Intel readies Core 2 Duo revamp?

New models across the range in Q1, Q2, Q3 2007

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

14th November 2006 11:48 GMT

Intel's plan to refresh its Core 2 Duo dual-core processor line in Q2 2007 appears to have been nudged back a quarter, if reports coming out of Asia detailing the chip giant's latest roadmaps are to be believed.

As we've reported before, Q2 2007 was expected to see the debut of the Core 2 Duo E6650, E6750, E6800 and E6850, all with 4MB of L2 cache and clocked at 2.33GHz, 2.66GHz, 2.93GHz and 3GHz, respectively. The E6x50 CPUs will support a 1,333MHz frontside bus, it's said, while the E6800 runs over a 1,066MHz FSB.

According to a Chinese-language report on HKEPC, however, these CPUs will now arrive in Q3. Joining them will be the E6390, a lower cost version of today's E6400 but likewise equipped with just 2MB of L2 cache and clocked at 2.13GHz.

The latest roadmaps continue to indicate the Q1 2007 debut of the Core 2 Duo E4300, a 1.8GHz processor with 2MB of L2 and support for only an 800MHz FSB. It's said to be earmarked to ship at $163. It will apparently be joined in Q2 2007 by the E4200 - which once appeared in Q1 2007 but later disappeared - and the E4400, clocked at 1.6GHz and 2GHz, respectively. Again, they run on an 800MHz FSB and contain 2MB of L2. Viiv-certfied, the E4x00 series will not target Intel's business-oriented VPro platform, however. ®