Intel Core 2 Duo - The Sequel

Intel Core 2 Duo Refresh - Core 2 Duo the Sequel

18/10/06

Intel’s latest roadmap outlines plans for Conroe’s 2007 refresh. The upcoming refresh of Intel’s Core 2 Duo processor will arrive at the same time as the upcoming Bearlake 3 series of chipsets. This will be the first time Intel has refreshed its recently released Conroe architecture. The refresh is quite minor this time around. Nevertheless the Conroe refresh raises the front-side bus up to 1333 MHz and adds Intel Trusted Execution Technology.

Three refreshed models will debut with the upcoming Bearlake 3 series chipsets. These models include the Core 2 Duo E6850, E6750 and E6650 clocked at 3 GHz, 2.66 GHz and 2.33 MHz respectively. At this point in time it doesn’t appear Intel has any plans for its Core 2 Extreme lineup, in terms of dual-core processors that is. Kentsfield Core 2 Extreme QX6700 will remain as Intel’s flag-ship enthusiast product.
The E6x50 chips also support Intel's Trusted Execution Technology (TET), which is the security infrastructure thus far known as 'LaGrande' and designed to make it harder for malware to tap right down into the system to sniff out sensitive data.
TET requires support at both the chipset and the processor level - handy, if you're a company that sells both. It allows apps to be run within their own sealed environment, inaccessible by other software.
Intel has already said it will ship is quad-core Core 2 Quad processor line in Q1 2007, led by the 2.4GHz Q6600.
In addition to the refreshed Conroe Core 2 Duo lineup, Intel will release one more 1066 MHz front-side bus endowed Core 2 Duo product. The upcoming Core 2 Duo E6800 will arrive clocked at 2.93 GHz—similar to Intel’s Core 2 Extreme X6800. The processor is expected to be Intel’s flagship processor for mainstream segments. Aside from the locked multiplier, the Core 2 Duo E6800 is identical to the Core 2 Extreme X6800.

Sources: http://www.dailytech.com, http://www.channelregister.co.uk