After many months of anticipation, Intel has finally announced the pricing and official release dates for its new generation of processors.
Known by their previous code names Conroe (for laptops) and Merom (for desktops), these Intel Core 2 Duo processors are built on the newly unveiled Intel Core microarchitecture. The number “2” signifies the arrival of a new technology generation in the company’s product line, while “Duo” indicates that the product is designed with dual cores.
 |
The Core 2 Duo chip will be affordably priced. Image: Intel |
At the same time, Intel has introduced the Intel Core 2 Extreme brand, aimed at technology enthusiasts and gamers, featuring the highest performance. These devices are developed using Intel’s advanced 65 nm manufacturing technology, which shrinks the circuits and transistors inside the processor, delivering higher performance while consuming less power compared to existing chips.
“Thanks to this unified microarchitecture platform for laptops and desktops, developers will find it easier to design software optimized for various computing needs“, commented Eric Kim, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Intel.
The dual-core (2-core) Core 2 Duo features the largest cache in the processor industry, known as Intel Advanced Smart Cache, enabling faster processing for memory-intensive applications. This product also supports advanced features such as enhanced security, virtualization, and management capabilities.
 |
Illustration of Core 2 Duo operation. Image: Intel |
Intel is clearly demonstrating its intent to dominate the technology market with its new devices by releasing the Core 2 Duo at lower prices compared to existing products. Specifically, the E6700 2.67 GHz chip will be priced at $530, which is lower than AMD’s Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6 GHz priced at $696. The most expensive processor in this series, of course, is the Core 2 Extreme, retailing at $999.
At a lower tier, the E6600 2.4 GHz will be available for $316, while the other two models, E6400 2.13 GHz and E6300 1.86 GHz, are priced at $224 and $183, respectively. Both the E6600 and E6700 feature a 4 MB Level 2 cache, while the other two models only have 2 MB.
With the significant advancements of the Core 2 Duo, many are questioning the fate of aging products such as Pentium D. Intel has addressed this concern by releasing a new lower price list for its older chip lines.
Accordingly, the Pentium D 960 3.6 GHz will be priced at $316, while the 950 3.4 GHz model is reduced to $224. The 945 3.4 GHz and 915 2.8 GHz processors will be listed at $163 and $133, respectively. Lastly, the lowest-tier items, the 820 2.8 GHz and 805 2.66 GHz, will be reduced to $113 and $93.
Nguyễn Hà
