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Intel Core 2

Processor family by Intel

Processor family by Intel

FieldValue
nameCore 2
imageIntel Core2 Duo2009.svg
captionIntel Core 2 Duo logo from 2009 to 2012
produced-startJuly 26, 2006
produced-endJune 8, 2012
slowest1.06slow-unit = GHz
fastest3.5fast-unit = GHz
fsb-slowest533fsb-slow-unit = MT/s
fsb-fastest1.6fsb-fast-unit = GT/s
manuf1Intel
core1Desktop: Allendale, Conroe, Kentsfield, Wolfdale, Yorkfield,
core2Mobile: Merom, Penryn, Penryn QC
size-from65 nm
size-to45 nm
archx86-64
microarchCore:
Merom (65 nm)
Penryn (45 nm)
sock1Socket T (LGA 775)
sock2Socket M (μPGA 478MT)
sock3Socket P (μPGA 478MN)
sock4Micro-FCBGA (μBGA 479)
sock5Micro-FCBGA (μBGA 965)
numcores1, 2, or 4
predecessorPentium D (desktop)
Intel Core Solo/Duo (mobile)
successorCore i3/i5/i7
support statusUnsupported
soldbyInteldesignfirm=Intell2cache=Up to 12 MBl1cache=64 KB per core (32 KB data + 32 KB instructions)transistors=291 million to 820 millionmodel1=Core 2 Solomodel2=Core 2 Duomodel3=Core 2 Quadmodel4=Core 2 Extremeinstructions=MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1variant1=Pentium Dual-Corepcode1=C2Spcode2=C2Dpcode3=C2Epcode4=C2Qpcode5=C2QXdata-width=64 bitsaddress-width=36 bitsvirtual-width=48 bitspack1=Flip-chip land grid array (FC-LGA)pack2=Micro pin grid array (mPGA)pack3=Flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA)application=Desktop
Mobile

| produced-start = July 26, 2006 | produced-end = June 8, 2012 | fsb-slowest = 533 | fsb-slow-unit = MT/s | fsb-fastest = 1.6 | fsb-fast-unit = GT/s | size-from = 65 nm | size-to = 45 nm Merom (65 nm) Penryn (45 nm) Intel Core Solo/Duo (mobile) Mobile}} Intel Core 2 is a processor family encompassing a range of Intel's mainstream 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 Core 2 range is the last flagship range of Intel desktop processors to use a front-side bus (FSB).

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 were formerly divided into the Pentium 4, Pentium D, and Core Solo/Duo brands.

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

Although Woodcrest processors are also based on the Core 2 architecture, they are available under the Xeon brand. From December 2006, all Core 2 processors were manufactured from 300-millimeter plates at Fab 12 factory in Arizona and at Fab 24-2 in County Kildare, Ireland.

Virtual machine or virtualization abilities

Core 2 and other LGA 775 processors can support virtualization if the virtual machine (VM) software supports those processors, e.g. if the processor supports VT-x.

Newer versions of VM software do not support processors older than Nehalem (Core 2 and older), as they lack support for VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also called Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).

Models

Duo, Quad, and Extreme 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), Penryn-QC (quad-core for laptops), and Yorkfield (quad-core for desktops).

The Core 2-branded processors feature Virtualization Technology without extended page tables (EPT) (with some exceptions), the NX bit and SSE3. The Merom microarchitecture introduced SSSE3, Trusted Execution Technology, Enhanced SpeedStep and Active Management Technology 2.0 (iAMT2). The Penryn microarchitecture, a shrink of the former, introduced SSE4.1. With a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of 65 W, 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 130 W.

Original
logo2009
logoDesktopMobileCode-nameCoresRelease dateCode-nameCoresRelease dateFull listList of desktop processorsList of mobile processors
[[Image:Intel Core 2 Solo.png62pxCore 2 Solo brand logo]][[Image:Intel Core2 Solo2009.gif85pxCore 2 Solo logo as of 2009]]Desktop version not availableMerom-L
Penryn-LSingle (65 nm)
Single (45 nm)September 2007
May 2008
[[Image:Intel Core 2 Duo.png62pxCore 2 Duo logo]][[Image:Intel Core2 Duo2009.svg85pxCore 2 Duo logo as of 2009]]Conroe
Allendale
WolfdaleDual (65 nm)
Dual (65 nm)
Dual (45 nm)July 2006
January 2007
January 2008Merom
PenrynDual (65 nm)
Dual (45 nm)August 2006
January 2008
[[Image:Intel Core 2 Quad.png62pxCore 2 Quad logo]][[Image:Intel Core2 Qu2009.png85pxCore 2 Quad logo as of 2009]]Kentsfield
YorkfieldQuad (65 nm)
Quad (45 nm)January 2007
March 2008Penryn-QCQuad (45 nm)August 2008
[[Image:Intel Core 2 Extreme.png62pxCore 2 Extreme logo]][[Image:Intel Core2 Ex2009.png85pxCore 2 Extreme logo as of 2009]]Conroe XE
Kentsfield XE
Yorkfield XEDual (65 nm)
Quad (65 nm)
Quad (45 nm)July 2006
November 2006
November 2007Merom XE
Penryn XE
Penryn-QC XEDual (65 nm)
Dual (45 nm)
Quad (45 nm)July 2007
January 2008
August 2008

Successors

The successors to the Core 2 brand are a set of Nehalem-based processors called Core i3, i5, and i7. The Core i7 was officially launched on November 17, 2008, as a family of three quad-core processor high-end desktop models; further models started appearing throughout 2009. The last processor of the family 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, and the last processors were discontinued in June 2012.

Compatibility issues with modern operating systems

As of 2025, a handful of Linux distributions will not run on Intel Core 2-series CPUs due to them requiring the x86-64-v2 microarchitecture level, which is not fully supported by any of the Core 2-series CPUs. Examples include Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 as well as openSUSE Tumbleweed. Attempting to run these distributions on a Core 2 CPU will result in an error message or crash during the boot process.

Windows IoT Enterprise releases, starting with Windows 11, version 24H2, will also not run on Intel Core 2 CPUs as it requires the SSE4.2 and POPCNT instruction sets, neither of which are supported by Core 2 CPUs.

Notes

References

References

  1. (June 6, 2011). "Product Change Notification #110665-00". Intel Corp..
  2. "Intel Clovertowns step up, reduce power". TG Daily.
  3. "Intel Unveils World's Best Processor". Intel.
  4. "Intel to unify product naming scheme". TG Daily.
  5. "Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology and Intel Core2 processor with vPro technology". Intel.
  6. "Intel Unleashes New Server Processors That Deliver World-Class Performance And Power Efficiency". Intel.
  7. "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Test Setup". Tom's Hardware.
  8. "The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Thermal Design Power Overview". Tom's Hardware.
  9. "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 10, 2011". Intel Corp.
  10. "Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 17, 2011". Intel Corp.
  11. "openSUSE Tumbleweed Begins Transitioning To x86-64-v2 CPU Requirements".
  12. "RHEL9 Raises Base Target For x86_64 CPUs Plus Possible Optimized Libraries With glibc-hwcaps".
  13. "Tumbleweed – Move to x86-64-v2 (plus mitigation plan and call for help)".
  14. "openSUSE Tumbleweed Begins Transitioning To x86-64-v2 CPU Requirements".
  15. "RHEL 9 guest panic's during boot with following error 'Fatal glibc error: CPU does not support x86-64-v2'".
  16. "RockyLinux 8.7 updated kernel 4.18.0-425 crash".
  17. "Existing workarounds fail with new Windows 11 requirement that invalidates older CPUs — Microsoft's PopCnt restriction appears to be unbreakable".
  18. "Windows 11 24H2 now clearly states that you need a CPU with POPCNT support".
  19. "Microsoft adds SSE4.2 to the list of compatibility blocks in Windows 11".
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