Today's Hotness: The Core 2 Duo
Source: Tom's Hardware – Keywords: intel, cpu, history
Today's Hotness: The Core 2 Duo
In 2006, Intel released a processor that quickly became a best-seller: the Core 2 Duo. Derived from work done on the Pentium M, this processor uses a new Core architecture. Before, Intel had two lines of processors—the Pentium 4 for desktops, Pentium M for mobiles, and both lines for servers. In contrast, Intel now has a single micro-architecture on which all of its product lines draw. The 64-bit Core 2 Duo is represented from the low end to the high end, for desktop computers, portables and servers.
There are many versions of the processor, depending on the number of cores (one to four), the cache memory (512 KB to 12 MB), and the FSB (between 400 and 1600 MHz). The model shown here is the original Core 2 Duo, but faster versions (at 45 nm) exist.
| Code name | Conroe |
| Date released | 2006 |
| Architecture | 64 bits |
| Data bus | 64 bits |
| Address bus | 64 (actual 36) bits |
| Maximum memory | 64 GB |
| L1 cache | 32 KB + 32 KB |
| L2 cache | 2,048 KB shared |
| Clock frequency | 1.8-3 GHz |
| FSB | 800-1066-1333 MHz |
| SIMD | MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3 |
| SMT/SMP | Dual core |
| Fabrication process | 65 nm |
| Number of transistors | 291 million |
| TDP | 65 W |
| Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Die surface area | 143 mm² |
| Connector | LGA 775 |
The mobile versions (Merom) are basically identical (but not as fast, with a slower FSB) whereas the Extreme Edition versions are faster. The Core 2 Duo also exists in a four-core version, which was, in fact, two Conroes in the same package. The 45 nm version of the Core 2 Duo (Penryn) has a larger cache and generates less heat, but is still fundamentally similar to this model.
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Wasn’t one of the key features of the Pentium Pro line of processors the increase in IRQs to 256 rather than the 16 of the previous generations?
In the days of virtual IRQs assigned by windows it's easy to forget the headache of trying to install multiple interface cards without running out of resources.
am I mistaken? or the Maximum memory figures are wrong? 4096MB or is it KB on 386, 486 and Pentium MMX class CPU's. and 64MB on P-II and so on.
Modern Intel CPU: P1-> P3 -> P4M -> C2D -> C2Q
Modern AMD CPU: P1(Intel) -> P3(Intel) -> K8 -> K10
Next gen CPU: Modified P1
The Pentium 1 & 3 are possibly the most widely base processor in modern computing. Even AMD's chips are based on them.
Hmm....
Interesting...AMD chips based on P3... EHEHEHEHHEHEHE
I think you need a...khhmmm...LIFE
cheers
Nice article that made me a little bit misty-eyed and nostalgic (being of the original 8086 generation)
Did a bit of a clear-out of my parts boxes not so long ago and found a couple of PPro's, a 486DX2/66, a 386SX and a 386DX. Threw them out but perhaps should have built a little shrine? ;p
Cheers.
There are some errors in the article, Pentium M Dothan had a 2.26GHz model which is not mentioned there, they had a VCore of 1.356V and a TDP of 27W, not 36W like stated here, also it's die size is 88mm2, not 87mm2, it also came as a socket 478 which was incompatible with the Pentium 4 socket 478 due to it's electrical differences.