Intel Core 2

This article is about The Core 2 Solo/Duo/Quad/Extreme line of Intel processors. For the overall Intel Core brand, including Core 2 and later Core i, see Intel Core. For the microarchitecture used in Core 2, see Intel Core (microarchitecture).
Core 2
Produced From 2006 to 2011
Common manufacturer(s)
  • Intel
Max. CPU clock rate 1.06 GHz to 3.33 GHz
FSB speeds 800 MT/s to 1600 MT/s
Min. feature size 65 nm to 45 nm
Instruction set x86, x86-64, (SSE4.1 is for 45 nm processors only)
Microarchitecture Core
Cores 1, 2, or 4 (2x2)
Socket(s)
Predecessor Pentium D, Intel Core, Pentium 4
Successor Core i3, i5, i7
Core name(s)
  • Allendale, Conroe, Conroe-L, Merom-2M, Merom, Merom-L, Kentsfield, Wolfdale, Yorkfield, Penryn

Core 2 is a brand encompassing a range of Intel's consumer 64-bit x86-64 single-, dual-, and quad-core microprocessors based on the Core microarchitecture. The single- and dual-core models are single-die, whereas the quad-core models comprise two dies, each containing two cores, packaged in a multi-chip module.[1] The introduction of Core 2 relegated the Pentium brand to the mid-range market, and reunified laptop and desktop CPU lines, which previously had been divided into the Pentium 4, Pentium D, and Pentium M brands.

The Core 2 brand was introduced on 27 July 2006,[2] comprising the Solo (single-core), Duo (dual-core), Quad (quad-core), and in 2007, the Extreme (dual- or quad-core CPUs for enthusiasts) subbrands.[3] Intel Core 2 processors with vPro technology (designed for businesses) include the dual-core and quad-core branches.[4]

Models

For a detailed discussion of CPU cores, see Intel Core (microarchitecture)#Processor cores.

The Core 2-branded CPUs include: "Conroe"/"Allendale" (dual-core for desktops), "Merom" (dual-core for laptops), "Merom-L" (single-core for laptops), "Kentsfield" (quad-core for desktops), and the updated variants named "Wolfdale" (dual-core for desktops), "Penryn" (dual-core for laptops), and "Yorkfield" (quad-core for desktops). (Note: For the server and workstation "Woodcrest", "Tigerton", "Harpertown" and "Dunnington" CPUs see the Xeon brand.[5])

The Core 2 branded processors feature Virtualization Technology (with some exceptions), Execute Disable Bit, and SSE3. Their Core microarchitecture introduced SSSE3, Trusted Execution Technology, Enhanced SpeedStep, and Active Management Technology (iAMT2). With a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of 65W, the Core 2 Duo Conroe dissipates half the power of the less capable contemporary Pentium D-branded desktop chips[6] that have a max TDP of 130W.[7]

Intel Core 2 processor family
Original
logo		 2009 new
logo		 Desktop Laptop
Code-name Core Date released Code-name Core Date released
Conroe
Allendale
Wolfdale		 dual (65 nm)
dual (65 nm)
dual (45 nm)		 August 2006
January 2007
January 2008		 Merom
Penryn		 dual (65 nm)
dual (45 nm)		 July 2006
January 2008
Conroe XE
Kentsfield XE
Yorkfield XE		 dual (65 nm)
quad (65 nm)
quad (45 nm)		 July 2006
November 2006
November 2007		 Merom XE
Penryn XE
Penryn XE		 dual (65 nm)
dual (45 nm)
quad (45 nm)		 July 2007
January 2008
August 2008
Kentsfield
Yorkfield		 quad (65 nm)
quad (45 nm)		 January 2007
March 2008		 Penryn quad (45 nm) August 2008
Desktop version not available
 Merom-L
Penryn-L		 Single (65 nm)
Single (45 nm)		 September 2007
May 2008
List of Intel Core 2 microprocessors

With the release of the Core 2 processor, the abbreviation C2 has come into common use, with its variants C2D (the present Core 2 Duo), and C2Q, C2E to refer to the Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme processors respectively. C2QX stands for the Extreme-Editions of the Quad (QX6700, QX6800, QX6850).

The successors to the Core 2 brand are a set of Nehalem microarchitecture based processors called Core i3, i5, and i7. Core i7 was officially launched on 17 November 2008 as a family of three quad-core processor desktop models, further models started appearing throughout 2009. The last Core 2 processors to be released was the Core 2 Quad Q9500 in January 2010, and the Core 2 processor line was removed from the official price lists in July 2011.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Intel Clovertowns step up, reduce power". TG Daily. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
  2. ↑ "Intel Unveils World's Best Processor". Intel. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  3. ↑ "Intel to unify product naming scheme". TG Daily. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
  4. ↑ "Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology and Intel Core2 processor with vPro technology" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  5. ↑ "Intel Unleashes New Server Processors That Deliver World-Class Performance And Power Efficiency". Intel. Archived from the original on 1 July 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2006.
  6. ↑ "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Test Setup". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  7. ↑ "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Thermal Design Power Overview". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  8. ↑ "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 10, 2011" (PDF). Intel Corp. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 17, 2011" (PDF). Intel Corp. Retrieved 17 July 2011.

External links

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