Intel Core 2

This article is about The Core 2 Solo/Duo/Quad/Extreme line of Intel processors. For the overall Intel Core brand, see Intel Core. For the microarchitecture used in Core 2, see Intel Core (microarchitecture).

Core 2

Produced	From 2006 to present
Common manufacturer(s)	Intel
Max. CPU clock rate	1.06 GHz to 3.5 GHz
FSB speeds	533 MHz to 1600 MHz
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)	Socket T (LGA 775) Socket M (µPGA 478) Socket P (µPGA 478) Micro-FCBGA (µBGA 479) Micro-FCBGA (µBGA 965)
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. 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, comprising the Solo (single-core), Duo (dual-core), Quad (quad-core), and in 2007, the Extreme (dual- or quad-core CPUs for enthusiasts) subbrands. Intel Core 2 processors with vPro technology (designed for businesses) include the dual-core and quad-core branches.

Models

For 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.)

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 that have a max TDP of 130W.

Intel Core 2 processor family
Original logo *	New logo	Desktop			Laptop
		Code-named	Core	Date released	Code-named	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.

See also

• Comparison of Intel processors
• List of Intel Core 2 microprocessors
• Intel Core
• CPU power dissipation
• Centrino
• Multi-core

External links

• Intel Core 2 Duo and intel dual core differences
• Intel Penryn Architecture and Performance Preview
• Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology papers
• Core 2 Duo Overclocking Guide

News reports on the Core 2 product launch

• Intel Core Microarchitecture
• Intel's Core 2 page
• Intel Officially Launches 45nm Penryn Family
• Leaked Intel 45 nm Core 2 Desktop Processor Pre-Launch Update
• Announcing Intel Core 2 Duo
• The second coming of Intel's Core Duo
• Intel to launch nine 45nm CPUs in November

Reviews

• Core 2 Duo E8500 Review Comparing the similarly priced E8500 (Wolfdale) and the E6750 (Conroe) it replaces
• Meet Intel Wolfdale: Core 2 Duo E8500, E8400 and E8200 Processors Review
• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 - Yorkfield Has Landed - Review
• Second Iteration of Core Micro-Architecture (Penryn): Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 CPU Review
• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 quad-core CPU review
• Core 2 Extreme (Kentsfield) Quad Core CPU Review
• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Quad Core - Launch Review
• Review of E6700 model with info for Linux and BSD users
• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Quad Core
• Core 2 Duo & Core 2 Extreme
• Intel's Core 2 Duo processors
• Core 2 Duo: A Changing of the Guards
• Contemporary Dual-Core Desktop Processors Shootout – X-bit Labs Core 2 Duo review
• Core 2 Duo & Extreme Processors Performance Analysis – Hot Hardware Core 2 Duo review
• Intel Core 2 Performance, Overclocking, Power Usage
• Core 2 Gaming Performance
• Intel's Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors
• Intel's Core 2 Extreme & Core 2 Duo: The Empire Strikes Back
• Intel Conroe Core 2 Duo/Extreme Processors
• Game Over? Core 2 Duo Knocks Out Athlon 64 – Tom's Hardware Core 2 Duo review
• Intel Core 2 Duo - Test
• Intel's Core 2 Quadro Kentsfield: Four Cores on a Rampage – Tom's Hardware Core 2 Quad review
• Core 2 Quad Q6600 Review