Core 2 Duo paves the way for common chip micro-architecture

Chip giant Intel revealed yesterday that the Core 2 Duo processor is to be the new brand for the company's more energy-efficient processor families for desktop and laptop computers.

The processors, formerly codenamed Conroe and Merom, will arrive in the third quarter, the company announced.

Having a common micro-architecture for the consumer, gaming, notebook and business desktop market segments makes it easier for developers to create more efficient software applications, and to share capabilities across all categories if necessary, according to Intel.

The Core 2 Duo processors for desktop and notebooks PCs are based on the Intel Core micro-architecture and will include two processing cores per chip, hence the 'Duo' addition.

Intel will call its highest performing processor for enthusiast and gamers the Intel Core2 Extreme.

The processors will be built on Intel's advanced 65-nanometre design and manufacturing process technology that shrinks a processor's circuitry and transistors.

This combination will deliver higher-performing, yet more energy-efficient processors that will spur more capable, stylish, silent and smaller mobile and desktop PCs while saving on electricity.

"With this unified PC and notebook brand and micro-architecture, everyone will have a simple way to choose the most powerful and energy-efficient processors in the world," said Eric Kim, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Intel.

"Developers will also be able to more easily write optimised software just once for a variety of computing segments."