View source for Intel Core 2

{{short description|Processor family by Intel}}
{{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<ref name="c2dc">{{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}}</ref>
| 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]]
| microarch = '''[[Intel Core (microarchitecture)|Core]]''':<br/>[[Intel Core (microarchitecture)|Merom]] (65 nm)<br/>[[Penryn (microarchitecture)|Penryn]] (45 nm)
| sock1 = Socket T ([[LGA 775]])
| sock2 = [[Socket M]] (μPGA 478MT)
| sock3 = [[Socket P]] (μPGA 478MN)
| sock4 = [[Micro-FCBGA]] (μBGA 479)
| sock5 = [[Micro-FCBGA]] (μBGA 965)
| numcores = 1, 2, or 4
| predecessor = [[Pentium D]] (desktop)<br>[[Yonah (microprocessor)|Intel Core Solo/Duo]] (mobile)
| successor = [[Intel Core|Core]] [[Core i3|i3]]/[[Core i5|i5]]/[[Core i7|i7]]
| support status = Unsupported
|soldby=[[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 (instruction set)|MMX]], [[Streaming SIMD Extensions|SSE]], [[SSE2]], [[SSE3]], [[SSSE3]], [[SSE4.1]]|variant1=[[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<br/>Mobile}}
'''Intel Core 2''' is a processor family encompassing a range of [[Intel]]'s mainstream [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] [[x86-64]] single-, dual-, and quad-core [[microprocessor]]s based on the [[Intel Core (microarchitecture)|Core microarchitecture]]. The single- and dual-core models are single-[[die (integrated circuit)|die]], whereas the quad-core models comprise two dies, each containing two cores, packaged in a [[multi-chip module]].<ref name="TG Daily">{{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}}</ref> 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 [[Pentium Dual-Core|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 [[Yonah (microprocessor)|Core Solo/Duo]] brands.

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

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 [[x86 virtualization#Intel virtualization (VT-x)|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==
{{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]] brand.<ref>{{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}}</ref>}}

The Core 2-branded processors feature [[X86 virtualization|Virtualization Technology]] without [[Second Level Address Translation|extended page tables]] (EPT) (with some exceptions), the [[NX bit]] and [[SSE3]]. The [[Intel Core (microarchitecture)|Merom microarchitecture]] introduced [[SSSE3]], [[Trusted Execution Technology]], Enhanced [[SpeedStep]] and [[Intel Active Management Technology|Active Management Technology 2.0]] (iAMT2). The [[Penryn (microarchitecture)|Penryn microarchitecture]], a shrink of the former, introduced [[SSE4.1]]. With a maximum [[thermal design power]] (TDP) of 65&nbsp;W, the Core 2 Duo [[#Conroe-L/Merom-L|Conroe]] dissipates half the power of the less capable contemporary [[Pentium D]]-branded desktop chips<ref>{{cite web |title=The 65&nbsp;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 }}</ref> that have a max TDP of 130&nbsp;W.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 65&nbsp;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 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align: right"

|+Intel Core 2 processor family
|-
! rowspan="2" |Original<br />logo
! rowspan="2" |2009<br />logo
! colspan="3" |[[Desktop computer|Desktop]]
! colspan="3" |[[Laptop|Mobile]]
|-
!Code-name
!Cores
!Release date
!Code-name
!Cores
!Release date
|- style="background:white"
|[[Image:Intel Core 2 Solo.png|62px|Core 2 Solo brand logo]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Image:Intel Core2 Solo2009.gif|85px|Core 2 Solo logo as of 2009]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |<small>Desktop version not available</small>
|[[Merom (microprocessor)#Merom-L|Merom-L]]<br />[[Penryn (microprocessor)#Penryn-L|Penryn-L]]
|Single (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Single (45&nbsp;nm)
|September 2007<br />May 2008
|- style="background:white"
|[[Image:Intel Core 2 Duo.png|62px|Core 2 Duo logo]]
|[[Image:Intel Core2 Duo2009.svg|85px|Core 2 Duo logo as of 2009]]
|[[Conroe (microprocessor)#Conroe|Conroe]]<br />[[Conroe (microprocessor)#Allendale|Allendale]]<br />[[Wolfdale (microprocessor)|Wolfdale]]
|Dual (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Dual (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Dual (45&nbsp;nm)
|July 2006<br />January 2007<br />January 2008
|[[Merom (microprocessor)|Merom]]<br />[[Penryn (microprocessor)|Penryn]]
|Dual (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Dual (45&nbsp;nm)
|August 2006<br />January 2008
|- style="background:white"
|[[Image:Intel Core 2 Quad.png|62px|Core 2 Quad logo]]
|[[Image:Intel Core2 Qu2009.png|85px|Core 2 Quad logo as of 2009]]
|[[Kentsfield (microprocessor)|Kentsfield]]<br />[[Yorkfield (microprocessor)|Yorkfield]]
|Quad (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Quad (45&nbsp;nm)
|January 2007<br />March 2008
|[[Penryn (microprocessor)#Penryn-QC|Penryn-QC]]
|Quad (45&nbsp;nm)
|August 2008
|- style="background:white"
|[[Image:Intel Core 2 Extreme.png|62px|Core 2 Extreme logo]]
|[[Image:Intel Core2 Ex2009.png|85px|Core 2 Extreme logo as of 2009]]
||[[Conroe (microprocessor)#Conroe XE|Conroe XE]]<br />[[Kentsfield (microprocessor)#Kentsfield XE|Kentsfield XE]]<br />[[Yorkfield (microprocessor)#Yorkfield XE|Yorkfield XE]]
|Dual (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Quad (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Quad (45&nbsp;nm)
|July 2006<br />November 2006<br />November 2007
|[[Merom (microprocessor)#Merom XE|Merom XE]]<br />[[Penryn (microprocessor)#Penryn|Penryn XE]]<br />[[Penryn (microprocessor)#Penryn-QC|Penryn-QC XE]]
|Dual (65&nbsp;nm)<br />Dual (45&nbsp;nm)<br />Quad (45&nbsp;nm)
|July 2007<br />January 2008<br />August 2008
|-
! colspan="2" |[[List of Intel Core 2 processors|Full list]]
! colspan="3" |[[List of Intel Core 2 processors|List of desktop processors]]
! colspan="3" |[[List of Intel Core 2 processors#Mobile processors|List of mobile processors]]
|}
[[File:Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz.jpg|thumb|An Intel [[List of Intel Core 2 microprocessors#Core 2 Duo E7500|Core 2 Duo E7500]] "Wolfdale-3M"]]

==Known marks==
With the release of the Core 2 processor, the abbreviation ''C2'' has come into common use, with its variants ''C2S'' (the present Core 2 Solo) ''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 (such as QX6700, QX6800, QX6850).

==Successors==

The successors to the Core 2 brand are a set of [[Nehalem (microarchitecture)|Nehalem]]-based processors called [[List of Intel Core i3 processors|Core i3]], [[List of Intel Core i5 processors|i5]], and [[Core i7|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,<ref>{{cite web|title=Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July&nbsp;10,&nbsp;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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Intel Processor Pricing, Effective July&nbsp;17,&nbsp;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}}</ref> and the last processors were discontinued in June 2012.<ref name="c2dc" />

== Compatibility issues with modern operating systems ==
As of 2025, a handful of [[Linux distribution]]s 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#RHEL 9|Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9]]<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> as well as [[openSUSE Tumbleweed]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Attempting to run these distributions on a Core 2 CPU will result in an error message or crash during the boot process.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

[[Windows IoT|Windows IoT Enterprise]] releases, starting with [[Windows 11, version 24H2]], will also not run on Intel Core 2 CPUs as it requires the [[SSE4|SSE4.2]] and [[SSE4#POPCNT and LZCNT|POPCNT]] instruction sets, neither of which are supported by Core 2 CPUs.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Pentium Dual-Core]]
* [[Comparison of Intel processors]]
* [[List of Intel Core 2 processors]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
1st public demonstration: [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]] (desktop)
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{{s-bef
| before = [[Yonah (microprocessor)|Core Solo/Duo]] (mobile)
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{{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]]
[[Category:Intel x86 microprocessors|Core 2]]
[[Category:64-bit microprocessors]]