In the table below, we listed all Core i5 6xx and Core i5 7xx CPU models. These are desktop models based on the Nehalem microarchitecture and are also called first-generation Core i5 processors. These models use the socket 1156. The integrated memory controller supports dual-channel architecture and 1,066 MHz and 1,333 MHz DDR3 memories. They also have an integrated PCI Express 2.0 controller, supporting one x16 lane, which can be split into two x8 lanes for accessing two discrete video cards. Communication with the motherboard chipset is achieved through a DMI bus (1 GB/s per direction). All 6xx models have an integrated DirectX 10 video controller running at 733 MHz, a feature not present on the 7xx models.

The 7xx models are quad-core CPUs without the Hyper-Threading technology, while the 6xx models are dual-core CPUs using the Hyper-Threading technology. This means that the operating system will recognize all these CPUs as having four cores. However, while on the 7xx models these cores are all “real,” on the 6xx models two of these cores are “real,” and the other two are simulated.