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

Core 2
Intel Core 2 Duo logo from 2009 to 2012
General information
LaunchedJuly 26, 2006; 18 years ago (July 26, 2006)
DiscontinuedJune 8, 2012; 12 years ago (June 8, 2012)[1]
Marketed byIntel
Designed byIntel
Common manufacturer
  • Intel
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate1.06 GHz to 3.5 GHz
FSB speeds533 MT/s to 1.6 GT/s
Data width64 bits
Address width36 bits
Virtual address width48 bits
Cache
L1 cache64 KB per core (32 KB data + 32 KB instructions)
L2 cacheUp to 12 MB
Architecture and classification
ApplicationDesktop
Mobile
Technology node65 nm to 45 nm
MicroarchitectureCore:
Merom (65 nm)
Penryn (45 nm)
Instruction setx86-64
InstructionsMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1
Physical specifications
Transistors
  • 291 million to 820 million
Cores
  • 1, 2, or 4
Packages
  • Flip-chip land grid array (FC-LGA)
  • Micro pin grid array (mPGA)
  • Flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA)
Sockets
Products, models, variants
Core names
  • Desktop: Allendale, Conroe, Kentsfield, Wolfdale, Yorkfield,
  • Mobile: Merom, Penryn, Penryn QC
Product code names
  • C2S
  • C2D
  • C2E
  • C2Q
  • C2QX
Models
  • Core 2 Solo
  • Core 2 Duo
  • Core 2 Quad
  • Core 2 Extreme
Variant
History
PredecessorsPentium D (desktop)
Intel Core Solo/Duo (mobile)
SuccessorCore i3/i5/i7
Support status
Unsupported

Intel Core 2 is 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 is 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), as they lack support for 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), Penryn-QC (quad-core for laptops), and Yorkfield (quad-core for desktops).[a]

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]

Intel Core 2 processor family
Original
logo 		2009
logo 		Desktop Mobile
Code-name Cores Release date Code-name Cores Release date
Core 2 Solo brand logo Core 2 Solo logo as of 2009 Desktop version not available Merom-L
Penryn-L 		Single (65 nm)
Single (45 nm) 		September 2007
May 2008
Core 2 Duo logo Core 2 Duo logo as of 2009 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
Core 2 Quad logo Core 2 Quad logo as of 2009 Kentsfield
Yorkfield 		Quad (65 nm)
Quad (45 nm) 		January 2007
March 2008 		Penryn-QC Quad (45 nm) August 2008
Core 2 Extreme logo Core 2 Extreme logo as of 2009 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
An Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 "Wolfdale-3M"

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

  1. ^ For the server and workstation Woodcrest, "Clovertown", Tigerton, "Wolfdale-DP", Harpertown, and Dunnington CPUs, see the Xeon brand.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on July 3, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
  8. ^ "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Thermal Design Power Overview". Tom's Hardware. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. 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

Preceded by
Pentium D (desktop)
Preceded by
Core Solo/Duo (mobile)
 Intel Core 2
2006–2011 		Succeeded by
Core i