# Intel Core 2 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Intel_Core_2 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Intel_Core_2.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2 > Source revision: 1346827132 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Processor family}} {{about|the Core 2 Solo/Duo/Quad/Extreme line of Intel processors|the overall Intel Core brand, including Core 2 and later Core i|Intel Core|the microarchitecture being used in the Core 2 line|Intel Core (microarchitecture)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox CPU | name = Core 2 | image = Intel Core2 Duo2009.svg | caption = Intel Core 2 Duo logo from 2009 to 2012 | produced-start = July 26, 2006 | produced-end = June 8, 2012{{cite web|url=http://qdms.intel.com/dm/i.aspx/985684EB-C0D5-4151-919D-12235462525B/PCN110665-00.pdf|title=Product Change Notification #110665-00|date=June 6, 2011|publisher=Intel Corp.|access-date=October 14, 2019}} | slowest = 1.06 | slow-unit = GHz | fastest = 3.5 | fast-unit = GHz | fsb-slowest = 533 | fsb-slow-unit = MT/s | fsb-fastest = 1.6 | fsb-fast-unit = GT/s | manuf1 = Intel | core1 = '''Desktop''': Allendale, Conroe, Kentsfield, Wolfdale, Yorkfield, | core2 = '''Mobile''': Merom, Penryn, Penryn QC | size-from = 65 nm | size-to = 45 nm | arch = [x86-64](/source/x86-64) | microarch = '''[Core](/source/Intel_Core_(microarchitecture))''':
[Merom](/source/Intel_Core_(microarchitecture)) (65 nm)
[Penryn](/source/Penryn_(microarchitecture)) (45 nm) | sock1 = Socket T ([LGA 775](/source/LGA_775)) | sock2 = [Socket M](/source/Socket_M) (μPGA 478MT) | sock3 = [Socket P](/source/Socket_P) (μPGA 478MN) | sock4 = [Micro-FCBGA](/source/Micro-FCBGA) (μBGA 479) | sock5 = [Micro-FCBGA](/source/Micro-FCBGA) (μBGA 965) | numcores = 1, 2, or 4 | predecessor = [Pentium D](/source/Pentium_D) (desktop)
[Intel Core Solo/Duo](/source/Yonah_(microprocessor)) (mobile) | successor = [Core](/source/Intel_Core) [i3](/source/Core_i3)/[i5](/source/Core_i5)/[i7](/source/Core_i7) | support status = Unsupported |soldby=[Intel](/source/Intel)|designfirm=Intel|l2cache=Up to 12 MB|l1cache=64 KB per core (32 KB data + 32 KB instructions)|transistors=291 million to 820 million|model1=Core 2 Solo|model2=Core 2 Duo|model3=Core 2 Quad|model4=Core 2 Extreme|instructions=[MMX](/source/MMX_(instruction_set)), [SSE](/source/Streaming_SIMD_Extensions), [SSE2](/source/SSE2), [SSE3](/source/SSE3), [SSSE3](/source/SSSE3), [SSE4.1](/source/SSE4.1)|variant1=[Pentium Dual-Core](/source/Pentium_Dual-Core)|pcode1=C2S|pcode2=C2D|pcode3=C2E|pcode4=C2Q|pcode5=C2QX|data-width=64 bits|address-width=36 bits|virtual-width=48 bits|pack1=Flip-chip land grid array (FC-LGA)|pack2=Micro pin grid array (mPGA)|pack3=Flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA)|application=Desktop
Mobile}} '''Intel Core 2''' is a processor family encompassing a range of [Intel](/source/Intel)'s mainstream [64-bit](/source/64-bit_computing) [x86-64](/source/x86-64) single-, dual-, and quad-core [microprocessor](/source/microprocessor)s based on the [Core microarchitecture](/source/Intel_Core_(microarchitecture)). The single- and dual-core models are single-[die](/source/die_(integrated_circuit)), whereas the quad-core models comprise two dies, each containing two cores, packaged in a [multi-chip module](/source/multi-chip_module).{{cite web |title=Intel Clovertowns step up, reduce power |url=http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33708/135/ |publisher=TG Daily |access-date=September 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911222341/http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33708/135/ |archive-date=September 11, 2007}} The Core 2 range is the last flagship range of Intel desktop processors to use a [front-side bus](/source/front-side_bus) (FSB). The introduction of Core 2 relegated the [Pentium](/source/Pentium) brand to the [mid-range market](/source/Pentium_Dual-Core), and reunified laptop and desktop CPU lines for marketing purposes under the same product name, which were formerly divided into the [Pentium 4](/source/Pentium_4), [Pentium D](/source/Pentium_D), and [Core Solo/Duo](/source/Yonah_(microprocessor)) brands. The ''Core 2'' processor line was introduced on July 27, 2006,{{cite web|title=Intel Unveils World's Best Processor |url=http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060727comp.htm?cid=rss-83642-c1-135841 |publisher=Intel |access-date=August 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403081121/http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060727comp.htm?cid=rss-83642-c1-135841 |archive-date=April 3, 2007 |url-status=dead}} comprising the ''Duo'' ([dual-core](/source/Multi-core_processor)) and ''Extreme'' (dual- or quad-core CPUs for enthusiasts), and in 2007, the ''Quad'' ([quad-core](/source/Multi-core_processor)) and ''Solo'' ([single-core](/source/single-core)) sub-brands.{{cite news |title=Intel to unify product naming scheme |url=http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33234/122/ |publisher=TG Daily |access-date=August 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926232224/http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33234/122/ |archive-date=September 26, 2007}} Intel Core 2 processors with [vPro](/source/Intel_vPro) technology (designed for businesses) include the dual-core and quad-core branches.{{cite web |title=Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology and Intel Core2 processor with vPro technology |url=http://download.intel.com/products/vpro/whitepaper/crossclient.pdf |publisher=Intel|access-date=August 7, 2008}} Although Woodcrest processors are also based on the Core 2 architecture, they are available under the [Xeon](/source/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](/source/LGA_775) processors can support [virtualization](/source/virtualization) if the [virtual machine](/source/virtual_machine) (VM) software supports those processors, e.g. if the processor supports [VT-x](/source/x86_virtualization). 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](/source/Second_Level_Address_Translation) (SLAT). ==Models== {{anchor|Duo, Quad, and Extreme|Processor cores}} {{For|a detailed discussion of CPU cores|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), ''Penryn-QC'' (quad-core for laptops), and ''Yorkfield'' (quad-core for desktops).{{Efn|For the server and workstation ''Woodcrest'', "Clovertown", ''Tigerton'', "Wolfdale-DP", ''Harpertown'', and ''Dunnington'' CPUs, see the [Xeon](/source/Xeon) brand.{{cite web|title=Intel Unleashes New Server Processors That Deliver World-Class Performance And Power Efficiency |url=http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060626comp.htm |publisher=Intel |access-date=June 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701231201/http://intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060626comp.htm |archive-date=July 1, 2006 |url-status=dead}}}} The Core 2-branded processors feature [Virtualization Technology](/source/X86_virtualization) without [extended page tables](/source/Second_Level_Address_Translation) (EPT) (with some exceptions), the [NX bit](/source/NX_bit) and [SSE3](/source/SSE3). The [Merom microarchitecture](/source/Intel_Core_(microarchitecture)) introduced [SSSE3](/source/SSSE3), [Trusted Execution Technology](/source/Trusted_Execution_Technology), Enhanced [SpeedStep](/source/SpeedStep) and [Active Management Technology 2.0](/source/Intel_Active_Management_Technology) (iAMT2). The [Penryn microarchitecture](/source/Penryn_(microarchitecture)), a shrink of the former, introduced [SSE4.1](/source/SSE4.1). With a maximum [thermal design power](/source/thermal_design_power) (TDP) of 65 W, the Core 2 Duo Conroe dissipates half the power of the less capable contemporary [Pentium D](/source/Pentium_D)-branded desktop chips{{cite web |title=The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Test Setup |url=http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/05/the_65_nm_pentium_d_900s_coming_out_party/page6.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120703150521/http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/05/the_65_nm_pentium_d_900s_coming_out_party/page6.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |publisher=Tom's Hardware |access-date=June 15, 2007 }} that have a max TDP of 130 W.{{cite web |title=The 65 nm Pentium D 900's Coming Out Party: Thermal Design Power Overview |url=http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/05/the_65_nm_pentium_d_900s_coming_out_party/page5.html |publisher=Tom's Hardware |access-date=June 15, 2007 |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120702232159/http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/05/the_65_nm_pentium_d_900s_coming_out_party/page5.html |url-status=dead }} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align: right" |+Intel Core 2 processor family |- ! rowspan="2" |Original
logo ! rowspan="2" |2009
logo ! colspan="3" |[Desktop](/source/Desktop_computer) ! colspan="3" |[Mobile](/source/Laptop) |- !Code-name !Cores !Release date !Code-name !Cores !Release date |- style="background:white" |62px|Core 2 Solo brand logo | style="text-align:center;" |85px|Core 2 Solo logo as of 2009 | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Desktop version not available |[Merom-L](/source/Merom_(microprocessor))
[Penryn-L](/source/Penryn_(microprocessor)) |Single (65 nm)
Single (45 nm) |September 2007
May 2008 |- style="background:white" |62px|Core 2 Duo logo |85px|Core 2 Duo logo as of 2009 |[Conroe](/source/Conroe_(microprocessor))
[Allendale](/source/Conroe_(microprocessor))
[Wolfdale](/source/Wolfdale_(microprocessor)) |Dual (65 nm)
Dual (65 nm)
Dual (45 nm) |July 2006
January 2007
January 2008 |[Merom](/source/Merom_(microprocessor))
[Penryn](/source/Penryn_(microprocessor)) |Dual (65 nm)
Dual (45 nm) |August 2006
January 2008 |- style="background:white" |62px|Core 2 Quad logo |85px|Core 2 Quad logo as of 2009 |[Kentsfield](/source/Kentsfield_(microprocessor))
[Yorkfield](/source/Yorkfield_(microprocessor)) |Quad (65 nm)
Quad (45 nm) |January 2007
March 2008 |[Penryn-QC](/source/Penryn_(microprocessor)) |Quad (45 nm) |August 2008 |- style="background:white" |62px|Core 2 Extreme logo |85px|Core 2 Extreme logo as of 2009 ||[Conroe XE](/source/Conroe_(microprocessor))
[Kentsfield XE](/source/Kentsfield_(microprocessor))
[Yorkfield XE](/source/Yorkfield_(microprocessor)) |Dual (65 nm)
Quad (65 nm)
Quad (45 nm) |July 2006
November 2006
November 2007 |[Merom XE](/source/Merom_(microprocessor))
[Penryn XE](/source/Penryn_(microprocessor))
[Penryn-QC XE](/source/Penryn_(microprocessor)) |Dual (65 nm)
Dual (45 nm)
Quad (45 nm) |July 2007
January 2008
August 2008 |- ! colspan="2" |[Full list](/source/List_of_Intel_Core_2_processors) ! colspan="3" |[List of desktop processors](/source/List_of_Intel_Core_2_processors) ! colspan="3" |[List of mobile processors](/source/List_of_Intel_Core_2_processors) |} [[File:Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz.jpg|thumb|An Intel [Core 2 Duo E7500](/source/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors) "Wolfdale-3M"]] ==Successors== The successors to the Core 2 brand are a set of [Nehalem](/source/Nehalem_(microarchitecture))-based processors called [Core i3](/source/List_of_Intel_Core_i3_processors), [i5](/source/List_of_Intel_Core_i5_processors), and [i7](/source/Core_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](/source/Core_2_Quad_Q9500) in January 2010. The Core 2 processor line was removed from the official price lists in July 2011,{{cite web|title=Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 10, 2011|url=http://www.intc.com/common/download/download.cfm?companyid=INTC&fileid=481200&filekey=85BC9BF7-1931-4032-8ADE-68D9A255973E&filename=July_10_11_1ku_Price.pdf|publisher=Intel Corp|access-date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926131841/http://www.intc.com/common/download/download.cfm?companyid=INTC|archive-date=September 26, 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July 17, 2011|url=http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/INTC/843929813x0x482714/D04F4947-6821-4B2B-A478-7A592F5CD716/July_17_11_1ku_Price.pdf|publisher=Intel Corp |access-date=July 17, 2011}} and the last processors were discontinued in June 2012. == Compatibility issues with modern operating systems == As of 2025, a handful of [Linux distribution](/source/Linux_distribution)s will not run on Intel Core 2-series CPUs due to them requiring the [x86-64-v2](/source/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](/source/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux){{cite web |last1=Weimer |first1=Florian |title=openSUSE Tumbleweed Begins Transitioning To x86-64-v2 CPU Requirements |url=https://developers.redhat.com/blog/2021/01/05/building-red-hat-enterprise-linux-9-for-the-x86-64-v2-microarchitecture-level |website=Red Hat Developer |access-date=2025-03-11}}{{cite web |last1=Larabel |first1=Michael |title=RHEL9 Raises Base Target For x86_64 CPUs Plus Possible Optimized Libraries With glibc-hwcaps |url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/RHEL-9-x86-64-v2-Plans |website=Phoronix |access-date=2025-03-11}} as well as [openSUSE Tumbleweed](/source/openSUSE_Tumbleweed).{{cite web |title=Tumbleweed – Move to x86-64-v2 (plus mitigation plan and call for help) |url=https://lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/factory@lists.opensuse.org/thread/4OIMNHRDMSRLUNZRA5OPHMVSPXRRQVSB/ |website=openSUSE Mailing Lists |access-date=2025-03-11}}{{cite web |last1=Larabel |first1=Michael |title=openSUSE Tumbleweed Begins Transitioning To x86-64-v2 CPU Requirements |url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/openSUSE-Tumbleweed-x86-64-v2 |website=Phoronix |access-date=2025-03-11}} Attempting to run these distributions on a Core 2 CPU will result in an error message or crash during the boot process.{{cite web |title=RHEL 9 guest panic's during boot with following error 'Fatal glibc error: CPU does not support x86-64-v2' |url=https://access.redhat.com/solutions/6833751 |website=Red Hat Customer Portal |access-date=2025-03-11 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |title=RockyLinux 8.7 updated kernel 4.18.0-425 crash |url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rockylinux-8-7-updated-kernel-4-18-0-425-crash/8238 |website=Rocky Linux Forums |access-date=2025-03-11}} [Windows IoT Enterprise](/source/Windows_IoT) releases, starting with [Windows 11, version 24H2](/source/Windows_11%2C_version_24H2), will also not run on Intel Core 2 CPUs as it requires the [SSE4.2](/source/SSE4) and [POPCNT](/source/SSE4) instruction sets, neither of which are supported by Core 2 CPUs.{{cite web |last1=Klotz |first1=Aaron |title=Existing workarounds fail with new Windows 11 requirement that invalidates older CPUs — Microsoft's PopCnt restriction appears to be unbreakable |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/existing-workarounds-fail-with-new-windows-11-requirement-that-invalidates-older-cpus-microsofts-popcnt-restriction-appears-to-be-unbreakable |website=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2025-03-11}}{{cite web |last1=Tkachenko |first1=Sergey |title=Windows 11 24H2 now clearly states that you need a CPU with POPCNT support |url=https://winaero.com/windows-11-24h2-now-clearly-states-that-you-need-a-cpu-with-popcnt-support/ |website=Winaero.com |access-date=2025-03-11}}{{cite web |last1=Buria |first1=Taras |title=Microsoft adds SSE4.2 to the list of compatibility blocks in Windows 11 |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-adds-sse42-to-the-list-of-compatibility-blocks-in-windows-11/ |website=Neowin |access-date=2025-03-11}} ==See also== * [Pentium Dual-Core](/source/Pentium_Dual-Core) * [Comparison of Intel processors](/source/Comparison_of_Intel_processors) * [List of Intel Core 2 processors](/source/List_of_Intel_Core_2_processors) ==Notes== {{Notelist}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== 1st public demonstration: [https://web.archive.org/web/20100502033956/http://www.anandtech.com/show/1963 Anandtech discovers Core 2 Duo performance under the supervision of Francois Piednoel] * [http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/Intel_Wolfdale_and_Yorkfield_Performance_Penryn/ Intel Penryn Architecture and Performance Preview] * [http://www.intel.com/technology/itj/2006/volume10issue02/ Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology papers] * [http://www.intel.com/technology/architecture-silicon/core/ Intel Core Microarchitecture] * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714194952/http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2/ |date=July 14, 2006 |title=Intel's Core 2 page}} {{s-start}} {{s-bef | before = [Pentium D](/source/Pentium_D) (desktop) }} {{s-bef | before = [Core Solo/Duo](/source/Yonah_(microprocessor)) (mobile) }} {{s-ttl | rows = 3 | title = Intel Core 2 | years = 2006–2011 }} {{s-aft | rows = 3 | after = Core i }} {{s-end}} {{Intel processors|core}} Category:Computer-related introductions in 2006 Core 2 Category:64-bit microprocessors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Intel Core 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.