Merom (microprocessor)
First mobile Core microarchitecture processor, replacing Yonah.
Merom is the code name for a family of mobile Intel processors marketed under the Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Solo, Pentium Dual-Core, and Celeron brands. It marked Intel's first mobile chip built on the Core microarchitecture, succeeding the Yonah processor, which was based on the Enhanced Pentium M design. Merom carries the product code 80537, a designation it shares with the closely related Merom-2M and Merom-L variants, both of which feature a smaller L2 cache. Merom-L is a single-core chip with a distinct CPUID model. The desktop counterpart of Merom is Conroe, while the dual-socket server version is Woodcrest. Manufactured using a 65 nm process, Merom was followed by Penryn, a 45 nm shrink of the same architecture; together, these two formed Intel's first Tick-Tock cycle, with Penryn serving as the tick (process shrink) and Merom as the tock (new architecture).
The original Merom, the first mobile Core 2 processor, officially launched on July 27, 2006, though shipments to PC makers began quietly in mid-July alongside Conroe. It became Intel's flagship mobile line, emphasizing low power consumption to extend notebook battery life while offering similar features to Conroe. Compared to the Yonah-based Core Duo, Merom-based Core 2 Duo chips delivered a modest performance boost in 3D rendering and media encoding tasks without sacrificing battery life. Merom was also the first Intel mobile processor to include Intel 64 architecture. The initial Merom chips were drop-in compatible with the Napa platform used for Core Duo, typically requiring only a BIOS update. They shared the same 34 W thermal envelope and 667 MT/s front-side bus. The Merom die contains 4 MB of L2 cache, with half disabled in T5xx0 models. A native 2 MB L2 version, called Merom-2M, debuted in early 2007 as a counterpart to Allendale, using L2 and M0 steppings; ultra-low-voltage Core 2 Duo chips are based on this core. A second wave of Merom processors, featuring an 800 MT/s FSB and the new Socket P, launched on May 9, 2007, as part of the Santa Rosa platform, with low-voltage versions released the same day. The name Merom (מרום) is Hebrew for a higher plane of existence or a level of heaven; BaMerom (במרום) means "in the heavens." It was chosen by the Intel design team in Haifa, Israel.
The Core 2 Extreme Mobile processor, based on the Merom XE core, was a mobile CPU for laptops.
Quick Facts
- Produced-Start
- 2006
- Produced-End
- 2009
- Slowest
- 1.6
- Fastest
- 2.8
- Slow-Unit
- GHz
- Fsb-Slowest
- 533
- Fsb-Fastest
- 800
- Fsb-Slow-Unit
- MHz
- Soldby
- Intel
- Code
- 80537
- Cpuid
- 06Fx (Merom-L: 1066x)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Merom was officially released on July 27, 2006, but quietly began shipping to PC manufacturers in mid-July, alongside Conroe. It became Intel's premier line of mobile processors, with mostly the same features as the desktop Conroe but with a greater emphasis on low power consumption to enhance notebook battery life. Merom-based Core 2 Duo provided a slight performance increase in 3D rendering and media-encoding tasks while maintaining the same battery life as the Yonah-based Core Duo. Merom was the first Intel mobile processor to feature Intel 64 architecture.
The first version of Merom was 'drop-in' compatible with the Napa platform for Core Duo, requiring at most a motherboard BIOS update. It had a similar thermal envelope of 34 W and the same 667 MT/s FSB rate. The Merom die featured 4 MB L2 cache, half of which was deactivated in the T5xx0 CPUs. A native 2 MB L2 version, called Merom-2M, was rolled out in early 2007 as a counterpart to Allendale. A second wave of Merom processors featuring an 800 MT/s FSB and using the new Socket P was launched on May 9, 2007, as part of the Santa Rosa platform.
Merom (מרום) is the Hebrew word for a higher plane of existence or a level of heaven; BaMerom (במרום) means 'in the heavens'. The name was chosen by the Intel team in Haifa, Israel, who designed this processor. Variants include Merom XE (Core 2 Extreme Mobile, with 800 MT/s FSB and 44 W TDP), Merom-2M (smaller L2 cache), and Merom-L (single-core, 1 MB L2 cache, used in Celeron 5xx and Core 2 Solo U2xxx).
Reader's Guide
Merom's significance lies in being the first mobile processor to implement the Core microarchitecture, which marked a major shift from the Enhanced Pentium M design. It established the foundation for Intel's mobile performance and efficiency for several years, directly enabling the Core 2 Duo line to compete effectively in the laptop market. The Merom architecture, together with its 45 nm successor Penryn, introduced Intel's Tick-Tock manufacturing paradigm, where a new architecture (Merom as the 'tock') was followed by a die shrink (Penryn as the 'tick'). This cadence became a hallmark of Intel's product strategy.
Merom's legacy includes its role in the Napa and Santa Rosa platforms, its support for Intel 64, and its influence on subsequent mobile processors. The Merom XE variant brought extreme performance to laptops, while the Merom-L and Merom-2M variants addressed different market segments from ultra-low-power single-core systems to mainstream dual-core notebooks. A Microsoft microcode update (KB2493989) for Windows 7 later addressed stability issues on selected Merom CPUs, indicating the processor's continued use in systems for years after its release.
Did You Know?
- The desktop version of Merom is Conroe, and the dual-socket server version is Woodcrest.
- The Merom X7900 processor was used in the top-end iMacs released on August 7, 2007.
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