Engineering:Intel Core 2
 Intel Core 2 Duo logo from 2009 to 2012 | |
| General Info | |
|---|---|
| Launched | July 26, 2006 |
| Discontinued | June 8, 2012[1] |
| Marketed by | Intel |
| Designed by | Intel |
| Common manufacturer(s) |
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| Performance | |
| Max. CPU clock rate | 1.06 GHz to 3.5 GHz |
| FSB speeds | 533 MT/s to 1.6 GT/s |
| Data width | 64 bits |
| Address width | 36 bits |
| Virtual address width | 48 bits |
| Cache | |
| L1 cache | 64 KB per core (32 KB data + 32 KB instructions) |
| L2 cache | Up to 12 MB |
| Architecture and classification | |
| Application | Desktop Mobile |
| Min. feature size | 65 nm to 45 nm |
| Microarchitecture | Core: Merom (65 nm) Penryn (45 nm) |
| Instruction set | x86-64 |
| Instructions | MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1 |
| Physical specifications | |
| Transistors |
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| Cores |
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| Package(s) |
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| Socket(s) |
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| Products, models, variants | |
| Core name(s) |
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| Product code name(s) |
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| Model(s) |
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| History | |
| Predecessor | Pentium D (desktop) Intel Core Solo/Duo (mobile) |
| Successor | Core i3/i5/i7 |
Intel Core 2 was a processor family encompassing a range of Intel's mainstream 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.[2] The Core 2 range was the last flagship range of Intel desktop processors to use a front-side bus (FSB).
The introduction of Core 2 relegated the Pentium brand to the mid-range market, and reunified laptop and desktop CPU lines for marketing purposes under the same product name, which were formerly divided into the Pentium 4, Pentium D, and Core Solo/Duo brands.
The Core 2 processor line was introduced on July 27, 2006,[3] comprising the Duo (dual-core) and Extreme (dual- or quad-core CPUs for enthusiasts), and in 2007, the Quad (quad-core) and Solo (single-core) sub-brands.[4] Intel Core 2 processors with vPro technology (designed for businesses) include the dual-core and quad-core branches.[5]
Although Woodcrest processors are also based on the Core 2 architecture, they are available under the Xeon brand. From December 2006, all Core 2 processors were manufactured from 300-millimeter plates at Fab 12 factory in Arizona and at Fab 24-2 in County Kildare, Ireland.
Virtual machine or virtualization abilities
Core 2 and other LGA 775 processors can support virtualization if the virtual machine (VM) software supports those processors, e.g. if the processor supports VT-x.
Newer versions of VM software do not support processors older than Nehalem (Core 2 and older) because they lack support for VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also called Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).
Models
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), Penryn-QC (quad-core for laptops), and Yorkfield (quad-core for desktops).[lower-alpha 1]
The Core 2-branded processors feature Virtualization Technology without extended page tables (EPT) (with some exceptions), the NX bit and SSE3. The Merom microarchitecture introduced SSSE3, Trusted Execution Technology, Enhanced SpeedStep and Active Management Technology 2.0 (iAMT2). The Penryn microarchitecture, a shrink of the former, introduced SSE4.1. With a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of 65 W, the Core 2 Duo Conroe dissipates half the power of the less capable contemporary Pentium D-branded desktop chips[7] that have a max TDP of 130 W.[8]
| Original logo |
2009
logo |
Desktop | Mobile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code-name | Cores | Release date | Code-name | Cores | Release date | ||
|
|
Desktop version not available | Merom-L Penryn-L |
Single (65 nm) Single (45 nm) |
September 2007 May 2008 | ||
|
|
Conroe Allendale Wolfdale |
Dual (65 nm) Dual (65 nm) Dual (45 nm) |
July 2006 January 2007 January 2008 |
Merom Penryn |
Dual (65 nm) Dual (45 nm) |
August 2006 January 2008 |
|
|
Kentsfield Yorkfield |
Quad (65 nm) Quad (45 nm) |
January 2007 March 2008 |
Penryn-QC | Quad (45 nm) | August 2008 |
|
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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-QC XE |
Dual (65 nm) Dual (45 nm) Quad (45 nm) |
July 2007 January 2008 August 2008 |
| Full list | List of desktop processors | List of mobile processors | |||||
Known marks
With the release of the Core 2 processor, the abbreviation C2 has come into common use, with its variants C2S (the present Core 2 Solo) 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 (such as QX6700, QX6800, QX6850).
Successors
The successors to the Core 2 brand are a set of Nehalem-based processors called Core i3, i5, and i7. The Core i7 was officially launched on November 17, 2008, as a family of three quad-core processor high-end desktop models; further models started appearing throughout 2009. The last processor of the family to be released was the Core 2 Quad Q9500 in January 2010. The Core 2 processor line was removed from the official price lists in July 2011,[9][10] and the last processors were discontinued in June 2012.[1]
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Product Change Notification #110665-00". Intel Corp.. June 6, 2011. http://qdms.intel.com/dm/i.aspx/985684EB-C0D5-4151-919D-12235462525B/PCN110665-00.pdf.
- ↑ "Intel Clovertowns step up, reduce power". TG Daily. http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33708/135/.
- ↑ "Intel Unveils World's Best Processor". Intel. http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060727comp.htm?cid=rss-83642-c1-135841.
- ↑ "Intel to unify product naming scheme". TG Daily. http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33234/122/.
- ↑ "Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology and Intel Core2 processor with vPro technology". Intel. http://download.intel.com/products/vpro/whitepaper/crossclient.pdf.
- ↑ "Intel Unleashes New Server Processors That Deliver World-Class Performance And Power Efficiency". Intel. http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060626comp.htm.
- ↑ "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Test Setup". Tom's Hardware. http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/05/the_65_nm_pentium_d_900s_coming_out_party/page6.html.
- ↑ "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Thermal Design Power Overview". Tom's Hardware. http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/05/the_65_nm_pentium_d_900s_coming_out_party/page5.html.
- ↑ "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 10, 2011". Intel Corp. http://www.intc.com/common/download/download.cfm?companyid=INTC&fileid=481200&filekey=85BC9BF7-1931-4032-8ADE-68D9A255973E&filename=July_10_11_1ku_Price.pdf.
- ↑ "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 17, 2011". Intel Corp. http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/INTC/843929813x0x482714/D04F4947-6821-4B2B-A478-7A592F5CD716/July_17_11_1ku_Price.pdf.
External links
1st public demonstration: Anandtech discovers Core 2 Duo performance under the supervision of Francois Piednoel
- Intel Penryn Architecture and Performance Preview
- Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology papers
- Intel Core Microarchitecture
| Preceded by Pentium D (desktop) | ||
| Preceded by Core Solo/Duo (mobile) |
Intel Core 2 2006–2011 |
Succeeded by Core i |
 |  |
