Pentium Dual-Core

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Pentium Dual-Core (Intel Pentium)

Produced	From 2006 to 2009
Common manufacturer(s)	Intel
Max. CPU clock	1.3 GHz to 2.93 GHz
FSB speeds	533 MHz to 1066 MHz
Min. feature size	65 nm to 45 nm
Instruction set	MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, x86-64
Microarchitecture	Core Microarchitecture
Cores	2
Socket(s)	LGA 775 Socket M Socket P

The Pentium Dual-Core brand refers to mainstream x86-architecture microprocessors from Intel. They are based on either the 32-bit Yonah or (with quite different microarchitectures) 64-bit Merom, Allendale, and, more recently, with the launch of the model E5200, Wolfdale core, targeted at mobile or desktop computers.

In terms of features, price and performance at a given clock frequency, Pentium Dual-Core processors are positioned above Celeron but below Core and Core 2 microprocessors in Intel's product range. The Pentium Dual-Core is also a very popular choice for overclocking, as it can deliver optimal performance (when overclocked) at a low price.

Processor cores

In 2006, Intel announced a plan^[1] to return the Pentium brand from retirement to the market, as a moniker of low-cost Core architecture processors based on the single-core Conroe-L but with 1 MB of cache. The identification numbers for those planned Pentiums were similar to the numbers of the latter Pentium Dual-Core CPUs, but with the first digit "1", instead of "2", suggesting their single-core functionality. A single-core Conroe-L with 1 MB cache was deemed as not strong enough to distinguish the planned Pentiums from the Celerons, so it was replaced by dual-core CPUs, adding "Dual-Core" to the line's name. Throughout 2009, Intel changed the name back from Pentium Dual-Core to Pentium in its publications. Some processors are sold under both names. For example, the SU2xxx series ultra-low voltage Pentium is a single-core processor.

Intel Pentium Dual-Core processor family
2007 Logo	2009 Logo	Desktop			Laptop
		Code-named	Core	Date released	Code-named	Core	Date released
		Allendale Wolfdale	dual (65 nm) dual (45 nm)	Jun 2007 Aug 2008	Yonah Merom Penryn Penryn	dual (65 nm) dual (65 nm) dual (45 nm) single (45 nm)	Jan 2007 Nov 2007 Dec 2008 Jun 2009
List of Intel Pentium Dual-Core microprocessors

Yonah

The first processors using the brand appeared in notebook computers in early 2007. Those processors, named Pentium T2060, T2080, and T2130,^[2] had the 32-bit Pentium M-derived Yonah core, and closely resembled the Core Duo T2050 processor with the exception of having 1 MB of L2 cache instead of 2 MB. All three of them had a 533 MHz FSB connecting the CPU with the memory. Intel developed the Pentium Dual-Core at the request of laptop manufacturers.^[3]

Allendale

Subsequently, on June 3, 2007, Intel released the desktop Pentium Dual-Core branded processors^[4] known as the Pentium E2140 and E2160.^[5] An E2180 model was released later in September 2007. These processors support the Intel 64 extensions, being based on the newer, 64-bit Allendale core with Core microarchitecture. These closely resembled the Core 2 Duo E4300 processor with the exception of having 1 MB of L2 cache instead of 2 MB.^[6] Both of them had an 800 MHz FSB. They targeted the budget market above the Intel Celeron (Conroe-L single-core series) processors featuring only 512 KB of L2 cache. Such a step marked a change in the Pentium brand, relegating it to the budget segment rather than its former position as the mainstream/premium brand.^[7] These CPUs are highly overclockable.^[8]

Merom-2M

The mobile version of the Allendale processor, the Merom-2M, was also introduced in 2007, featuring 1MB of L2 cache but only 533 MT/s FSB with the T23xx processors. The bus clock was subsequently raised to 667 MT/s with the T3xxx Pentium processors that are made from the same dies.

Wolfdale-3M

The 45 nm E5200 model was released by Intel on August 31, 2008, with a larger 2MB L2 cache over the 65 nm E21xx series and the 2.5 GHz clock speed. The E5200 model is also a highly overclockable processor, with some enthusiasts reaching over 6 GHz^[9] clock speed using liquid nitrogen cooling. Intel released the E6500K model using this core. The model features an unlocked multiplier, but is currently only sold in China.

Penryn-3M

The Penryn core is the successor to the Merom core and Intel's 45 nm version of their mobile series of Pentium Dual-Core microprocessors. The FSB is increased to from 667 MHz to 800 MHz and the voltage is lowered. Intel released the first Penryn Core, the Pentium T4200, in December, 2008. In June 2009, Intel released the first single-core processor to use the Pentium name, a Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage (CULV) Penryn core called the Pentium SU2700. Intel has also rebranded all Pentium Dual-Core procesors as Pentium.

In September 2009, Intel introduced the Pentium SU4000 series together with the Celeron SU2000 and Core 2 Duo SU7000 series, which are dual-core CULV processors based on Penryn-3M and using 800 MHz FSB. The Pentium SU4000 series has 2 MB L2 cache but is otherwise basically identical to the other two lines.

Discontinuation

The Pentium Dual-Core brand has been discontinued in early 2009 and disappeared from all online material on the Intel web site, along with all Mobile Pentium Dual-Core product information. The remaining Desktop Pentium Dual-Core E2000 and E5000 series processors have been rebranded as Pentium. The Desktop E6000 series and the OEM-only mobile Pentium SU2000 and T4000 series were always called Pentium.

With the launch of 32 nm processors in the upcoming months, Intel will discontinue some Atom, Celeron, Pentium, Core 2, and even Core i7 models. The Pentium E2200 and E2220 are scheduled to be discontinued in Q3 2009, and will be replaced by the E6000 series.^[10]

Comparison to the Pentium D

Although using the Pentium name, the desktop Pentium Dual-Core is based on the Core microarchitecture, which can clearly be seen when comparing the specification to the Pentium D, which is based on the NetBurst microarchitecture first introduced in the Pentium 4. For example, the desktop Pentium Dual-Core has 1 MB or 2 MB of shared L2 Cache while the Pentium D processors have either 2 MB or 4 MB L2 cache, depending on the model. Additionally, the fastest-clocked Pentium D was clocked at 3.73 GHz, while the fastest-clocked desktop Pentium Dual-Core is clocked at 2.93 GHz. But the major difference is the desktop Pentium Dual Core processors having a TDP of only 65 W while the Pentium D may have 95 W or 130 W TDP. Despite having a smaller L2 cache and slower clock speeds, the Pentium Dual-Core has proven to be much faster than most of the Pentium D under a variety of CPU-intensive applications while giving off up to 50% less heat.^[11]

See also

• List of Intel Pentium Dual-Core microprocessors

References