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

Core 2

Produced	From 2006 to 2011
Common manufacturer(s)	Intel
Max. CPU clock rate	1.06 GHz to 3.33 GHz
FSB speeds	800 MT/s to 1600 MT/s
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)
Predecessor	Pentium D, Intel Core, Pentium 4
Successor	Core i3, i5, i7
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 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). (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	2009 new logo	Desktop			Laptop
		Code-name	Core	Date released	Code-name	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

External links

• Intel Penryn Architecture and Performance Preview
• Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology papers
• Intel Core Microarchitecture
• Intel's Core 2 page at the Wayback Machine (archived July 14, 2006)