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Clarifying Core Confusion

This will clear up some of the con­fu­sion regar­ding Intel’s CPUs or pro­ces­sors. The naming con­ven­tions are simi­lar and requi­res some atten­tion to the detail. Lets be clear on “Core Duo” and “Core 2 Duo” and “dual core” and “Pen­tium D” processors.

Core Duo

The Intel Core Duo pro­ces­sor is a 32-bit CPU.  It has a 32 bit ins­truc­tion set. Core Duo pro­ces­sors are not offi­cially called “dual core”  pro­ces­sors. Core Duo pro­ces­sors do not have 64 bit ins­truc­tions sets and can­not run 64 bit ope­ra­ting sys­tems. That being said, Core Duo can­not run 64 bit games or appli­ca­tions.  “Core Duo” is an offi­cial Intel brand name.

Core 2 Duo

Core 2 Duo are 64-bit CPUs. They have 64-bit ins­truc­tion sets. They are back­ward com­pa­ta­ble with 32-bit ope­ra­ting sys­tems, games and appli­ca­tions. The Core 2 Duo CPUs are not offi­cially refe­rred to as “dual core” CPUs. “Core 2 Duo” is an offi­cial Intel brand name.

Pen­tium D

The “Intel Pen­tium D Pro­ces­sor” is an offi­cial name.  All the Pen­tium D Pro­ces­sors are dual core CPUs.  All are desk­top CPUs.  All Pen­tium D Pro­ces­sors are 64-bit.  Now get ready for this inte­res­ting tid­bit.  All Intel dual core CPUs are not Pen­tium D Pro­ces­sors.  They are not offi­cially bran­ded as Pen­tium D Pro­ces­sors.  The follo­wing is a list of Intel offi­cially named Pen­tium D Processors:

1. 805
2. 820
3. 830
4. 840
5. 915
6. 920
7. 930
8. 935
9. 940
10. 945
11. 950
12. 960

Extreme Edi­tion

There is still more core to con­si­der.  The “Pen­tium Pro­ces­sor Extreme Edi­tion” is an Intel brand name. They are not offi­cially called Pen­tium D.  Howe­ver, when you look at the Intel lis­ting, you could say they are Pen­tium D Pro­ces­sors on roids. There are only three of them.  These are an overclocker’s dream.  They are as follows:

1. Extreme Edi­tion 965
2. Extreme Edi­tion 955
3. Extreme Edi­tion 840

They are all dual core, 64 bit pro­ces­sors for the desk­top.  Right now you could get great pri­cing on them.  But look out for the EE 965 can still be pri­cey des­pite its age.

Dual Core Pen­tium

Now we come to the cate­gory where the CPUs are called Pen­tium.  But they are dual core 64-bit pro­ces­sors.  They are all E-series desk­top pro­ces­sors.  They are as follows:

1. E2140
2. E2160
3. E2180
4. E2200
5. E5200
6. E5300
7. E5400
8. E6300
9. E6500

These pro­ces­sors are pri­ced just right, in the $100.00 and less range.  Dont think they are out­da­ted.  The Pen­tium Pro­ces­sor E6500 was just recently laun­ced.  This one doesn’t even have a 64-bit ins­truc­tion set.  The E6500 doesn’t need it.  Why?  Because it has Intel 64.  It is a little dif­fe­rent from the others in this cate­gory.  It also sports a 45nm pro­cess, which is indi­ca­tive of  its edgi­ness.  Howe­ver, it is still in the low C-note range price-wise.

Sum­mary

This is not exhaus­tive.  There are still Cen­trino Duo and and other “dual core” mobile pro­ces­sors.  Well hit on them in the lap­top section.