The Intel Core Duo processor refers to the dual-core (two-processing unit) processor, or central processing unit, division of the first-generational Intel Core. Along with its single-core counterpart, the Core Solo, it marked the debut of what would displace the Pentium as the flagship brand of semiconductor manufacturer Intel Corp.
Background
Designed as a 32-bit processor -- that is, it can accommodate data sizes up to 32 bits -- the Core Duo was launched on Jan. 6, 2006. It was strictly made as a mobile processor, which means that it was installed on laptop PCs. Its Solo counterpart also had two cores, but one was disabled; The Core Duo replaced the single-core Pentium M as the premier mobile CPU brand. The packaging actually resembled the combination of two Pentium M chips on a die.
Production
Intel produced 15 Intel Core Duo processors, all of which are code-named Yonah. They were split into the two-member, the low-end but comparatively energy-efficient U2xxx series; the middling, three-member L2xxx series, and the high-performing but comparatively high power-consuming 10-member T2xxx Series. Each Core Duo chip adhered to the 65-nanometer lithographic node of semiconductor fabrication, which yielded two cores that are placed on a 90-square millimeter die with 151 million processing transistors. The Core Duo is connected to the laptop's motherboard by being fitted on the Plastic Ball Grid Array 479, a plastic component that has its 479 solder balls -- which accommodate the processor -- arranged in four conjoining rows.
Main Features
The processing speed ranges of the Core Duo's U2xxx, L2xxx and T2xxx series are 1.06 GHz to 1.2 GHz, 1.5 GHz to 1.83 GHz and 1.6 GHz to 2.33 GHz, respectively. The U2xxx consumes the least amount of maximum power at 9 watts, while the peak power consumption rating of L2xxx and T2xxx are 15W and 31W, respectively. Additionally, all Core Duo chips have a 2 MB Level 2 cache for high-speed access to computer memory; 533-MHz or 667-MHz data transfer speed; and, except for five entries of the T2xxx series, Intel Virtualization technology for integrating multiple computing environments.
Aftermath
Although the Core Duo processor's microarchitecture greatly resembles that of the Pentium M, it eventually became the immediate predecessor of Core 2, which was introduced in July 27, 2006. Not only did Intel provide desktop chips under this brand, thus completing Pentium's relegation to mid-range status, but debuted its quad-core processor with the Core 2 Quad to accompany the Core 2 Solo and Core 2 Duo. By the end of 2007, Intel had started phasing out its original Core brand, particularly most of the Core Duo's T2xxx series.
Tags: Intel Core, T2xxx series, Core processor, Core Solo, L2xxx T2xxx, series Intel, T2xxx series Intel