Intel Core 2 Duo, Extreme Unveiled

Intel Core 2 Duo, Extreme Unveiled

Techtree News Staff, Jul 27, 2006 2319 hrs IST

Intel Corp today unveiled its Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors for consumer and business desktop and laptop PCs, plus workstations.

At a press briefing in Bangalore today, Intel Corp unveiled its Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors for consumer and business desktop and laptop PCs, plus workstations.

Speaking at the occasion, Charlotte Lamprecht, director - digital home brand management, Intel Corp, said, "The Core 2 Duo processors are simply the best processors in the world. Not since Intel introduced the Pentium processor has the industry seen the heart of the computer reinvented like this."

Ramamurthy Sivakumar, managing director - sales and marketing (South Asia), Intel, said, "The Core 2 Duo desktop processor is an energy-efficient marvel, packing 291 million transistors, yet consuming 40 percent lower power, while delivering the performance needed for the applications of today and tomorrow."

The Core 2 Duo series comprises five desktop PC processors targeted at the business, home, enthusiasts, and gaming segments; plus five mobile PC processors meant for the mobile lifestyle. Besides, Core 2 Duo-based workstations are aimed at areas including design, content creation, and technical computing.

Core 2 Duo processors are built using Intel's 65-nanometer silicon process technology. Intel claims that the desktop PC version of Core 2 Duo offers up to a 40 percent increase in performance, and is over 40 percent more energy-efficient than its predecessor.

Based on Intel's revolutionary Core micro-architecture, Core 2 Duo processors are said to operate faster and smoother when multiple applications are running, including writing e-mails while downloading music or videos, etc. The dual-core chips are claimed to improve tasks such as viewing and playing high-definition video, protecting the PC during e-commerce transactions, etc.

Both Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors feature Intel innovations including: Wide Dynamic Execution that improves performance and efficiency; Smart Memory Access that improves system performance by hiding memory latency; Advanced Smart Cache that includes a shared L2 cache to reduce power by minimizing memory traffic, while increasing performance; Advanced Digital Media Boost that effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used in multimedia and graphics applications; and 64 Technology that supports 64-bit computing.

Core 2 Duo-based mobile PC processors include proprietary features such as: Dynamic Power Coordination that coordinates Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state transitions independently to help save power; Dynamic Bus Parking that enables platform power savings and improved battery life; and Enhanced Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing that saves power by flushing cache data to system memory, during periods of inactivity.

Consumers and businesses will have the option to purchase Core 2 Duo processors as part of Intel's premier platforms, including Intel vPro technology for businesses, Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology for laptops, and Intel Viiv technology for the home.

According to Intel, its new processors can be paired with the 975X, 965, and Mobile 945 Express chipsets, all of which are Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Ready.

Production-ready Core 2 Duo processors have already been shipping. Initial Core 2 Duo-based systems will now be available from system manufacturers, resellers, and integrators.

While Core 2 Duo desktop processor-based systems will be available beginning early August, Core 2 Duo processor-based notebooks will be available end August. Desktop processor systems will be available in the price range of around $183 to $999.