Intel Core

This article is about the Intel mobile processor family. For the Intel microarchitecture that is the basis for the Core 2 processor family, see Intel Core (microarchitecture).

Intel Core is a brand name used for various mid-range to high-end consumer and business microprocessors. In general, processors sold as Core are more powerful variants of the same processors marketed as entry-level Celeron and Pentium. Similarly, identical or more capable versions of Core processors are also sold as Xeon processors for the server market.

The current lineup of Core processors includes the latest Intel Core i7 and Intel Core i5 and the older Core 2 Solo, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme lines.

Core Solo and Core Duo

Core

File:Core duo.jpg
General information
Launched	2006
Discontinued	2008
Common manufacturer	Intel
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate	1.06 GHz to 2.33 GHz
FSB speeds	533 MHz to 667 MHz
Architecture and classification
Technology node	65nm
Microarchitecture	P6 microarchitecture
Instruction set	x86-686
Physical specifications
Cores	1 or 2
Socket	Socket M
Products, models, variants
Core name	Yonah

For Details about the processor core, see Yonah (microprocessor).

The original Core brand refers to Intel's 32-bit mobile dual-core x86 CPUs that derived from the Pentium M branded processors. The processor family used a more enhanced version of the Intel P6 microarchitecture. It emerged in parallel with the NetBurst (Intel P68) microarchitecture of the Pentium 4 brand, and was a precursor of the 64-bit Core microarchitecture of Core 2 branded CPUs. The Core brand comprised two branches: the Duo (dual-core) and Solo (Duo with one disabled core, which replaced the Pentium M brand of single-core mobile processor).

The Core brand was launched on January 5 2006 by the release of the 32-bit Yonah CPU - Intel's first dual-core mobile (low-power) processor. Its dual-core layout closely resembled two interconnected Pentium M branded CPUs packaged as a single die (piece) silicon chip (IC). Hence, the 32-bit microarchitecture of Core branded CPUs - contrary to its name - had more in common with Pentium M branded CPUs than with the subsequent 64-bit Core microarchitecture of Core 2 branded CPUs. Despite a major rebranding effort by Intel starting January 2006, some computers with the Yonah core continued to be marked as Pentium M.

The Core series is also known for being the first Intel processor to be used as the main CPU for an Apple Macintosh computer. The Core Duo was the CPU for the first generation Macbook Pro while the Core Solo appeared in Apple's Mac Mini line. Core Duo signified the beginning of Apple's shift to Intel processors across their entire line.

In 2007, Intel began branding the Yonah core CPUs intended for mainstream mobile computers as Pentium Dual-Core. These are not to be confused with the desktop 64-bit Core microarchitecture CPUs also branded as Pentium Dual-Core.

September 2007 and January 4, 2008 mark a discontinuation of many Core branded CPUs.

Intel Core processor family
Logo	Laptop			Remarks
	Code-named	Core	Date released
Intel Core Duo brand logo	Yonah	dual (65 nm)	Jan 2006	Intel Core Duo (product code 80539) consists of two cores on one die, a 2 MB L2 cache shared by both cores, and an arbiter bus that controls both L2 cache and FSB access. Upcoming steppings of Core Duo processors will also include the ability to disable one core to conserve power.
Intel Core Solo brand logo	Yonah	solo (65 nm)	Jan 2006	Intel Core Solo (product code 80538) uses the same two-core die as the Core Duo, but features only one active core. This allows Intel to sell dies that have a manufacturing defect in one but not both of the cores . Depending on demand, Intel may also simply disable one of the cores to sell the chip at the Core Solo price—this requires less effort than launching and maintaining a separate line of CPUs that physically only have one core. Intel used the same strategy previously with the 486 CPU in which early 486SX CPUs were in fact manufactured as 486DX CPUs but the FPU failed quality control and the connection was physically severed.
List of Intel Core microprocessors

Core 2

Main article: Intel Core 2

The successor to Core is the mobile version of the Intel Core 2 line of processors using cores based upon the Intel Core microarchitecture, released on July 27, 2006. The release of the mobile version of Intel Core 2 marks the reunification of Intel's desktop and mobile product lines as Core 2 processors were released for desktops and notebooks, unlike the first Intel Core CPUs that were targeted only for notebooks (although some small form factor and all-in-one desktops, like the iMac and the Mac Mini, also used Core processors).

Unlike the Intel Core, Intel Core 2 is a 64-bit processor, supporting Intel 64. Another difference between the original Core Duo and the new Core 2 Duo is an increase in the amount of Level 2 cache. The new Core 2 Duo has tripled the amount of on-board cache to 6 MB. Core 2 also introduced a quad-core performance variant to the single- and dual-core chips, branded Core 2 Quad, as well as an enthusiast variant, Core 2 Extreme. All three chips are manufactured at a 65 nm lithiography, and in 2008, a 45 nm lithiography and support Front Side Bus speeds ranging from 533 MHz to 1600 MHz. In addition, the 45 nm die shrink of the Core microarchitecture adds SSE4.1 support to all Core 2 microprocessors manufactured at a 45 nm lithiography, therefore increasing the calculation rate of the processors.

Core i5

Main article: Intel Core i5

Core i5, like Core i7, is based on the Nehalem microarchitecture. The first Core i5 was introduced on September 8, 2009 and is a mainstream variant of the Core i7, initially only quad-core desktop processors, with dual-core mobile and desktop processors following in 2010. As the Core microarchitecture gets phased out, the Nehalem based processors will replace the Core 2 brand.

Core i7

Main article: Intel Core i7

As of 2009, Core i7 is the high end of the Core brand, which was introduced with the Bloomfield Quad-core processor in late 2008. In 2009, new Core i7 models based on the cheaper Lynnfield desktop quad-core processor and the Clarksfield quad-core mobile were added, and models based on the Arrandale dual-core mobile processor have been announced.

See also

• Centrino
• List of Intel Core microprocessors

External links

• Intel Core Duo Web page
• Intel Core Solo Web page
• Processor comparison table
• Intel Core technical specifications
• techPowerUp! CPU Database
• Tested against AMD's 64 X2 line and Intel's own Pentium M
• Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology papers