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

 Intel
Common
manufacturer(s)

Max. CPU clock 1.06 GHz to 3.33 GHz

rate

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)

Core name(s)  Allendale, Conroe, Conroe-L,

Merom-2M, Merom, Merom-L,
Kentsfield, Wolfdale, Yorkfield,
Penryn

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, Pentium 4

Successor Core i3, i5, i7, i9

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.[1] 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 previously had been divided into the Pentium 4,
Pentium D, and Pentium M brands.

The Core 2 brand was introduced on 27 July 2006,[2] comprising the Solo (single-core), Duo
(dual-core), Quad (quad-core), and in 2007, the Extreme (dual- or quad-core CPUs for
enthusiasts) subbrands.[3] Intel Core 2 processors with vPro technology (designed for businesses)
include the dual-core and quad-core branches.[4]

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.[5])

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[6] that have a max
TDP of 130W.[7]

Intel Core 2 processor family

Desktop Laptop
Original 2009 new
logo logo Code- Date Code- Date
Core Core
name released name released
dual
August 2006
(65 nm) dual
Conroe January July 2006
dual Merom (65 nm)
Allendale 2007 January
(65 nm) Penryn dual
Wolfdale January 2008
dual (45 nm)
2008
(45 nm)
 dual Merom dual
Conroe XE July 2006
(65 nm) XE (65 nm) July 2007
Kentsfield November
quad Penryn dual January
XE 2006
(65 nm) XE (45 nm) 2008
Yorkfield November
quad Penryn quad August 2008
XE 2007
(45 nm) XE (45 nm)
quad
January
Kentsfield (65 nm) quad
2007 Penryn August 2008
Yorkfield quad (45 nm)
March 2008
(45 nm)
Single
September
Merom-L (65 nm)
Desktop version not available 2007
Penryn-L Single
May 2008
(45 nm)
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 processor 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.