Core i5-680 vs Core i5-4258U
Core i5-680
Core i5-4258U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-680 is positioned at rank 1014 and the Core i5-4258U is on rank 161, so the Core i5-4258U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-680
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4258U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-680 | Core i5-4258U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-680 | Core i5-4258U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-680 and Core i5-4258U
Core i5-680
The Core i5-680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 April 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.86 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,620 points. Launch price was $272.
Core i5-4258U
The Core i5-4258U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,610 points. Launch price was $342.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-680 and Core i5-4258U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.86 GHz on the Core i5-680 versus 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-4258U — a 28.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-680 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-680 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-4258U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-680 scores 2,620 against the Core i5-4258U's 2,610 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-680. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-680 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4258U.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Core i5-4258U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.86 GHz+33% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+50% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,620 | 2,610 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-680 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4258U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Core i5-4258U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-680) / not specified (Core i5-4258U). The Core i5-680 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Core i5-4258U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-680 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Core i5-4258U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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