Pentium Dual-Core

Lore & Background

The Pentium Dual-Core brand was used from 2007 to 2010, when it was renamed to Pentium. The processors were based on either the 32-bit Yonah core or the 64-bit Merom-2M, Allendale, and Wolfdale-3M cores, targeting mobile or desktop computers. In 2006, Intel planned to return the Pentium trademark as a moniker for low-cost Core microarchitecture processors based on single-core Conroe-L with 1 MB of cache, but the single-core version was deemed not strong enough to distinguish from Celerons, so it was replaced by dual-core CPUs, adding 'Dual-Core' to the line's name.

The first Pentium Dual-Core processors appeared in notebooks on January 30, 2007, with the T2060, T2080, and T2130 models using the Yonah core and 1 MB of L2 cache. Desktop versions followed on June 3, 2007, with the E2140 and E2160 based on the Allendale core, also with 1 MB of L2 cache. The mobile Merom-2M core was introduced later in 2007, and the 45 nm Wolfdale-3M core appeared with the E5200 in August 2008, featuring 2 MB of L2 cache. The Penryn-3M core, a 45 nm mobile successor, was introduced with the T4200 in December 2008.

Throughout 2009, Intel changed the name from Pentium Dual-Core to Pentium in its publications. Some processors were sold under both names, but newer models like the E5400 through E6800 desktop and SU4100/T4x00 mobile processors were not officially part of the Pentium Dual-Core line. The brand was discontinued in early 2010 and replaced by the Pentium name.

Reader's Guide

The Pentium Dual-Core brand marked a significant shift in Intel's product strategy, relegating the Pentium name to the budget segment after its former position as a mainstream or premium brand. These processors were based on the Core microarchitecture, unlike the earlier Pentium D which used the NetBurst microarchitecture. The Pentium Dual-Core outperformed the Pentium D by a reasonably large margin despite reduced clock speeds and lower cache amounts, and had a TDP of only 65 W compared to the Pentium D's 95–130 W.

The brand's legacy includes its popularity among overclockers, as many models could achieve high clock speeds with stock cooling. The E5200, for example, often reached over 3.75 GHz. The E6500K model, sold only in China, featured an unlocked multiplier. The rebranding to Pentium occurred gradually, with desktop processors being rebranded if the BIOS date was after January 1, 2011, and Linux and other operating systems potentially not rebranding Core-based Pentiums if the BIOS date was before January 1, 2013.

Did You Know?

• The Pentium Dual-Core brand replaced both the Pentium M and Pentium 4 brands as entry-level options.
• The E6500K model, based on the Wolfdale-3M core, featured an unlocked multiplier but was only sold in China.
• Some processors were sold under both the Pentium Dual-Core and Pentium names during the transition in 2009.