Conroe (microprocessor)
History | |
---|---|
Predecessor(s) | Cedar Mill (uniprocessor, single core) Presler (uniprocessor, dual-core) |
Successor(s) | Wolfdale |
Support status | |
Unsupported |
Conroe is the code name for many
Variants
Processor | Brand name | Model (list) | Cores | L2 Cache | Socket | TDP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allendale | Xeon | 3xxx |
2 | 2 MB | LGA 775 | 65 W |
Conroe | 3xxx |
2-4 MB | ||||
Conroe | Core 2 Duo | E4xxx |
2 | 2 MB | LGA 775 | 65 W |
Allendale | E6xx0 |
2-4 MB | ||||
Conroe-CL | E6xx5 |
2-4 MB | LGA 771 | |||
Conroe-XE | Core 2 Extreme | X6xxx |
2 | 4 MB | LGA 775 | 75 W |
Allendale-1M | Pentium Dual-Core | E2xxx |
2 | 1 MB | LGA 775 | 65 W |
Allendale-512 | Celeron | E1xxx |
2 | 512 KB | LGA 775 | 65 W |
Conroe-L | 4x0 |
1 | 35 W | |||
Conroe-CL | 4x5 |
LGA 771 | 65 W |
Conroe
The first Intel Core 2 Duo branded processor cores, code-named Conroe, were launched on July 27, 2006, at
The lower end E6300 (1.86 GHz) and E6400 (2.13 GHz) were released on July 27, 2006. Traditionally, CPUs of the same family with less cache simply have the unavailable cache disabled, since this allows parts that fail quality control to be sold at a lower rating. When yields improve, they may be replaced with versions that only have the cache amount needed on the die, to bring down manufacturing cost. At launch time, Intel's prices for the Core 2 Duo E6300 and E6400 processors were US$183 and US$224 each in quantities of 1000.
Conroe CPUs have improved capabilities over previous models with similar processor clock rates. According to reviews, the larger 4 MB L2 cache vs. the 2 MB L2 cache at the same frequency and bus speed can give a 0–9% performance gain with certain applications and 0–16% performance gain with certain games.
E6320 and E6420 Conroe CPUs at 1.86 and 2.13 GHz respectively were launched on April 22, 2007 featuring a full 4 MB of cache.
To coincide with the release of the Intel Bearlake (x3x) chipsets, Intel released four more processors on July 22, 2007: the Core 2 Duo E6540, E6550, E6750, and E6850. The number ending in "50" indicates a 1333 MHz FSB. The processors all have 4 MB of L2 cache, and their clock frequency is similar to that of the already released processors with the same first two digits (E6600, E6700, X6800).[3] An additional model, the E6540, was launched with specifications similar to the E6550 but lacking Intel Trusted Execution Technology and vPro support. These processors were marketed to compete with AMD's Phenom processor line and were therefore priced below the corresponding processors with a 1066 MHz FSB.[4]
All remaining Conroe Core 2 processors were phased out in March 2009.
Conroe XE
The Core 2 Extreme X6800 was officially released on July 29, 2006. It uses the Conroe XE core and replaced the dual-core
At launch time, Intel's price for the Core 2 Extreme X6800 was US$999 each in quantities of 1000. Like the desktop Core 2 Duo, it has 4 MB of shared L2 cache available. This means that the only major difference between the regular Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme is the higher clock rate and unlocked multiplier, the usual advantages of the "Extreme Edition". The fully unlocked multiplier is of use to enthusiasts as it allows the user to
Allendale
Allendale was originally the name for the E4000 processors, which use a low-cost version of the Conroe core. They feature a lower
The Core 2 Duo E4300[6] uses an Allendale core, released on January 21, 2007. Allendale processors are produced in the LGA 775 form factor, on the 65 nm process node. Initial list price per processor in quantities of one thousand for the E4300 was US$163. A standard OEM price was US$175, or US$189 for a retail package. The price was cut on April 22, 2007,[7] when the E4400 was released at $133 and the E4300 dropped to $113. A new E2000 series of Allendale processors with half their L2 cache disabled was released in mid-June 2007 under the Pentium Dual-Core brand name. The working cache memory was reduced by half again when the Allendale core was released under Intel's Celeron brand; the Celeron E1000 processors have a 512k L2 cache shared between its two cores.
Subsequent E4000 Allendale processors were introduced as E4500 and E4600. The final E4700 processor was using the G0 stepping instead of M0, which makes it a Conroe core. The E4000 processors were discontinued on March 6, 2009.
E6300 and E6400 CPUs, as well as their Xeon 3040 and 3050 counterparts, have been made using the original 4 MB B2 stepping with half their L2 cache disabled prior to Q1 2007, but using the 2 MB L2 stepping later. This caused contention regarding whether or not the previously available versions were specimens of the Allendale core. Only the newer cores are now commonly referred to as Allendale.
Quoted from The Tech Report:
You'll find plenty of sources that will tell you the code name for these 2 MB Core 2 Duo processors is "Allendale," but Intel says otherwise. These CPUs are still code-named "Conroe," which makes sense since they're the same physical chips with half of their L2 cache disabled. Intel may well be cooking up a chip code-named Allendale with 2 MB of L2 cache natively, but this is not that chip.[8]
Conroe-L
The Conroe-L Celeron is a single-core processor built on the Core microarchitecture and is clocked much lower than the Cedar Mill Celerons, but still outperforms them. It is based on the 65 nm Conroe-L core, and uses a 400-series model number sequence. The FSB was increased from 533 MHz to 800 MHz in this generation, and the TDP was decreased from 65 W to 35 W. Traditionally with Celerons, it does not have
On October 21, 2007, Intel presented a new processor for its Intel Essential Series. The full name of the processor is a Celeron 220 and is soldered on the D201GLY2 motherboard. With 1.2 GHz and a 512 KB second level cache it has a TDP of 19 Watt and can be cooled passively. The Celeron 220 is the successor of the Celeron 215 which is based on a Yonah core and used on the D201GLY motherboard. This processor is exclusively used on the mini-ITX boards targeted to the sub-value market segment.[9]
Conroe-CL
Conroe-CL is a version of Conroe with the LGA 771 socket otherwise used in
See also
References
- ^ "Core 2 Duo: 2 or 4 MB cache? (French)". Matbe. Archived from the original on 2006-07-05. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ "Intel's Core 2 Duo processors". Bit-Tech. Archived from the original on 2011-12-30. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
- ^ ""Conroe" Refresh Details Unveiled". DailyTech. Archived from the original on 2006-10-21. Retrieved 2006-10-17.
- ^ "Intel Processor Price List" (PDF). Intel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
- ^ Schmid, Patrick; Töpelt, Bert. "Game". Tom's Guide Publishing. Retrieved 2006-07-17.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Core 2 Duo E4300". Archived from the original on 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ Allendale price cuts
- ^ "Cool and Cheap Screamers from Intel and AMD". The Tech Report. 2006-08-08. Archived from the original on 2006-08-20. Retrieved 2006-11-22.
- ^ "NEW CELERON 220". xtreview. 2006-10-15. Retrieved 2007-10-22.