The latest generation of the Intel x86 CPU family. Core supersedes the 13-year run of the Pentium, which was introduced in 1993. It represents the ninth generation of the x86 architecture, the first chip appearing in the IBM PC in 1981. All Core chips are more power efficient than Pentium models.
In early 2006, the 32-bit Core Duo was introduced, the first chip with the Core brand, but which was actually based on the Pentium M microarchitecture. It was followed by a Core Duo-based Xeon for servers. See Core Duo and microarchitecture.
Based on the really new Core microarchitecture, in mid-2006, 64-bit Core 2 Duo models debuted for both desktops and laptops along with an Extreme model for high-end workstations (see Core 2)
In 2008, Intel introduced the Core i7 CPUs, an advanced Core microarchitecture with memory and interconnect enhancements (see Core i7).
Solo, Duo and Quad
Both Core Duo and Core 2 Duo chips contain two separate processor cores. However, dual core chips rejected in manufacturing can be turned into single-core "Core Solo" CPUs by disabling the core with the failed components and be sold for less. In late 2006, four-processor Core 2 Quad chips were introduced. See dual core and quad core.
Core 2 Enhancements
The following Core 2 advancements far exceed the Pentium architecture. "Wide Dynamic Execution" executes four instructions in one clock cycle, and compare and branch instructions are combined into one (see microcode). "Intelligent Power Capability" powers down unused elements on the chip. "Advanced Smart Cache" shares the L2 cache among processors, allowing the core that needs more cache memory to have it. "Smart Memory Access" determines which data in memory can be cached and executes instructions down the pipeline ahead of time. "Advanced Digital Media Boost" compresses/decompresses 128 bits in one clock cycle instead of two. See Core 2.
Core i7 Enhancements
The Core i7 departs from Core 2 with memory enhancements, a new bus architecture and a different chip package. See Core i7.
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