Intel Core 2

Intel Core 2 is the processor family 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.[2] The Core 2 range was the last flagship range of Intel desktop processors to use a front-side bus.

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 being used in the Core 2, see Intel Core (microarchitecture).

Core 2
An Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 "Wolfdale-3M"
General information
LaunchedJuly 26, 2006
DiscontinuedJune 8, 2012[1]
Common manufacturer(s)
  • Intel
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate1.06 GHz to 3.5 GHz
FSB speeds533 MT/s to 1600 MT/s
Architecture and classification
Technology node65 nm to 45 nm
MicroarchitectureCore
Instruction setx86, x86-64
Physical specifications
Cores
  • 1, 2, or 4
Socket(s)
  • Socket T (LGA 775)
  • Socket M (µPGA 478)
  • Socket P (µPGA 478)
  • Micro-FCBGA (μBGA 479)
  • Micro-FCBGA (μBGA 965)
Products, models, variants
Core name(s)
  • Allendale, Conroe, Conroe-L, Merom-2M, Merom, Merom-L, Kentsfield, Wolfdale, Yorkfield, Penryn
History
PredecessorPentium D (dual-core) (desktop)
Pentium 4 (single-core) (desktop)
Yonah (mobile)
SuccessorCore i3, i5, i7, i9

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 Pentium M 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 architecture, they are available under the Xeon brand. From December 2006, all Core 2 Duo 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 Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also called Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).

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).[lower-alpha 1]

The Core 2-branded processors feature Virtualization Technology without EPT (with some exceptions), the NX bit and SSE3. The Core microarchitecture introduced SSSE3, Trusted Execution Technology, Enhanced SpeedStep and Active Management Technology (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]

Intel Core 2 processor family
Original
logo		 2009 logo Desktop Laptop
Code-name Cores Date released Code-name Cores 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
Penryn QC 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 QC 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 processors

Known marks

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. The Core i7 was officially launched on November 17, 2008 as a family of three quad-core processor 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
  • Comparison of Intel processors
  • List of Intel Core 2 processors

Notes
  1. For the server and workstation Woodcrest, Tigerton, Harpertown, and Dunnington CPUs, see the Xeon brand.[6]

References
  1. "Product Change Notification #110665-00" (PDF). Intel Corp. June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  2. "Intel Clovertowns step up, reduce power". TG Daily. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  3. "Intel Unveils World's Best Processor". Intel. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2007.
  4. "Intel to unify product naming scheme". TG Daily. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  5. "Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology and Intel Core2 processor with vPro technology" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  6. "Intel Unleashes New Server Processors That Deliver World-Class Performance And Power Efficiency". Intel. Archived from the original on July 1, 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2006.
  7. "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Test Setup". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
  8. "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Thermal Design Power Overview". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
  9. "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 10, 2011". Intel Corp. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  10. "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 17, 2011" (PDF). Intel Corp. Retrieved July 17, 2011.

1st public demonstration: Anandtech discovers Core 2 Duo performance under the supervision of Francois Piednoel

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