Gaming Tests
Keep in mind once more that for our real-world gaming tests below we included BOTH 1024×768 results (for maximum CPU effectiveness) and resolutions of 1920×1200 and 2560×1600 to simulate gaming that YOU, as a consumer, would actually be doing and what performance differences these CPUs and platforms will provide.


3DMark Vantage


A reliable and popular benchmark, 3DMark Vantage can provide a good insight into overall gaming performance of a system.

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 95

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 96

Ouch – obviously 3DMark Vantage is a bit too much for the Intel HD Graphics to handle…


World in Conflict

Most RTS games are more CPU intense that other titles and World in Conflict is no exception.

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 97

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 98

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 99

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 100

For World in Conflict, Clarkdale appears to be a competent gaming CPU even at high resolutions.
 

Far Cry 2

Far Cry 2 pairs impressive visuals with a truly interactive and destructible environment.

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 101

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 102

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 103

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 104

Now this is interesting – because the clock speeds on the Core i5-661 CPU are so high (up to 3.6 GHz by default with Turbo Mode) it is actually performing BETTER than the most expensive CPUs when paired with a discrete GPU.


Valve Source Particle Simulation

Valve released this particle simulation test a while back for benchmarking platforms and CPUs.

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 105

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 106

The particle simulation test from Valve puts the Core i5-661 above the Core 2 Quad processors. 


Valve Source Map Compilation

More of a developer test than gamer test, this benchmark is indicative of how long it takes a system to compile a map.

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 107

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Review - Westmere debuts - Processors 108

In this compute-based test the new Clarkdale is only besting the Core 2 Duo CPU once again.

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