Intel Core 2 Duo - Test (page 8: Intel Core product line & platform)

Intel Core product line

The Intel Core architecture is for desktop, server and mobile product lines. At first, it will be the Xeon that will be available with the new processors of the 51xx line in the days to come:

5160 (3.00 GHz, FSB1333, 4 MB L2) : $851
5150 (2.66 GHz, FSB1333, 4 MB L2) : $690
5140 (2.33 GHz, FSB1333, 4 MB L2) : 455$
5130 (2.00 GHz, FSB1333, 4 MB L2) : $316
5120 (1.86 GHz, FSB1066, 4 MB L2) : $256
5110 (1.60 GHz, FSB1066, 4 MB L2) : $209

The TDP of processors up to 2.66 GHz is 65 Watts compared to 80 Watts for the 3 GHZ. Desktop processors, the Core 2 Duo, will be officially released at the end of July in the following declinations:

X6800 (2.93 GHz, FSB1066, 4 MB L2) : $999
E6700 (2.66 GHz, FSB1066, 4 MB L2) : $530
E6600 (2.40 GHz, FSB1066, 4 MB L2) : $316
E6400 (2.13 GHz, FSB1066, 2 MB L2) : $224
E6300 (1.86 GHz, FSB1066, 2 MB L2) : $183
E4200 (1.60 GHz, FSB800, 2 MB L2) : N/A

The X6800 will be part of the "Extreme Edition" line and this is the reason why it´s so expensive. We also noted that the Xeon homologue clocked at 3 GHz using a higher FSB is much cheaper, which isn´t too consistent.

Laptops will see the coming of the Core 2 Duo this summer:

T7600 (2.33 GHz, FSB667, 4 Mo L2) : 637$
T7400 (2.16 GHz, FSB667, 4 MB L2) : $423
T7200 (2.00 GHz, FSB667, 4 MB L2) : $294
T5600 (1.83 GHz, FSB667, 2 MB L2) : $241
T5500 (1.66 GHz, FSB667, 2 MB L2) : $209

These figures come from the official price list and correspond to Intel price for 1000 pieces.

Intel Core platforms

Whatever the platform for which they are intended, processors based on Core architecture use an existing Socket. For servers, it is the Socket LGA771 introduced recently with the « Dempsey » Xeon 50xx (derived from the Presler), whereas for desktops and mobiles it will be the Socket LGA775 and Socket mPGA479M.

A word of warning: This doesn´t means that processors will be compatible with existing platforms. For laptops, if all current motherboards supporting the Core Duo are compatible with the Core 2 Duo, desktop motherboards have to be conform with the 11th version of Intel´s VRM (Voltage Regulation Module).

So, if the i975X officially support the Core 2 Duo (we might believe that it is also the case of all other FSB1066 chipsets), i975X motherboards sold since September 2005 aren’t compatible. However, other revisions such as Intel´s rev.304 D975X Bad Axe, or new products like Asus P5W DH Deluxe are compatible.

A relatively simple procedure to ensure the Core 2 Duo compatibility is to directly use P965 Express. Announced in early June, this chipset only equips very recent motherboards and is automatically compatible with Core 2 Duo. Compared to the 975X, it works with a more functional ICH8. The MCH can only support one PCI Express x16 link, whereas the 975X can support one x16 link or two x8 and Crossfire. SLI will be accessible via the new NVIDIA nForce 5 line for Intel and will be released this summer. Here again, all nForce 5 motherboards will be automatically compatible with the Core 2 Duo, but sooner there will also be a modified nForce 4 that will support the Core 2 Duo.