Core 2 Duo or "Conroe"

Without a doubt, Core 2 Duo or "Conroe" as it is code-named has been one of the most anticipated product launches in the hardware community for quite some time. Everybody has been waiting to see if Intel can claim back the performance crown and push under the rug the disappointment that was the NetBurst architecture.

Conroe is nothing like any previous Pentium 4 products. In fact, it's based on the mobile Core Duo design which is in itself based on Pentium M, which is based on Pentium 3 architecture. So Intel has actually done a bit of a U-turn.

Compared to Pentium 4, Core Duo (not to be confused with Core 2 Duo) offers low power consumption, low waste heat and high performance per clock. This is almost an exact opposite to the Pentium 4 which used so much power that the ATX specification had to be modified to add more 12V rails, and produced so much heat that they often throttled and made reaching 4GHz almost impossible. Not only this, but clock for clock performance wasn't stellar – hence the need for higher clock speeds in the first place. The resultant disparity between AMDs and Intel's clock speed was one of the primary reasons for AMD introducing PR ratings (eg. 5000+) so that consumers didn't feel like they were getting a raw deal.


Core 2 Duo is the next generation on from Core Duo. Although when tested the desktop "Conroe" version of the Core 2 Duo processor here today, there will be a mobile version code-named "Merom". Although this will be architecturally identical, it will have better power saving technology for extended battery life.

AMD's biggest selling point has been its on die memory controller. This has had a lot of knock on effects (such as almost identical performance from motherboard to motherboard), but the main effect is a huge reduction in memory latency as communication is no longer passed through the north bridge. This, in combination with HyperTransport reduced the bottleneck of the front side bus. Memory performance affects system performance significantly, so Intel processors were suffering in this area a lot.

Intel's solution to this is several minor improvements to the Core architecture in order to reduce this memory latency and increase overall system performance. Most of these optimisations are quite minor, but put together add up to more than the sum of their parts. Quite frankly, how Intel has improved their architecture so much is largely irrelevant - performance figures tell us all we need to know.

Possibly the biggest improvement is an added pipeline. Where as Core Duo can complete three instructions per cycle, Core 2 Duo can now complete four which an obvious increase in processing power and efficiency.

To help reduce bottlenecks, the front side bus has been increased to 1,066MHz from the 800Mhz that all but a few of the Extreme Edition processors used. This is at a base frequency of 266MHz, quad pumped.

If it wasn't completely obvious, the "Duo" portion of the name indicates that these are dual-core processors. Unlike previous Pentium D processors, these use a shared Level 2 cache (2MB or 4MB depending on the processor). This can be dynamically allocated depending on the task being run. For instance, if running an application that isn't multi-threaded (i.e. can't take advantage of a second core), then the primary core would get the full 4MB of Level 2 cache. Having more Level 2 cache means that fewer requests need to be made to the system memory – one of the biggest causes of latency.

Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor

When more is better-with four processing cores the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor delivers unrivaled performance for the latest, greatest generation of multi-threaded games and multimedia apps.Now with a new version based on Intel's cutting edge 45nm technology utilizing hafnium-infused circuitry to deliver even greater performance and power efficiency. The Intel® Core 2 Extreme processor QX9770 running at 3.2 GHz delivers the best possible experience for today's most demanding users.

12 MB of total L2 cache
1600 MHz front side bus
Intel Network Processors


Built on a high-performance fully programmable architecture, Intel network processors offer the speed, flexibility, and ease-of-use/reuse you need to accelerate time-to-market, extend time-in-market, and to enable a broad range of services from the customer premises to the core of the network. Network processors optimized for home, small-to-medium enterprise, and networked embedded applications. Flexible wire-speed processing for OC-3 to OC-12 multiservice network applications.
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Multi-Core Performance

The ultimate multi-core performance
Introducing Intel CoreQuad processor for notebook and desktop PCs, designed to handle massive compute and visualization workloads enabled by powerful multi-core technology. Optimized for the longest possible battery life without compromise to performance, Intel Core 2 Quad processors for notebooks allow you to stay unwired longer while running the most compute-intensive applications.Providing all the bandwidth you need for next-generation highly-threaded applications, the latest four-core Intel Core 2 Quad processors are built on 45nm Intel Core microarchitecture enabling faster, cooler, and quieter mobile and desktop PC and workstation experiences.Plus, with optional Intel VPro technology, you have the ability to remotely isolate, diagnose, and repair infected desktop and mobile workstations wirelessly and outside of the firewall, even if the PC is off, or the OS is unresponsive.Product informationDownload the processor product briefFile Type/Size: PDF 647KBFeatures and BenefitsWith four processing cores, up to 12MB of shared L2 cache,¹ and up to 1066 MHz Front Side Bus for notebooks, and up to 12MB of L2 cache² and up to 1333 MHz Front Side Bus for desktops, the Intel Core 2 Quad processor delivers amazing performance and power efficiency enabled by the all new hafnium-based circuitry of 45nm Intel Core microarchitecture.Whether you're encoding, rendering, editing, or streaming HD multimedia in the office or on the go, power your most demanding applications with notebooks and desktops based on the Intel Core 2 Quad processor.Plus, with these processors you get great Intel technologies built in. Intelligent Power Capability, designed to deliver more energy-efficient performanceIntel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT), enabling greater security, manageability, and utilizationDual Intel Dynamic Acceleration technology, improving four-core performance by utilizing power headroom of idle cores by dynamically boosting frequency of active coresIntel Smart Memory Access, improving system performance by optimizing the use of the available data bandwidthLarger Intel Advanced Smart Cache optimized for multi-core processors, providing a higher-performance, more efficient cache subsystemIntel Advanced Digital Media Boost, accelerating a broad range of applications along with Intel HD Boost utilizing new SSE4 instructions for even greater multimedia performanceFuture ready, designed to perform in highly threaded programs with powerful Intel multi-core technologyBuy an Intel® Core Quad processor-based desktop or notebook.