HD GPU remains the binding constraint.
Same 35W TDP as all Arrandale i5s. Higher clocks at the same power budget show good 32nm process maturity.
- •3.333 GHz turbo does not overcome integrated graphics limitations
- •Slightly better CPU-bound game performance than i5-560M
- •Still unplayable in any modern 3D title
- •No AI acceleration of any kind
- •Completely unsuitable for AI workloads
Architecture
32nm
Process Node
Arrandale
Codename
2C / 4T
Core Config
3 MB
L3 Cache
35 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i5-580M is architecturally identical to every other Arrandale Core i5: two 32nm Westmere cores with Hyper-Threading on a CPU die, paired with a 45nm Ironlake GPU die in the same package. What distinguishes it is the 25x maximum turbo multiplier, yielding 3.333 GHz—the highest turbo frequency available in the entire Arrandale i5 stack. The 20x base multiplier (2.667 GHz) is shared with the i5-560M.
CPU Design
Two Westmere cores, 64KB L1 and 256KB L2 per core, 3MB shared L3 Smart Cache. Base multiplier 20.0x, max turbo 25.0x on a single active core.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-800/1066 integrated memory controller, 8GB maximum.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 2.0 lanes from the CPU for discrete graphics or peripherals.
Overclocking
Locked 20x multiplier. BCLK adjustment theoretically possible but impractical on mobile.
- 133 MHz higher Turbo Boost than i5-560M (3.333 vs 3.2 GHz)
- Same base clock and TDP
- Best single-threaded performance in Arrandale i5 family
- No architectural improvements over lower SKUs
Key Highlights
- Highest Turbo Boost in the Arrandale i5 lineup
- Socket G1 allows direct upgrade installation
- Best-binned silicon from mature 32nm process
- AES-NI, VT-x, VT-d all included
- Higher clocks at same 35W TDP as lower SKUs
- Completely obsolete for modern computing
- Only 3MB L3 cache (same as cheaper i5s)
- No AVX instruction support
- 8GB RAM limitation
- First-gen Intel HD Graphics severely limits any graphical task
- Sandy Bridge made it redundant within 4 months
History
The Core i5-580M holds a unique place in Intel's mobile processor history as the final and fastest Core i5 of the Arrandale generation. When it launched on September 26, 2010, Intel already had Sandy Bridge's January 2011 debut firmly on the calendar, making the i5-580M something of a swan song for the dual-die mobile architecture.</br></br>For Socket G1 laptop owners, the i5-580M represented the ultimate drop-in upgrade.
Its 25x turbo multiplier pushed a single core to 3.333 GHz, matching the turbo of the more expensive Core i7-620M and making it the best value option for users who wanted maximum single-threaded performance without paying the i7 premium. Part numbers SLC28 and Q4CD found their way into late-2010 business laptops from Lenovo, HP, and Dell, often as configure-to-order options for customers who specified the highest-performing i5 available.
</br></br>What makes the i5-580M particularly interesting in retrospect is that it demonstrated how far Intel had pushed the 32nm Westmere architecture. Achieving 3.333 GHz within the same 35W envelope as the 2.
53 GHz i5-540M showed remarkable process maturity, even if the underlying Nehalem-derived architecture was already approaching its limits.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- 133 MHz higher Turbo Boost than i5-560M (3.333 vs 3.2 GHz)
- Same base clock and TDP
- Best single-threaded performance in Arrandale i5 family
- No architectural improvements over lower SKUs
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
As a final upgrade for a Socket G1 laptop where maximum Arrandale performance is desired
Avoid if…
- Building or buying any new system
- The performance difference from your current CPU is negligible
- Running any modern software
- Budget is a concern and a cheaper i5-540M would suffice
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The 3.333 GHz turbo frequency comes from a 25x multiplier, exactly one full multiplier step above the i5-560M's 24x turbo.
Part numbers SLC28 and Q4CD denote different distribution channels—SLC28 for standard tray/boxed and Q4CD for OEM qualification samples.
The i5-580M was the last Core i5 mobile processor launched before Sandy Bridge, making it the final hurrah for the Arrandale architecture.
Despite having the highest turbo in the i5 stack, the i5-580M's 3.333 GHz was still lower than the Core i7-620M's 3.333 GHz turbo—however, the i7 had 4MB L3 cache.
The identical 3.333 GHz turbo between the i5-580M and i7-620M means the cache difference (3MB vs 4MB) was the only performance differentiator in single-threaded tasks.
People Also Ask
Is the i5-580M the fastest Arrandale i5?
Yes, with a 3.333 GHz Turbo Boost, it is the highest-clocked Core i5 in the Arrandale family.
What is the difference between i5-580M and i7-620M?
Both reach 3.333 GHz Turbo Boost, but the i7-620M has 4MB L3 cache versus 3MB on the i5-580M, giving it an advantage in multi-threaded and cache-sensitive workloads.
Can I upgrade from i5-540M to i5-580M?
Yes, if your laptop uses Socket G1 (rPGA988A). The i5-580M is a direct drop-in replacement with the same 35W TDP.
Is the i5-580M worth the upgrade over i5-560M?
The 133 MHz turbo difference translates to roughly 3-4% improvement in single-threaded tasks. Whether that justifies the price difference depends on your budget and use case.
Does the i5-580M run hotter than the i5-560M?
Both have the same 35W TDP, but the i5-580M may reach slightly higher peak temperatures due to higher turbo frequencies under sustained single-core loads.
What is the multiplier range of the i5-580M?
Base multiplier is 20.0x (2.667 GHz), and the maximum turbo multiplier is 25.0x (3.333 GHz) on a single active core.
Can the i5-580M run Windows 11?
No, it is not on Microsoft's supported CPU list for Windows 11 and lacks TPM 2.0.
What is the max RAM for i5-580M?
8GB of DDR3-800 or DDR3-1066, same as all Arrandale processors.
What graphics does the i5-580M have?
First-generation Intel HD Graphics on the 45nm die, with 500 MHz base and 766 MHz turbo frequencies.
Is the i5-580M good for gaming?
No. While the CPU clock is decent for its era, the first-gen Intel HD Graphics integrated GPU is far too weak for any modern game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What socket does the i5-580M use?
Intel Socket G1 (rPGA988A), a 988-pin pin grid array for mobile processors.
What are the part numbers for the i5-580M Socket G1?
SLC28 and Q4CD.
Does the i5-580M support Hyper-Threading?
Yes, 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading for 4 logical threads.
What is the cache size of the i5-580M?
64KB L1 per core, 256KB L2 per core, and 3MB shared L3 Smart Cache.
What is the die size of the i5-580M?
81 mm² for the 32nm CPU die, identical to all Arrandale dual-core processors.
How many transistors does the i5-580M have?
382 million on the CPU die plus 177 million on the 45nm GPU die.
Does the i5-580M support ECC memory?
No, ECC memory is not supported on this consumer mobile processor.
What PCIe version does the i5-580M support?
PCIe 2.0 with 16 lanes from the CPU.
When was the Core i5-580M released?
September 26, 2010.
Is the i5-580M multiplier unlocked?
No, the multiplier is locked. Only BCLK adjustment could theoretically provide overclocking.