Intel updates Core i5, Pentium processor families

Intel has just launched two new updates along the Core i5 and dual core Pentium processor families that feature faster clock speeds. The new 32-nanometer Core i5-680 is a step up over the existing 3.46GHz Core i5-670 that comes with a faster 3.60GHz clock, while supporting Intel’s Hyperthreading and Turbo Boost technologies.

The new Core i5-680 still shares much of the 32nm Core i5′s features, including a relatively low 73W TDP (Thermal Design Power), 4MB cache, and integrated Intel HD graphics.

Intel’s new dual core Pentium line also gets a speed update with the 45nm 2.8GHz E5500. Built for more mainstream machines, the new Pentium chip falls just above the existing 2.7GHz E5400 processor, and features a 2.8GHz clock and 2MB L2 cache. It doesn’t come with Intel’s latest tech featured on the new Core family processors (such as Hyperthreading and Turbo Boost), but the new Pentiums come with a much more consumer-friendly price that makes them ideal for mainstream/budget notebooks and desktops.

Bulk prices for the new models start at $75 for the Pentium E5500 and $294 for the Core i5-680.