The new product line offers record performance and requires less energy to operate
Intel Corporation today introduces ten new Intel® Core ™ 2 Duo and Intel® Core ™ 2 Extreme processors for home and business desktops, laptops and workstations. These processors are going to change the look, performance and power consumption of computers and, more importantly, they are going to transform the way people use them.
“Core 2 Duo processors are simply the best processors in the world,” said Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO. “Since Intel introduced the Pentium processor, there has not been such a significant change at the heart of the computer in the industry. The Core 2 Duo desktop processor is a power-saving marvel, has 291 million transistors and consumes 40% less power, while delivering the performance needed for today’s and tomorrow’s applications. ”
This long-awaited family of processors is already widely supported. More than 550 different designs are being developed by customers, a milestone in Intel’s history. In addition, more than ten thousand companies are going to sell systems or components based on these processors.
Intel Core 2 Duo processors are manufactured in several of the world’s most advanced high-capacity manufacturing facilities – facilities that use Intel’s leading 65 gauge silicon manufacturing technology. The desktop version offers up to a 40% improvement in performance and more than 40% in energy savings, compared to the best previous Intel processors. According to some independent product review organizations, processors have performed best in nine out of ten major benchmarks for servers, desktops, and gaming performance computers.
The Intel Core 2 Duo processor family consists of five desktop processors created specifically for businesses, homes, and enthusiastic users such as high-end game lovers, and another five processors designed to meet lifestyle needs. mobile. Intel Core 2 Duo processor-based workstations will also deliver the best performance in the industry for fields such as design, content creation, and technical computing.
The processor family is based on the revolutionary Intel® Core ™ microarchitecture, designed to deliver powerful performance with great savings in power consumption. The power of the two cores – or computing engines – allows the processors to handle many tasks more quickly, as well as running smoothly when performing multiple simultaneous tasks such as writing emails while downloading songs or videos and performing an antivirus scan on the computer. These dual-core processors also improve tasks such as viewing and playing high-definition video, protecting the PC and its content during e-commerce transactions, as well as improving battery life to enable the slimmest and lightest laptop design.
Individuals and businesses will have the option of purchasing Intel Core 2 Duo processors as part of Intel’s platforms targeting major markets, consisting of a series of Intel hardware and software technologies created specifically to meet the needs of Intel. select computing technologies, including Intel® vPro ™ Technology for Business, Intel® Centrino® Duo Technology for Laptops, and Intel® Viiv ™ Technology for Homes.
Many of the products will also offer a selection of Intel-engineered and embedded technologies such as Intel® Virtualization Technology and Intel® Active Management Technology to enhance security and manageability of PCs. Also expanding 64-bit computing support for notebook computers. The new processors can be combined with the Intel® 975X, 965, and Mobile 945 Express family of chipsets. The Intel 965 Express chipset includes the latest integrated graphics capabilities and Intel® Clear Video Technology. All these chipsets are ready to be used with the Microsoft Windows Vista * operating system.
Cutting edge innovations
The Intel Core 2 Duo and Intel Core 2 Extreme processors include many cutting-edge innovations such as:
• Intel® Wide Dynamic Execution –– Improves performance and efficiency by allowing each core to complete up to four full instructions simultaneously, using a 14-phase pipeline.
• Intel® Smart Memory Access –– Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, to optimize use of available bandwidth for computing data, and deliver data to the processor when and where it is needed.
• Intel® Advanced Smart Cache –– Includes a Level 2 cache or shared memory reservation to reduce power consumption, minimize memory “traffic” and improve performance by allowing one kernel to use all cache memory when the other nucleus is unoccupied. Only Intel offers this capability in all segments.
• Intel® Advanced Digital Media Boost –– Effectively doubles the execution speed of instructions commonly used in graphics and multimedia applications.
• Intel® 64 Technology – This enhancement to Intel’s 32-bit architecture offers support for 64-bit computing, including a feature to allow the processor to access larger amounts of memory.
Unique processor features for notebook computers:
Intel Core Duo 2 processors for notebooks include many advanced innovations, such as:
• Intel® Dynamic Power Coordination – Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology and transitions to non-operational power consumption management state (C states) independently for each core to save power.
• Intel® Dynamic Bus Parking – Allows the platform to save power and increase battery life by allowing the chipset to shut down along with the processor in low-frequency modes.
• Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing – Saves power by sending cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to reduce CPU voltage.
Pricing and availability
Intel has already is distributing Intel Core 2 Duo processors for all segments. The first systems based on the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor are now available from manufacturers, resellers, and system integrators, including members of the Intel Channel Partner Program. Systems based on the Intel Core 2 Duo processor for desktops will be available in early August. Intel Core 2 Duo processor-based laptops will be available at the end of August.
