In general, processors sold as Core are more powerful variants of the same processors marketed as entry-level Celeron and Pentium. Similarly, identical or more capable versions of Core processors are also sold as Xeon processors for the server market.
| Brand | Desktop | Laptop | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code-named | Cores | Fab | Date released | Code-named | Cores | Fab | Date released | |
| Core Solo | | Yonah | 1 | 65 nm | Jan 2006 | |||
| Core Duo | | Yonah | 2 | 65 nm | Jan 2006 | |||
| Core 2 Solo | | Merom-L Penryn-3M | 1 1 | 65 nm 45 nm | Sep 2007 May 2008 | |||
| Core 2 Duo | Conroe Allendale Wolfdale | 2 2 2 | 65 nm 65 nm 45 nm | Aug 2006 Jan 2007 Jan 2008 | Merom Penryn | 2 2 | 65 nm 45 nm | Jul 2006 Jan 2008 |
| Core 2 Quad | Kentsfield Yorkfield | 4 4 | 65 nm 45 nm | Jan 2007 Mar 2008 | Penryn | 4 | 45 nm | Aug 2008 |
| Core 2 Extreme | Conroe XE Kentsfield XE Yorkfield XE | 2 4 4 | 65 nm 65 nm 45 nm | Jul 2006 Nov 2006 Nov 2007 | Merom XE Penryn XE Penryn XE | 2 2 4 | 65 nm 45 nm 45 nm | Jul 2007 Jan 2008 Aug 2008 |
| Core i3 | Clarkdale | 2 | 32 nm | Jan 2010 | Arrandale | 2 | 32 nm | Jan 2010 |
| Core i5 | Lynnfield Clarkdale | 4 2 | 45 nm 32 nm | Sep 2009 Jan 2010 | Arrandale | 2 | 32 nm | Jan 2010 |
| Core i7 | Bloomfield Lynnfield Gulftown | 4 4 6 | 45 nm 45 nm 32 nm | Nov 2008 Sep 2009 Jul 2010 | Clarksfield Arrandale | 4 2 | 45 nm 32 nm | Sep 2009 Jan 2010 |
| Core i7 Extreme Edition | Bloomfield Gulftown | 4 6 | 45 nm 32 nm | Nov 2008 March 2010 | Clarksfield | 4 | 45 nm | Sep 2009 |
The original Core brand refers to Intel's 32-bit mobile dual-core x86 CPUs that derived from the Pentium M branded processors. The processor family used a more enhanced version of the Intel P6 microarchitecture. It emerged in parallel with the NetBurst microarchitecture (Intel P68) of the Pentium 4 brand, and was a precursor of the 64-bit Core microarchitecture of Core 2 branded CPUs. The Core brand comprised two branches: the Duo (dual-core) and Solo (Duo with one disabled core, which replaced the Pentium M brand of single-core mobile processor).
The Core brand was launched on January 6, 2006 by the release of the 32-bit Yonah CPU – Intel's first dual-core mobile (low-power) processor. Its dual-core layout closely resembled two interconnected Pentium M branded CPUs packaged as a single die (piece) silicon chip (IC). Hence, the 32-bit microarchitecture of Core branded CPUs – contrary to its name – had more in common with Pentium M branded CPUs than with the subsequent 64-bit Core microarchitecture of Core 2 branded CPUs. Despite a major rebranding effort by Intel starting January 2006, some computers with the Yonah core continued to be marked as Pentium M.
The Core series is also known for being the first Intel processor to be used as the main CPU for an Apple Macintosh computer. The Core Duo was the CPU for the first generation Macbook Pro while the Core Solo appeared in Apple's Mac Mini line. Core Duo signified the beginning of Apple's shift to Intel processors across their entire line.
In 2007, Intel began branding the Yonah core CPUs intended for mainstream mobile computers as Pentium Dual-Core. These are not to be confused with the desktop 64-bit Core microarchitecture CPUs also branded as Pentium Dual-Core.
September 2007 and January 4, 2008 mark a discontinuation of many Core branded CPUs
The successor to Core is the mobile version of the Intel Core 2 line of processors using cores based upon the Intel Core microarchitecture,[6] released on July 27, 2006. The release of the mobile version of Intel Core 2 marks the reunification of Intel's desktop and mobile product lines as Core 2 processors were released for desktops and notebooks, unlike the first Intel Core CPUs that were targeted only for notebooks (although some small form factor and all-in-one desktops, like the iMac and the Mac Mini, also used Core processors).
Unlike the Intel Core, Intel Core 2 is a 64-bit processor, supporting Intel 64. Another difference between the original Core Duo and the new Core 2 Duo is an increase in the amount of Level 2 cache. The new Core 2 Duo has tripled the amount of on-board cache to 6 MB. Core 2 also introduced a quad-core performance variant to the single- and dual-core chips, branded Core 2 Quad, as well as an enthusiast variant, Core 2 Extreme. All three chips are manufactured at a 65 nm lithography, and in 2008, a 45 nm lithography and support Front Side Bus speeds ranging from 533 MHz to 1600 MHz. In addition, the 45 nm die shrink of the Core microarchitecture adds SSE4.1 support to all Core 2 microprocessors manufactured at a 45 nm lithography, therefore increasing the calculation rate of the processors.
